Thread: Modifications to a Whilly Boat

I have used rope steering and push pull tiller on a Featherwind and on my Aquilia, when it was a decked sailing canoe. I prefer the rope. It can be got-at from anywhere in the boat and if you tighten the line a bit it will stiffen up and it can steer it'self for short distances. It also adapts easily to foot steering if you want that. When I sail I prefer to faced forward. Craning the neck fore and aft while sitting sideways is a bit bothersome with the arthritis. When Aquila-the-punt is in the water, soon I hope, I would consider putting rear view mirrors on her. Yes. Seriously.

With rope steering I suggest the the crosspiece on the rudder head be close to the beam of the boat in length. It helps to have the leverage. I have used screw-eyes without pulleys on 16 foot boats for guides without any problem. Push pulll stick requires a lot more attention and needs a keeper of some sort to stop it going over board and dragging aft. I also like a jam cleat for the main so I can have hands off sailing for enough time to pour a drink or fill and light the pipe without heaving to.



Here's a picture of my setup and on the starbooard side is a simple adjuster that lets me set the tension I want on the rope. The adjuster idea is stolen from the old pup-tent tie-down adjuster.



Try it and see what you think. You can always remove it and go back to a tiller if you don't like it.

BTW, the yellow string, in the first picture, on the port side against the backrest is used to raise the rudder and has a loop that hooks on the port deck cleat to keep it up.

Good luck!
CN

Thanks for the pictures CN and the words of experience. AJ - good stuff on too short tillers/yokes
MIK