On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 12:56:57 -0700, "Lloyd Sumpter"
wrote:


Yup - I've USED my "emergency tiller" and it's not that bad. I'd say at
least basic tools and spares of critical items should be as required as a
PFD.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

We got out the emergency tiller on my bud's Amel Sharpi ketch last
Sunday, just to see how it worked. You lift up the compartment hatch
under the aft cabin bedding and the rudder post is right inside.
There's a shaft that fits to the top of the square rudder post and
goes up through a hole in the cabin roof after you slide a little
hatch cover over to expose the hole. The tiller bolts easily to the
top of this long shaft pulling against the hole's bearing surface.

Though it looks funnier than hell sitting on top of the cabin steering
this 41' center cockpit ketch, it was very easy and functional to
use......(c;

We're installing a new B&G H1000 Pilot autopilot into the boat. The
electrically-powered actuator steers directly to the end of the
bellcrank on the rudder post. You can feel some resistance as you
steer the big wheel by hand as it pumps the oil around in the
actuator. The mechanic that did the mechanical installation made a
kind of trailer-hitch-looking heavy metal adapter to it. Very
ingenious installation. B&G has a rudder position sensor that
measures the position of the plunger in the main actuator...a separate
unit. All I/O will be done through the B&G NMEA adapter to
it....including rudder position, I hope. We'll see.



Larry W4CSC

Isn't it becoming more practical by the day to make
Iraq's desert the new World Nuclear Waste Disposal Site?