Guest Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Extending the tiller should make sailing more comfortable as will be able to hold the tiller with fully extended arm rather than having to hold it with a bent arm. Should also make the tiller feel a bit lighter due to more mechanical advantage which will be good as I like to make her work hard whenever another yacht is in sight. She can carry a lot of sail up to about 25 knots of wind without heeling too much but the helm gets a bit heavy so a longer tiller should help. She's a 32 foot, 11 foot beem, 10 ton, double ender with a full keel. What I wonder is if I can just splice a couple of feet onto the end of the tiller or should I make a new one? Link to post Share on other sites
ex TL systems 63 Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I made new tillers for a cat by epoxy gluing tanalised ply together to get the right thickness then cutting shaping sealing and painting,easy cheap very strong and won,t rot. A splice onto the existing could work though it may be a weak spot. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Thanks exTL, I thought to use Jarrah as I've got a nice chunk of the stuff in the shed. I thought to make the splice about 450mm long and extend about that too. The only real negative I can think off is the crew might get crushed by the tiller but I usually sail short handed so not too much of a problem. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Have a think to see if you could come up with something removable? Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Already taken care of Squid, tiller goes through the "cheeks " on the rudder and one bolt holds it in. But hey i hadn't even thought to remove it when on the hook. Its a big grunty thing, out of something like 6 x 2. Link to post Share on other sites
ex TL systems 63 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 i think he means a removeable extension like a false leg could be a metal sleeve fitting over end of tiller or a hinged extension that could fold back on the tiller when not needed Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 That was my first thought, but if it is easy to remove have two and interchange them as applicable. Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Sounds like a good ole fashioned scarf joint to me. 12: 1 is the norm but more if you have the length in the new extension stock. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 12:1 will be easy to get maybe more. I think I'll scarf it and maybe put a 10 by 10 mm key in the joint just in case it gets too hot for the epoxy. Better sharpen my plane and tear into a bit of Jarrah. Thanks for the great suggestions. I'll try this and see how it goes if I don't get on with it I can try a hinged version or an extension later. If I can reduce the effort maybe the "Admiral" won't keep shouting at me to reduce the sail. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Scarfed it last night but could only get 10:1. Big chunk of stuff. About 8 feet long now! I'll go out tomorrow and give it a test run. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Yes all good, went out today and had a ball. Eased the effort required on the tiller considerably. Its 500mm longer. All the other stuff I've been mucking about with is all good too, tillerpilot works with the nmea from garmin handheld and the furuno fishfinder is getting the nav. data as well. Yee hah.............................................. Link to post Share on other sites
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