Coquina Steering Mod

[DrakeChristensen]

I've been looking at the rope steering setup on Coquina in the most recent WB. I've never steered a boat that way but the more I think about it the more I like it. One thought I've had is whether it is possible to "cross" the line under the deck before exiting the transom. The result would seem more intuitive to me - steering wheel orientation to the rope, i.e., slide the port side forward, boat turns to starboard.

I suppose this thought is influenced by me having sailed more with a pedestal-mounted wheel than with a tiller.

I'm hardly one to improve on NGH; maybe there are downsides I'm not thinking of.

Thoughts?

[Ron Carter]

Was thinking the same when reading the article. I'm not familiar with pedestal wheels but have had steering on the gunwales on several power boats, both wheel and lever. Forward on either side steers you to the opposite side. Agree more intuitive.

[PVanderwaart]

The biggest problem I see is that the line runs thru an couple addition blocks, adding friction.

When you are running along with weather helm, you want to be pulling on the steering rope from a convenient direction, not pushing the line away from you.

[Osborne Russel]

With rope steering, friction is good for helping the rudder stay where you put it.

One problem I see is that the rudder lines will get wet and stretch. You need some provision to tighten them.

[DrakeChristensen]

Originally posted by PVanderwaart:

When you are running along with weather helm, you want to be pulling on the steering rope from a convenient direction, not pushing the line away from you.Makes sense...

[Bill Perkins]

I was thinking it might look neater if single pennants led to the rudder . Inboard these lines would terminate with a bullet block, their length being just enough to allow full Right and Left rudder before the blocks fetched up against the transom .A crossover system as mentioned above might let the bullet blocks be hauled all the way in while still being aft of the helmsman's hand when steering from the aft thwart .The 2 part tackles would develop inboard .It seems to make sense not to have the tackles out board , where the blocks would be submerged at times and the double lines might pick up flotsam .

I understand that the geometry of the pivoting rudder produces slack when the rudder's not amidship .I don't think I'd like this .If the rudder was a bit higher a transverse yoke could be fitted at its rear edge to reduce this problem .

[ 11-29-2005, 08:04 AM: Message edited by: Bill Perkins ]

[Ron Carter]

The weather helm comment is well taken. However on that boat there should be minimal helm if the sails are trimmed properly.

[Rob Hazard]

Take a close look at the photo of Sojourner at the top of pg 78. Joe Youcha raised the attachment point of the steering tackles to get them up out of the stern wave.

I'm also curious as to why Herreshoff didn't use a yoke on the rudderhead. I would think it would ease the steering quite a bit.