The TillerClutch holds your tiller in any desired position for momentary relief from steering by gripping a small control-line led aft to port and starboard. The TillerClutch is simple and intuitive to use, giving you a small control lever within finger reach of your steering hand on the underside of your tiller handle. Its rope clutch mechanism engages a small control-line passing through it that is attached aft across your cockpit to port and starboard. A touch downward on the lever instantly engages the control-line to hold your tiller still. You can gently squeeze the lever upward to momentarily free the control-line and make course corrections. Releasing the lever allows it to return to the engaged position. A firmer upward squeeze, with an audible solid click, toggles the TillerClutch “off” for continual free steering.

One model is designed to fit most tiller-steered boats from dinghies to smaller cruisers. Two screws mount it soundly to your square or round wooden tiller, or even to an aluminum one. (If you ever remove it, the screw holes will be hidden on the underside of the tiller.) It can also be used for steadying auxiliary outboards. TillerClutch is not intended for wheel-steered boats, and is not recommended for super light small racing boats. Your tiller clutch can be used for the following:

* tacking
* preventing “rudder knock” at the dock or at anchor
* while reefing or changing or dousing sail
* motoring
* changing hands at the helm
* heaving to
* launching and landing
* when you don’t have time to engage and adjust your tiller pilot
* dinghy racing
* just taking a break - especially when sailing close-hauled
* It should be used with caution in rough conditions -hand steering should take      priority.

The TillerClutch should not be confused with any type of active tiller pilot. The TillerClutch is a mechanical device intended to hold the tiller in any desired position for momentary relief from steering. Some boats can remain on course (usually close-hauled) with the tiller fixed for an extended time, others for only a short period. It is the sailor’s responsibility to decide when steering corrections are needed. Care must always be taken when leaving the tiller unattended while underway. The TillerClutch nicely complements an electronic tiller controller. Tiller pilots typically can’t react to boat wakes, wind shifts, channel bends, etc. Your TillerClutch will stand by without adding any drag for the mechanism to overcome. When a quick course change is needed, just disengage your tiller pilot, click your TillerClutch on and trim to your new course. Then you’ll have time to readjust your tiller pilot if desired.

TillerClutch^TM Owners Guide

Operation
    When properly installed, your TillerClutch will be simple and intuitive to use, giving you a small control lever within finger reach of your steering hand on the underside of your tiller handle. Its rope clutch mechanism engages a small control-line passing through it that is attached aft across your cockpit to port and starboard. A touch downward on the lever instantly engages the control-line to hold your tiller still. You can gently squeeze the lever upward to momentarily free the control-line and make course corrections. Releasing the lever allows it to return to the engaged position. A firmer upward squeeze toggles the TillerClutch “off” for continual free steering. It’s that simple and obvious to use with a neat, solid click. 

Installation
    Installing your new TillerClutch is easy, requiring just two screws. No assembly or disassembly is needed. The mounting base of your TillerClutch is specially shaped to fit tiller shafts that have a square, rounded or circular shape. 
    TillerClutch is designed to be mounted on the underside of your tiller with the lever within reach of your steering hand. To get a feel for the best mounting location on your tiller, you may want to temporarily clamp your new TillerClutch in place and experiment with different positions before mounting it. This is easily done with a pair of auto hose clamps wrapped around tiller and TillerClutch. Be sure to pad the clamps to protect your wood.

Tools and Supplies Needed for Installation:

• No. 2 size Phillips-head screw driver
• Loctite® red “threadlocker” 262 (aluminum tillers only) at auto parts stores
• Electric drill
• Drill Bit (7/64” dia. for wooden tiller, or 1/8” dia. for aluminum tiller)
• Pencil
• Tools necessary to remove and reinstall the tiller, if desired
• (It is advisable to remove your tiller to achieve a well-aligned mounting job.) 

