DaySailer.org Forum

i just bought a tiller tamer to help with singlehanded sailing i was wondering if anybody who has done this if it's best mounted on top or bottom of tiller and where best to mount the clamcleats any help or pictures would be great thanks

I have mine mounted on the top of the tiller about 8 inches from the end (so it does not interfere with the hiking stick). I put the jam cleats at the back of the coaming toward the rear of the boat. One piece of advice, use cam cleats rather than the jam cleats I used. They are a much more sure lock of the tiller tamer control line than the jam cleat.

I've considered buying one, but have yet to do so. I've found I probably won't use it very often, but when you do need something to hold the tiller in place, this makes a good, NO COST, alternative.

I found this idea on another sailing website:

Take a piece of line about 8-10' long. An old halyard will do.

Cleat one end off on one stern cleat.

Center the tiller handle so the boat is heading straight ahead. Run the line to the tiller, about 4 or 5 inches from the handle end and wrap the halyard around the tiller 3 times, keeping the line fairly taut.

Continue to run the line to the opposite stern cleat and cleat if off.

Keeping the halyard in that position will hold the tiller so that it doesn't move around on it's own and change your course. Sliding the wrapped section of halyard back towards the stern will create enough slack so that the tiller can be moved in whatever direction you need to.

It's a technique that works pretty well on those occasions when really need three hands and you only have two.

I have a Tiller Tamer on my boat. I installed it under the tiller because if it was mounted on top it would interfear with my tiller extension parking clip. Used two cam cleats. Works great.
Pete