J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Tiller tamer

Any suggestion on a non autohelm tiller setup that will work for setting sails and making minor adjustment while single handling?

I know I guy who puts blocks on the forward stanchions and runs a continous line from the tiller through the spin blocks making a square. You can then steer from anywhere on the boat.

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[This message has been edited by MangoMadnesss (edited 09-09-2008).]

That's a great idea. Really. It's so simple.

Sounds like a neat idea. I just raced five races in my J-30 singlehanded in the Commodore Cup Regatta at Perry Lake, and I could have used a way to stear the boat while raising and lowering the sails, etc. Trying to race with a 155 headsail singlehanded is dificult. I can handle the 110 OK but tacking the 155 is a pain espacially when the wind gets up to 20 knots!

I've done some doublehanded races and get a PHRF certificate for using only the 110% jib and spinnaker with no #1. It drops the rating from 137 to 150 (or 154 to 173 w/o spinnaker).


[This message has been edited by Rhapsody #348 (edited 09-12-2008).]

The problem I see with teh system is that you still need to constantly tweak the rudder. It needs someway to induce friction to hold the rudder in place, then it might just need an occasional nudge.

I like the idea of a 173 PHRF rating if using the 110 and no spinnaker. Where did the rating come from? is there any documentation available for that rating. I would like to convince the PHRF rater at my club to give me that rating if I'm sailing with the 110 alone. - I After the first day of racing using the 155 asnd the high winds I was too wore out to do it again the next day so I only hoisted the 110. It is great upwind but i suffer downwind with it.

I have made a device to help steer the boat when single handing. I bought an adjustable aluminum pole that came with a brush on the end. (It was only about five dollars or so at Big Lots) It is somewhat like a forespar tiller extension. It has a ring that you twist to lock the extension to whatever length you want. I made a pin that fit the existing hole in the handle end of the pole. I mounted the pin vertically near the toerail. On the other end I made a U-shaped fitting that fit my existing Spinlock fitting on my tiller. I can quickly disconnect the tiller extension and it is easy to adjust and lock.
Unfortunately when you think you have the tiller adjusted to steer the boat straight ahead - your weight moving forward on the boat changes the balance and the boat will eventually end up turning- so you usually have to move pretty fast whenever you go forward.

Look on the PHRF-NB web site at this link: http://www.phrf-nb.org/
On the left menu click on "Ratings", then scroll down to the J/30s and you'll see Rhapsody with 2 certificates. You can also click on the "Rating Procedures" to see how they approach the rating changes.