Power Tiller

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 9:22 am

So, i've been doing a bit more armchair sailing and looking at how to spend money i don't have and i came across a product called power tiller. Does anyone have any experience with this device/ the web site says that "Charlie J. MO, USA Charlie sails a Chrysler 26 powered by a Johnson 10 HP aux." If your around Charlie sound in! any photos? Any thoughts on this guys?

http://www.powertiller.net/

Alanhod · Post by **Alanhod** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:35 pm

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:19 pm

alan, im thinking the same way! i keep my motor locked in at 90 degrees and use the tiller also for all steering. now im thinking if i could have forward and reverse and throttle on the tiller that would be cool but im not into the motor swinging all over the place.

Alanhod · Post by **Alanhod** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:33 pm

Banshi · Post by **Banshi** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 5:51 am

I just saw that a couple of days ago and was interested in how it actually worked in the real world. They also offer the adapters for throttle control most outboards which can be hard to find for some.

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:18 am

Power tiller sounds cool but my money goes for an autopilot. Or tiller pilot.
One of the very best purchases I ever made for a boat was a tiller pilot!

In fact I recently just bought a used one from a member here for my C22.

Practical use includes using it to hold the boat into the wind while I raise or lower the main and jib. It is like a second person at the helm for you!

Other use is the simple freedom you get not being tied to the helm 100% of the time! Set the tiller pilot, and go sit on the bow! Or maybe have lunch, or whatever! I took our old 28'er from Everett to deep into Hood Canal a two day run in very calm conditions. I had just installed the new tiller pilot. I was absolutly thrilled to set the helm and go up to the bow with my boys ( they were very young back then ) and have a nice picnic dinner while the boat steered herself!

Hey Alan, you're going to be jealous when I get mine installed on Lady Jo!

Scott

javelin · Post by **javelin** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:20 am

It looks like a really good idea, especially for tight docking where I have to bend over the transom to turn the motor for extra steerage. However, I would like to speak to someone who has actually installed this device. It is one thing to say it is " relatively " easy to install, it is another to do it with minimum amount of swearing.

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 7:02 am

I have EE's controls on the starboard side of the cockpit behind the portlight. I usually come into dock standing up at the tiller and just use my right foot to control the motor. kick forward to speed up, kick it with the back of my heel to shift to neutral or reverse and back down.

Besides it's fun to see people look at you standing straight up and wondering how you're shifting and reversing without breaking your best Capt Morgan pose. Hee hee.

Capt. Bondo · Post by **Capt. Bondo** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 8:59 am

I too have mastered the Capt Morgan pose

guyaks · Post by **guyaks** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 12:05 pm

here is one on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX5AgF99huQ

guyaks · Post by **guyaks** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 2:01 am

another video in action on a real boat...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1c3VvKg ... re=related

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:17 am

My dislike of the power tiller is mainly that it separates the throttle and gear functions. So, in that moment of panic when you need reverse you have to throttle down, shift, and then throttle up.

With the standard remotes that many of us have it's very simple and instinctual, even for beginners. Lever forward = forward. More forward = more throttle. Lever back = reverse. More back = more throttle. Almost like a joystick.