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GreenWave · 10-09-2021, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepstations

Brilliant. Thank you, that's exactly the sort of information I'm after.

There you go- you only need one answer... the one you want to hear.

Good luck.

Marathon1150 · 10-09-2021, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

The OP asked a question about a specific type of solution to a problem that does indeed occur often (autopilot failure). He was unhappy that he received other types of solutions to that problem, and was in fact a bit rude about it - not good netiquette. When people are trying to be helpful, try to smile and gracefully accept the offerings, and ignore those that don't apply. With a total of just 3 postings prior to this thread this is all about first impressions.

**boatman61** · 10-09-2021, 12:46

Been there, done that.. N of Bermuda to Azores hand steered dawn to disk then hove to for sleep.. Repeat..
Azores to UK as above.. no fix in Horta..
Wheel steering sucks..

triibutu · 10-09-2021, 15:10

A bit of plywood and a hammer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9jdISOmpuk

kryg · 10-09-2021, 19:33

Download very informative handy free eBook title "Techniques & Tactics For Singlehanded Sailing For Singlehanded Sailing By Andrew Evans." Read chapter 5 page 1 you will have your answer and solutions you seek. https://www.sfbaysss.org/oldsite2013...irdEdition.pdf

Happy Navigation experiences, SV Skoiern IV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepstations

I'm researching what systems can be jury rigged to self-steer a yacht when the auto pilot fails.
Assuming it's a wheel not a tiller used to steer the yacht, can anybody point me in the right direction for suggestions or resources that provide a workable solution for when this happens?
I'm thinking of a 40' yacht, not a trailer-sailer or dinghy btw.
Thanks in advance,
JR

kryg · 10-09-2021, 20:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9_Dobl0whQ

Also - Here is a Very well-made video on sheet to tiller steering.

tenchiki · 10-09-2021, 20:06

Or find a copy of John Letcher's "Self Steering for Sailing Craft", and focus on the sections about sheet-to-tiller steering (since you may not have the above video available when you need it).

**JPA Cate** · 10-09-2021, 20:24

I was also going to recommend the Letcher book.

We have lost autopilot on a 30 ft. S&S fin keeler, 3 days out of Kauai for San Francisco. Jim rigged sheet to tiller for that. It was definitely imperfect, but would steer long enough for you to go to the toilet and still be on course, or near when you got back in the cockpit. In those days, without Satnav and GPS we ran a DR (dead reckoning) every 15 minutes, for the whole journey. Jim did sextant navigation, and it got tense after 2 weeks of too much overcast to get a fix, and closing the CA coast. If you search on Jim Cate's posts, he has written about it in more detail, if you're interested.

On our boat with a wheel, we could have worked something out for downwind, but again, 3 days, out of Tahiti that time, we hand steered. The boat had an auxiliary rudder type windvane, but there was not enough wind for it. So, we steered watch on watch (basically 6 on, 6 off is what we settled on).

If you do the reading, and bring along some spares, you should be able to work something out. If the "sheepstations" is any indication of your background, it is the ability to cobble something together that will work, and persevere, that will see you through.

At the 40 ft. size of boat, if it is a monohull, and you don't clutter up the wind flow over it, you should be able to make a windvane work, and their greatest beauty is that they don't suck up electricity, and are silent in operation. Biggest problem with wheel steered boats where they try to go through blocks to the wheel is friction, which is one of the reasons why we went to the aux. rudder type. The one Jim made was only good down to about 10 apparent, then the signal the fly got too light to do much good, the boat sort of ran away from the air.

Hope this helps.

Ann

Stu Jackson · 10-09-2021, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenchiki

Or find a copy of John Letcher's "Self Steering for Sailing Craft", and focus on the sections about sheet-to-tiller steering (since you may not have the above video available when you need it).

Great book.

If you have a Raymarine AP, buy a CPT for backup.

Better yet, use the RM as backup, you'd never need it.

My RM ST3000 failed this past week. I didn't buy the CPT when I lived in California still kickin' myself...

**Adelie** · 10-09-2021, 21:08

Sheet to tiller (or wheel) and other variations:
"Self-Steering Without a Windvane" by Lee Woas Set you back about $70-100. Worth it. He has all sorts of arrangements, so if one doesn't work for your boat, there is another that might.

smac999 · 10-09-2021, 21:36

For a long passage you should have spare pilot parts.

Yellowtulip · 11-09-2021, 02:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by mabowers

https://theislander.net/the-steersman-a-new-self-steering-gear-for-yachts/

This looks like an interesting idea, a refinement of the sheet-to-tiller idea. It appears to be a permanent installation, though, so isn’t a ‘jury-rigged’ system. I don’t know that it has many advantages over a conventional wind-vane device.