Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

Optimising electronic automatic pilots on tiller steered boats
The most common tiller pilot on a smaller sailing boat is an electrically operated ram connected between the tiller and the side of the cockpit area. By changing the length of the ram, the autopilot changes the position of the tiller.

Tiller pilot installation typically involves a simple two step modification. First drill a hole in the cockpit combing and hammer in a brass pedestal socket for the tiller pilot base unit. Alternatively a cantilever socket can be used to mount against the cockpit side with wide vessels. Finally you then either drill a hole and hammer a pin into the top of the tiller itself or mount a bracket underneath for the pilot arm to gain purchase.

The problem with this set up is that over an extended period of use the pin in the tiller or bracket screws typically works itself lose. This causes the pilot arm to increasingly fall off and finally to become inoperable. The constant back and forth motion is simply too much for the timber grain to sustain, holes widen causing the pin or screws to rock back and fort and then the rate of wear increases exponentially. Although the cockpit fibreglass is less subject to this wear the pedestal socket will also fail just the same as the tiller in time.

In use the setup is less than convenient as the tiller is down and sweeping the cockpit under the instruction of the pilot.

Worse we used the tiller pilot most when running downwind - wind steering mechanical devices are less reliable in light downwind runs – and in this sailing condition we often had a roll. Too many times we were surprised by a roll, overbalanced and where normally we would just drop across to land on the opposite seat of the cockpit we instead fell upon the tiller with all our weight. This weight in turn transferred in a highly leveraged fashion into the controlling tiller pilot ram mechanism. Something that I am sure can only dramatically shorten the working life of our piece of equipment.

Help to keep the boom under control
We have all been in the circumstance. It is dark, conditions are rough and you are tired and not feeling the best. You put off reefing an hour ago because it is just too much hard work fighting the main sail and you hoped it would back down. But now it is too late – you have to get it down and it is going to be a real battle. Sound familiar?

A boarding ladder on a stern mounted rudder stock
It is virtually impossible for a swimmer to climb aboard most yachts. The topsides are too high and afford no purchase.

Reducing navigation light power consumption and enhancing reliability
Running a suite of navigation lights through the night whilst under sail can consume a large amount of a vessels battery capacity. So much so that power conservative sailors in remote waters have a tendency to turn off navigation lights to avoid the power drain.

Increasing the roles a galley sink cover may address
Cruising yachts are very limited in space so one has to carefully measure the utility any item serves against the storage space it requires to judge if specific items are worth having.

Reducing galvanic corrosion or electrolysis throughout the vessel
When different metal are in contact with each other, either submersed in, or subject to seawater spray, galvanic corrosion or electrolysis occurs. This is an exchange of electrons, atomic particles, ions etc causing an electronic difference of potential between the metals. The less noble or anodic metal can be very quickly corroded away by the seawater conducting its ions to the more noble or cathodic metal. Aluminium, ordinary steels and the more base metals are less noble and highly subject to corrosion. The more noble materials include bronze and stainless steel.

Keeping doused jibs and spinnakers aboard
Doused jibs and spinnakers can be a challenge to keep aboard, especially if conditions are boisterous.

Improving a cruising vessels charging by right-sizing the alternator
Most all inboard sailboat engines have a standard alternator size range from 35 to 55 amps and use it to top up batteries. However the modern cruising life is electrically hungry and we quickly add batteries without considering the alternators capability to charge an expansion.

A simple and effective solar panel implementation
Solar panels perform well when they are free of shade, or even in partial shadow, and the sun is directly above. However finding a position on a sailing vessel that will be continually optimised for light capture is unlikely.

To make matters worse a sailing vessel is highly space constrained and large solar panels will easily encroach upon boat operations and crew comfort.

The best solution is to build a dedicated panel gantry so that the panels are clear of the deck and are in an area of relatively little shade. However this is an extensive piece of engineering, requiring some specialist work, investment and it will dramatically alter the vessels aesthetics.

A folding table arrangement for a confined cabin
Mounting a reasonable sized table in a confined cabin can be a challenge. A respectably sized table can consume a large proportion of the available space and can make accessing the fore cabin inconvenient. Yet a table that is not in the way will be too small and unpleasant to dine off.