Here's the story: Saturday at the local lake; Great wind, sunny skies, full genny, maintaining 30 deg of heel, chasing catamarans (ok well at least following them ), and single handed. Life can't get any better, except anytime I need to let go of the wheel, she spins like crazy.
Anyone know of a wheel tender, (outside of an autohelm) that can be locked in place to hold the course, during momentary adjustment of the rigging?
I use a short piece of nylon webbing with snap together buckles. Around the wheel spoke and the pedestal pole to hold the wheel in position. Available at your local army surplus store for about a buck. I suppose a short bungee cord would work also.
I did see older 26X boats with a sort of 'thumbscrew' device that would mount on the steering collar behind the wheel. Whether this was standard, or owner added is unknown. It did strip out, and otherwise cause owners grief, so most were removed due to this.
Simply lashing your wheel to the mast crutch ('99 and newer) or another part on the helm foreward grip will work in a pinch!
I have taken velcro, the 2" wide, industrial stuff, and put a strip all the way around on both sides of the wheel (Hook stuff) and took the loop material, and tacked it on to either side, wheel and collar. I then just overlapped both sides to hold the wheel steady. This works, but sadly I have yet to find a glue on velcro that does not degrade by hardening, and allowing the material to be destroyed by the elements. So, this method can, and does work well. Just count on replacing annually, and you have a good system!
Harrison - if you tip your motor up without disconnecting it from the linkage it puts a lot of torque on your wheel and will spin it as you describe.
Ive held course with just a 3/8 line and carabiner clipped on the wheel on my with the engine disconnected. With the engine connected, its hard to set the wheel in the right place as the torque pulls if off course when you clip it.
Lots of good ideas and replies. Thanks to all. I was so focused on some type of locking collar mechanism mounted behind the wheel, I overlooked the simple solutions.
Rather than disconnect it, you can just leave it in the water...
That is fast becoming my favorite technique and is reinforced everytime I crank the motor with it out of the water, which is becoming a thing of the past (knock on wood)...
Yeah, you have some more drag, but I aint in no race...
I tilt my motor up while sailing, as it seems to give a power steering 'feel' to the process of tacking..hee, hee! And with a long time in the briney, the salt water can erode that sacrificial zinc faster possibly? I tilt the motor a lot, but all things considered, it probably will take it's toll on the tilt mechanism eventually!
Different strokes for different folks in this regard, for sure!
My thoughts too, Scott, with the sails in balance and a good trade wind, a small tie to the wheel will hold the boat on course.
I remember my Columbia was so well balanced that I would go to the pulpit with the tiller loose and steer the boat by inducing heel. Haven't gotten Yin Yang to do that yet!
Regarding the issue of motor tilt - for what it's worth, tilting the motor is part of the intended design of the mechanism and shouldn't put too much additional wear on the actuator. I doubt the steering pot metal rack will tolerate too much sheer force before it or the pinion gives way. Id recommend keeping the motor free from the steering when sailing. Under power, you dont have the lateral forces on the rudders. Just a thought.
I prefer the motor out of the water - the boat doesnt need anything slowing it down. My Merc 60 wont fit into the motor well in the full up position pointed straight ahead. I've found that with the motor leaning to starboard, the entire unit can be tilted to full stop and there's nothing dragging in the water. With the motor leaning to port, where the quick disconnect is set, the helm seat won't close entirely as the hinge is on the port side too. I just have to rig a quick connect to the starboard side, or somehow, to fasten it when raised. Cant use the standard configuration.
Additionally, Im considering a travel cutout switch somewhere to open the ignition circuit without damaging the sensitive EFI that will prevent the motor from being started out of the water.
Just some trivial information to anyone who may be experiencing the same issues with the Merc 60 and the M.
Harrison only experiences the spinning wheel when he is heeled over sailing, same as me. There's no crutch to latch on to. The motor is pulled down by gravity. The motor is linked to the rudders and the rudders turn and it causes the boat to fall off the wind. The motor is pulled down whether it is in the tilt 'up' position or tilt 'down' position. Might as well leave it in the 'up' position.
I thought I had a lee helm problem for about a year and my mast is bent back like a catapult trying to correct it.
I use a stiff bungee between the forward upper pushpit eye and the near wheel spoke to hold the wheel. This doesn't work too good, but it's better than having the wheel spin so fast you can't even see the spokes.
This predicament has lead me to seriously consider the 'aft' winches, back by the helm seat, for trimming the sails.
Disconnecting the motor is an option I'd consider if I was crossing the Gulf of Mexico to help out in Cancun. Otherwise, I'm as likely to roll out of the boat as to successfully disengage. Tooling around within eye sight of land I want the motor ready for my next 'surprise'
How difficult is it to disconnect the motor from the rudders? I'd like to try it. I've seen references to it, but never really focused on it. If disconnecting has been discussed before, I apologize...Just point me to the thread. Thanks. And at the risk of boring everyone, perusing this forum had made my X more enjoyable, by a factor of ten!
Lloyd, remove the ring ding that holds the outboard steering rod onto the pin on the starboard rudder bracket (lower arrow), then lift the rod off the pin and move it to the pivot bolt for the rudder bracket (upper arrow). I'd put a nyloc nut on it finger tight to hold it there.
), and single handed. Life can't get any better, except anytime I need to let go of the wheel, she spins like crazy. 
with the engine disconnected. With the engine connected, its hard to set the wheel in the right place as the torque pulls if off course when you clip it.
