On Mon, Jan 21, 2013 at 6:05 AM, Gardner Pomper <gardner@networknow.org> wrote:

 I am not clear on the tiller idea. I would be happy enough with a
single tiller, but I am having a hard time seeing the use to two
tillers; sometimes one at a time (having to stow the other partway
through the shunt) and sometimes both (to be able to use both
rudders). Am I just missing some simple way to do this? Plus, I am not
willing to give up on autopilots when cursing, so how will that work?

One tiller can be done, but the linkages make it messy.  Two tillers
also gives the option of steering both rudders the same way, which is
occasionally handy (eg, getting off a lee jetty) and using them
different amounts, which marginally increases shunting speed.

I am not very knowledgable about autopilots (a/p) but don't see much
difference between shunting and tacking from the a/p's point of view.
Would the following work, assuming you steer with one rudder and lock
the other, and change them when you shunt.  The locking would be the
same as the autopilot connection, a hole in the extension which sits
on a pin adjacent to the a/p.
Sailing upwind using the aft rudder/tiller extension, front one locked.
1) Pick up both extensions and shunt.
2) Lock off the new front extension and put the rear one on the a/p.
3) Reset your a/p to the new course.
If your a/p has a tacking function, you could enable this once the
extensions are in hand.  The pilot would do it's thing with nothing
attached, and be ready for the new course when the new ext was
attached.  Presumably, this would also work with wind direction as the
input.

With tillers on bidirectional rudders (or beam rudders where they can
flip over so they are both pointing inboard), pushing on both tillers
causes both rudders to luff the boat, pulling causes both to bear
away.   Therefore, both extensions could be connected to the a/p to
reduce the loads and energy consumption.  The connection would be a
simple plate or a pin in one extension that the other one sits on.

Btw, I have also hired Rob to try to help put a design to paper with all my weird-ass requirements (on water folding, fit in a shipping container, etc). I think I may have had to give up on the 12' beam for trailerability (sorry, I tried to put that one in just for you!) but for now, there would be (minor) disassembly to make that happen (have to remove the removable cockpit). When Rob has beaten some sense into me and come up with drawings, I would also be happy to share with the group (with Rob's permission).

No problem, the more the merrier.   Some (quite a few actually) of
your wild ass ideas are very clever.  Including the interior dining
table.

rob

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