Cal 34 Tiller Steering

[930chef]

Im looking to buy a cal 34 with tiller steering. I haven't sailed it yet, and im not worried about it, but im wondering if my wife will be able to handle the weather helm.
Any first hand info about the old 34 is much appreciated.
thanks,
Kevin

[CruisingCouple]

The weather helm should be no problem if you tune the rig and trim the sails to get rid of it. I mean most of it. A little is good.

[snort]

Are Cal 34's known for excessive weather helm?

[roverhi]

With a balanced spade rudder, couldn't see how there would be much of a problem. Unbalanced rudders like on boats with a skeg or full keel are usually the boats that have very high rudder input required.

[930chef]

A bit more than average, I think.
But she is not wanting to tear me away from the wheel much.
Just wanting to get feedback before I present an offer.
Thanks for your help.
My first post on this forum, and response is fast and friendly.
That's why I prefer this forum.
Thanks,
Kevin

[CruisingCouple]

I can't see how a balanced rudder would be that excessive on tiller effort either. I might suggest looking at putting on a tiller pilot. They're pretty cheap compared to the autopilots for wheel boats. If either of you get tired of being at the tiller just let the tiller pilot handle it for awhile and take a break.

[boatman61]

Raymarine 2000.. don't be tempted to shop on E-Bay.. go for new..

[roochum]

Hey, don't leave out the tiller clutch. It is a great backup for the Ray 2000... I use it 75% of the time on my Flicka...

[CruisingCouple]

Yeah, that's right. The old "Tiller Tamer". I got one on our Hunter 22 and bought one for our Legend 37 that's getting a tiller conversion. Even with the autopilot the Tiller Tamer is pretty handy. It's just a rope that goes thru a block and adjustable clutch on the tiller, and the bitter ends of the rope go in a couple cam cleats on the corners of the transom. The autopilot is nice if you want to steer a compass course. But the Tiller Tamer works just fine about 90% of the time if you simply want to take a break from the tiller. It's the "poor man's autopilot"

[roochum]

Tiller "tamers " are great too. Take a look at the "Tiller Clutch" by Wavefront. It is attached the same way but it operates with the touch of your "pinky" finger. Don't even have to put your drink down to operate...

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by CruisingCouple

Yeah, that's right. The old "Tiller Tamer". I got one on our Hunter 22 and bought one for our Legend 37 that's getting a tiller conversion. Even with the autopilot the Tiller Tamer is pretty handy. It's just a rope that goes thru a block and adjustable clutch on the tiller, and the bitter ends of the rope go in a couple cam cleats on the corners of the transom. The autopilot is nice if you want to steer a compass course. But the Tiller Tamer works just fine about 90% of the time if you simply want to take a break from the tiller. It's the "poor man's autopilot"

Hell... I just use a bungee cord on a cleat..

[CruisingCouple]

Originally Posted by roochum

Tiller "tamers " are great too. Take a look at the "Tiller Clutch" by Wavefront. It is attached the same way but it operates with the touch of your "pinky" finger. Don't even have to put your drink down to operate...

Yeah, the Tiller Tamer is the one I got on the 22. I bought a Wavefront Tiller Clutch with the flip lever for the 37. I also bought a Monitor Windvane for the 37, which cost a lot more than I expected - hoping to recoup some of that cost when I sell the pedestal, wheel and autopilot out of it. And bought a Simrad TP32 electric autopilot.

Still waiting for my custom tiller to get here - they said three weeks on that. So when I get this Legend 37 steering system done she'll have windvane primary, electric linear actuator type backup (or for motoring with no wind or really light air under sail) and Tiller Clutch.

She's going to be the only Legend 37 on the high seas with a tiller. But after I got the wheel and pedestal out of it (and the just about broken steering cable with wire hair growing out of it) we can host a dance in the cockpit

[Mal Reynolds]

Weather helm?

How about easing the main sheet? Dropping the traveller? Reefing?

[Azul]

The sail plan was changed on the Mark II and Mark III, due to weather helm. I have never read or heard that it was terribly excessive though. The prior owners of my boat did a "short boom conversion" with mid boom sheeting and a coach roof traveler to make it easier to single-hand and more like the modern versions. They were three engineers and avid racers.

The biggest complaint about the tiller version is due to the length of the tiller and the resultant seating position of the helmsman. I have an Edson wheel conversion, but the original tiller mechanism was left intact for emergencies (just bolt the tiller back onto the floor plate contraption) and when I bolted it on out of curiousity the tiller definitely fills up the cockpit and the helmsman position is very far forward.

There are a lot of people that like tillers, I don't think it is a big deal and it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

[930chef]

thanks for the input.since my original post weve taken it on a sea trial, and now were just addressing little issues found during the survey. cant wait to close the deal and drive it home.
its in remarkable condition, its one of those boats that looks better than the pictures, not the other way around.
I looked at several boats and its amazing how well the photos look, then when you see it in person you wonder if its the same boat.
we got lucky with this one, its gorgeous!
Kevin&bonnie