Tom,,

So, you have used it ... ok ok ... what and where does the jib sheet attach
to? Say we go with a starboard tack.

Wind from abeam to a beat... the sheet on the port side will be tight,
right. // the sheet on the starboard side is loose, right?

If the boat pulls into the wind { to starboard } the tiller is pulled to
port, right? So, this means that something must pull the tiller back to
starboard to keep the boat from pulling into the wind, right?

How is pressure applied to the windward side of the tiller ?? Is that the
stretch tuding that pulls it back to windward side?

I did this last summer with a bungy cord. I got her on course, attached my
cord and when the boat pulled into the wind the cord would pull a little.
Could hole a course for a few minutes, not long. But this was not a very
good set up.

If she would hold for one half an hour that would be great. Give me lots of
time to do other things.

If you could try to explain just a little better ... please?



"Tom Dacon" wrote in message
...
There's a really good book that describes how to do this. It's by John
Letcher and was published in the early 70's. Go to Barnes and Noble's used
and out of print books section (www.bn.com), search on John Letcher as
author, and see if you can find a copy.

I used that book to set up sheet to tiller steering on the 28' 3/4 keel
sloop that I owned back then, and it worked great. Wouldn't steer straight
down wind, of course, but on a beam reach to a beat it worked just fine.
Unless the boat got thrown way off course by a wave, it steered like a
champ. I'd set it up and sit back and read while it steered the boat. I
don't remember now, after all this time, how far aft the wind could be
before it stopped working, but it seems to me that the wind could be a
fair distance aft of the beam.

Best regards,
Tom Dacon

"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:J2s%g.8604$gZ2.6181@trndny07...
Found this info on the net, all about sheet to tiller self steering.
Since I have a tiller ,,

I read and re-read the web site info for the sheet to tiller set up.. I
still can't understand it. The pictures don't help and there are no
diagrams.

Figured one of you could explain better or send me to a site that shows
diagrams, and pictures that actually show the set up.