Centaur tiller extension

[simon_34]

Hi
I would like to put an extension on my wooden tiller, so I can sit on the side and steer and even see where I am going!

The tiller is rectangular in cross section and although it tapers towards the end the place where you would attach something is about 3x4cm.

Ideally I would like to be able to clip it underneath the tiller when not in use.

thanks

 

[PeteCooper]

Any decent chandlers will have a range of suitable extensions. They are not cheap - I think that the ones I looked at recently are £100-£150.

 

[simon_34]

Thanks, I have seen those but I was really thinking of making my own one. is there a universal joint that could be bought that I could attach to a nice piece of wood similar to my tiller

 

[tritonofnor]

try Sea Sure catalogue here (section one, page 7)

 

[ex-Gladys]

WIth a small boat like a Centaur, go for a dinghy extension UJ. On our anderson 26 I put an RWO ally dinghy extension on, cost about £10-15 as I recall, complete with clip to clip it onto the tiller when out of use. It was great, the helm never loaded up to the point where it felt a struggle to steer from the side deck, and under engine it meant you could stand on a cockpit seat and see real well.

 

[ningcompoop]

someone (not me!) is selling a few on evil-bay at the moment

 

[wooslehunter]

I have a dinghy type on my Centaur which works fine provided the sails are balanced. They should be anyway. You can get them with a rubber universal joint. These have completely free movement in all directions but if you put the extension down, it won't stay where you put it. The hinge types are a little less free but stay where you put them. I have one of these.

I'd recommend having the extension on the top though not underneath. With it underneath, it'll be very difficult to tack or gybe. It will have restricted movement. Also if like me you have a tiller pilot, and it comes unclipped for any reason, there's more chance it will foul the tiller and you lose directional control.

 

[simon_34]

Thanks very much everybody

 

[gandy]

We have a tubular alloy extension, on one of those rubber joints. For a wooden extension, you maybe want something like this :

See here for loads of options :
http://www.sailboats.co.uk/Cat~Universal_Joints_UJs_4659.html