Ever since sailboats were invented they required a man on the tiller. As boats became more developed there was a need for a device to do the job of a helmsman. Modern sailboats, with fin keels and spade rudders, allow the boat to change course quickly. This also means that if the tiller is released the boat will change course by it self quickly. One result of this is that the tiller could not be released for even a short time without the boat dramatically changing course. Helmsmen started to improvise and add devices to hold the tiller in place. Then there were a few devices manufactured to hold the tiller. All of these had shortcomings. Finally the Tiller Stay came along. With this device the helmsman has complete control of the tiller and the course of the boat and also has the ability to let go of the tiller and have the boat stay on course.
This device allows the skipper to:
1. Add a controlled amount of friction to the tiller motion so that if he lets go, the tiller will remain stationary.
2. Add enough friction so the tiller is in effect locked. This position will only be used when the boat is not sailing. (That is in a slip or on a mooring.)
3…Remove the device by just lifting the line out of the cleat.
When the boat is being sailed the Tiller Stay will normally be used with just enough friction so that the tiller will not move by itself. In light wind the friction needed will be very light. In windier conditions the friction will need to be increased. This is accomplished by just moving one or more of the beads that are on the line to the other side of the cleat that is mounted on the tiller. The friction can be changed in small increments by changing the number of beads that are moved through the cleat. The friction is repeatable because the same number of beads gives the same friction every time.
The friction that is supplied by the Tiller Stay is very smooth. This means that it is hardly noticeable and is not a distraction to the helmsman but allows him to let go of the tiller in order to take care of other jobs such as trimming sails or reading a chart.
One of the most important thing that a tiller control device must do is to be able to be tweaked. This tweaking involves moving the tiller just a little bit in one direction or the other. This is important because modern boats are very sensitive to the rudder position and just a slight bit of motion will alter their course. The Tiller Stay uses a dacron line attached to a stainless steel tension spring. This keeps the line snug at all times and there fore the tiller will always stay where it is put when it is being tweaked.
The design of the Tiller Stay is such that it is easy to mount on any boat and comes with everything needed to install it. The installation requires two small screws under each friction spool and the installation of the cleat on the tiller.
The precise adjustability, ability to tweak the rudder and quality construction make the Tiller Stay by far the best tiller control device made.