Self steering for small craft

glynnffc · #1 27-06-09, 10:12

Have just been looking to buy a copy of the above, but before i pay some silly price can anyone tell me if it is as any good ?

I have several similar books, but none seem to address the problem of steering the boat without spending a few thousand on an awful looking lump of scrap hung off the back of the boat.

gregandginas · #2 27-06-09, 10:56

You might want to check out more specialist foums for this: I was impressed with http://www.cruisenews.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=62

The other forum I look to for anything design related is http://www.boatdesign.net

That said, my impression is that you can get around the bulky (possibly delicate) lump stuck off the back of the boat without going to tiller-pilots...

On a more positive note... the DIY Walt (as one example) should presumably work out a lot cheaper than the figure you mention http://www.mistervee.com/

glynnffc · #3 27-06-09, 18:41

Thanks for the links. It's always good to see what everyone else is doing.

chart5011 · #4 05-07-09, 21:24

I have had a bit of fun recently playing around with sheet to tiller self steering. Explained well in a book by Lee Woas ' Self Steering Without a Windvane'.
Basically you set a small jib on the weather side of the foredeck and lead the sheet along the windward side via a few turning blocks and attach it to the tiller. The sail is set backed and the harder it blows the more it takes the tiller to windward to try to bear away.
Works well on my long keeled gaffer.
Lots of fun for a fiver - cost of an old dinghy jib at a boat jumble.