Positioning
    For best results, attach your TillerClutch with its lever pointing forward and centered directly beneath the tiller. Position the lever at or slightly aft of your normal grip position on the tiller handle. Typically, the body of the TillerClutch is 5 to 8 inches from the forward end of the tiller. But, the best location will be at your preference (some want the lever right at their finger tips, while others want it shifted aft, fully out of the way of their fingers. Keep in mind hand size (because many tillers taper fatter going aft), and the placement of tiller accessories: hiking stick mount, auto helm, GPS, etc.
Mounting Screws
    Always use #8 flat head or oval head stainless steel screws. TillerClutch is shipped with 1-3/4” long screws, but 1-1/2” to 2” long screws are available from marine or hardware stores if needed. Avoid regular steel or galvanized screws, as they can corrode and cause damage.
Preparation
    After determining your preferred location, lightly mark the tiller with a pencil at the ends of the unit’s housing. It is best to remove your tiller from the boat, and support it squarely upside down on a padded work surface. Place your TillerClutch in the desired position between the pencil marks. Be certain to line it up squarely on the bottom surface of the tiller with the lever toward the forward end. Insert the provided screws through the two mounting holes, and lightly tap them to dent the tiller in the appropriate location. Then remove the device and observe the screw marks.
    Note, it is important not to use your TillerClutch as a drill guide, to avoid damage to the protective anodized surfacing.
Wooden Tillers
    For wooden tillers, drill a hole exactly centered on each screw-dent location with a 7/64 inch drill bit ½ inch deep. Be careful to keep the drill bit perpendicular to the surface of the tiller. Tighten the screws in place by hand with your phillips screwdriver.
Aluminum Tillers
    On aluminum tillers, carefully a tap a center punch or sharp nail with a hammer precisely on each screw mark to properly center the drill bit before drilling. Careful alignment is important. Use a 1/8 inch drill bit being careful to center the bit in the enlarged dents being sure to stop the drill the instant you are through the first surface.
    To prevent galvanic corrosion and strengthen the mounting, apply a drop of Loctite® red “threadlocker” 262 to the threads of the screws before screwing them in. To prevent stripping of the new threads, avoid over tightening the screws. 

Control-Line
    TillerClutch works best with a good grade of 3/16” diameter double-braid yacht rope such as Sta-Set^TM from New England Ropes. The ends must be carefully melt-whipped not to exceed the diameter of the rope. (String whipping will not fit through the precise rope passage in your TillerClutch. The best method is to slide the braided cover of the rope back to expose about ½ inch of the core. Cut off most of the exposed core, fusing its ends with heat. Then slide the cover back over the core. Cut the cover off slightly longer than the core and fuse it and roll it. If done properly, this will provide a nicely rounded end slightly smaller than the rope itself. Be very careful not to get burned on the melted plastic, and avoid breathing any smoke.
    It is important to keep your control-line in good condition. If your control-line becomes worn or frayed, it should be replaced. This is essential, because, a worn-out rope could bunch up and become jammed within the clutch mechanism inhibiting tiller movement.

Securing the Control-Line to Your Boat
    The ends of the control-line should be attached to the combings or sides of your cockpit somewhere toward the transom. It is a good idea to swing the tiller through its arc while holding the line in different locations (fore and aft) to determine the best location. Notice how the pull length will vary somewhat with tiller position.
    It is important for the control-line attachments to be easily removable and adjustable. Small plastic clam cleats that have built-in fairleads work best for this purpose. These cleats are inexpensive and unobtrusive, and will allow you to adjust or release the control-line from either side of the cockpit. You can quickly detach the control-line for easy access to the transom, or loosen the line for lifting the tiller. A safety advantage of the plastic cleats is that they can also slip under heavy loads if it is ever necessary. 

A note on tiller pilots (tiller-type auto helms)
    Your TillerClutch does not use or interfere with tiller pilot mounts and is quite compatible with them, ready to be engaged the instant the tiller pilot is removed from the rudder for manual steering. Just be absolutely sure to keep your TillerClutch disengaged wherever the electronic tiller pilot is used. 

Maintenance
    TillerClutch is made to withstand the heavy abuse and corrosive environments typical to sailboats. Like most good sailboat hardware, it will need only minimal maintenance.

Cleaning
    Caution: Do not lube the lever mechanism with WD-40^® or any other lubricant or solvent-based cleaner. Solvents can damage the specialized, synthetic self-lubricating bushings and possibly void the warranty.
After particularly salty trips or for general cleaning, your TillerClutch should be rinsed with fresh water (and mild soap if necessary). Work the lever while running water through the opening beneath it to rinse out the internal components. Avoid sandy conditions, and promptly rinse out any sand that does enter the mechanism.
    If the heads of the stainless steel rivets ever become tarnished, lightly clean them with water and a bit of Bar Keepers Friend cleaner. This product is available from most grocers and it will do a surprising job on all your stainless deck hardware. This is because it contains oxalic acid, which restores the original passivated finish.
General
    TillerClutch has a designed-in slip factor to help protect the rudder from excessive loading in harsh conditions. This slip factor also allows the skipper to overpower the rope clutch and force a steering correction in an emergency situation. Forcing the rudder with TillerClutch engaged will not harm it, but it can cause excessive wear to the control-line, so It is much better to use the release lever whenever possible.
Service
    There are no user serviceable internal parts. The stainless steel working spring is constrained under substantial loading. For safety reasons, the housing has been sealed with permanent stainless steel rivets. Caution: removal of the rivets could be hazardous and will void your warranty.

Warranty

Click Here for Warranty Information on the TillerClutch

DISCLAIMER
    Safely steering and piloting a boat is the responsibility of the helmsman. Caution and special attention should be observed in the progress of the craft when the helmsman releases the tiller for any reason. Wavefront, Inc. and IdaSailor Marine Inc, is not responsible for any steering-related damage occurring to a vessel using a TillerClutch product or damage to any other property caused by that vessel.