MacGregorSailors.com

Just thought I would start a new thread on this as it was a question posed on the thread about tools where it would get lost.

My ultimate solution to the emergency tiller was to add a second inside steering station, with the same basic rotary helm system that the boat had already. It is posted with photos in the mods section.Click here

Here was the original post with 2 other photos: Click here

I can't leave them both attached at the same time, but in about a minute I can disconnect the one and attach the other at the rudder yoke by simple removeing the one bolt and attaching the other.

Benefits are:
1) Quick solid emergency steering.
2) The ability to steer protected from inside if you have a hard upwind slog though bad (cold, rainy) weather
3) spare steering system serves as onboard spare parts for repacing the main steering if needed.

Cost was around $240 total for the wheel, helm system with cable and splashwell tube. I got the splashwell tube from macgregor to make it the same as the original. The onlt other parts needed were a piece of plywood to attach the steering system to, a couple bits of angle aluminum and a few fasteners.

I refuse to take a boat into the ocean, even coastal, without a good emergency tiller.

There were some other ideas on this question a while back which I do not remember fully. Some involved pulleys and may also still be in the mods section.

Craig, thanks for posting that interesting mod, that does add a different dimension for sure.....I like it!!!! The installation looks fairly clean also, great job!

Just a note though, by the looks of that aluminum horizontal piece sticking out on the inboard side, I'd round it off on the edge, with a rasp or file, for a smooth surface. I can see me snagging a body part on that and creating a new scar, not that I am prone to accidents......ahem!

Yes, actually the aluminum has nothing to do with the steering system. It is a support for a chimney flue pipe I can rig with a kerosene stove to act as a heater. I have since covered the aluminum that sticks out with a pad. Although it also made a good support for the little wood tray I mounted on top. I found the little wood corner tray for almost nothing at a lumber store and picked it up a year ago thinking eventually I would find a spot for it. Slapped on some varnish and it looks nice. Thanks.

has anyone come up with an emercency tiller tha would work with a yamaha50 f/s,,,to get a tiller from the dealer quoted price $500,must be so costly because it has engine controls on it,,any better idea's,,

Yeah, it was my post in the tools question !!! Pretty elaborate back up - I don't think I need that much. Probably going to find a way to hook a temporary tiller to the back steering, I am more worried with the cable breaking than the bars......which I could rig an alternative up to in an emergency.

KKC

One simpler way might be to screw some type of bracket to the top of the outboard motor cover. Then attach a boat hook or something as a tiller.

But I wanted something bullet proof since odds are it breaks when things are rough and nasty.

craiglaforce wrote:One simpler way might be to screw some type of bracket to the top of the outboard motor cover. Then attach a boat hook or something as a tiller.

I would not use the OB cover. It is not robust enough to take the pressures you would be applying. I've been looking at options for an emergency tiller, and I'm about set on building something that will bolt onto the hand-tiller mounting holes on my Suzuki DF-50. I'm not yet sure what form this will take, so I can't really go into any details yet. My criteria for this project are:

1. Must be easily stored without taking up too much room.
2. Must be installable quickly, and, if possible, without the use of tools.
3. Must be durable enough to withstand the normal forces of sailing and low-speed power cruise modes.
4. Must not interfere with any normal operations of the existing steering and motor operation.
5. Must be compatible with future installation of an autopilot.

I'm sure this list will grow as I move deeper into this project. I'll keep you posted.

--Mark

would a long handled sculling oar like the engine-less boats use do the job? I've been considering carrying one for mucking about in shallow water when we dont want to risk the motor etc.

I guess if you installed a pivot point somewhere down near the motor that would be better than nothing. I thought about lots of ideas and finally concluded it was easiest and most robust to just add another steering wheel. WHat really convinced me to do this was looking at the mod with all the pulleys and stuff someone rigged up. It might still be in the mods section. I figured if I had to go to that extent, it wasn't any more work to just install a second helm and be done with it. Plus I would no doubt forget where all the pulleys went when the system was needed.

I totally agree that the motor cover is not secure enough to give me a good feeling about using it, but if I was in a bind I would likely try anything to get back the dock. I suppose a really skilled sailor could steer by adjusting the sails and dragging a small anchor in the water, but I wanted a bullet proof fix. If the steering broke, odds are I'm in bad conditions already and need something that will absolutely work.

I should be finished with my emergency tiller this weekend. I bent a length of galvanized pipe to fit a pivot I will install just above the drain hole in the motor well. I will connect it to the control bar at the point where the helm control connects after welding a bracket to the tiller. The only problem I see is that I cant use the tiller when the motor is up. I figure in an emergency I wont be worried about sailing performance and would probably be motoring anyway. My motor is connected to the rudder mounts so the tiller will turn the motor as well as the rudders. Ill post some pictures on Monday if it works.

My contingency plan for a broken steering gear is lashing a boat hook to the top of the Motor (Bigfoot 50) with sailties, disconnecting the rudders and using motor to steer like a small fishing boat. A six foot sail tie makes a nice 'bowtie' loop around the motor - just dont handle it like a gorilla...

I put the rear seat up to get it out of the way.

this works pretty well; I have backed into a finger slip in decent conditions with this setup (its actually easier to fine steer with the tiller than the wheel!!)

Keep your speed and revs down, and your spirits up!

sps

Catigale

I just posted my emergency tiller mod with pictures. It seems simple and can be installed without tools. It works great in the driveway, Ill let you know how it works in the water when we get back from Mexico.

Tim

I just posted my emergency tiller mod with pictures. It seems simple and can be installed without tools. It works great in the driveway, Ill let you know how it works in the water when we get back from Mexico.

Tim

I just posted my emergency tiller mod with pictures. It seems simple and can be installed without tools. It works great in the driveway, Ill let you know how it works in the water when we get back from Mexico.

Tim

I just posted my tiller modification. I works great in the driveway and will turn the motor with the rudders. I'll try it out on the Mexico trip and let you know how it works in real life.

Tim