Classic Wooden Tiller Extension (and Hinges)

Roach1948

Roach1948

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www.dallimoredesigns.nl
One of my Winter projects is a new tiller. I hope to carve one from Ash. It would be great to have a tiller extension as the yacht is small enough to sit out on the gunwales and lean out. I don't want to buy an Alu dinghy one as they look awful (in my all new Mahogany cockpit) so was thinking of fashioning one out of left over Ash - do you think this will be strong enough, say if it were something like 4cm in diameter? Also, having trawled the net to try and find one of those hinges that allow movement in all directions and can't find anybody that does them? Not even sure what they are called. Can anybody point me in the right direction as maybe this will dictate the size/shape of the extension.
 
That's brilliant - Many thanks. I think the Compass24 one is more suitable for a wooden extension. Amazed by how cheap it is too!

Thanks for the compliment! She is a lovely small yacht but I do have a mountain of work to do so I am sure there are a few more posts to come!
 
Might be better laminating one, for strength and would keep its shape better long term. Thin strips of Ash & Mahogany would give nice colour too.

Looking at doing this over winter for my Enterprise, its overkill for the job but will look great.
 
I use the RWO model R0500, pictured here RWO Fittings . For extension diameter 19mm. My tiller and extension are both wooden. Very sturdy matt finish stainless steel, looks and works a treat I think. Obtainable from Western Marine in Ireland for less than £20 as I recall. Never found a UK dealer.

Here it is on my boat:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=185875693&size=m&context=set-72157594193298822

For a close-up, select 'Original' to the top-right of the photo, and scroll around a bit!
 
Many thanks. That's the sort of thing I was looking for. It looks larger than the Compass one. I see you have not laminated either, so I think I wont as I prefer the solid wood look. Lovely yacht btw!
 
Very interesting, but, surely...

on a displacement boat one just uses a tiller line?

I don't dispute the need for a tiller extension on a dinghy, or a dinghy-style bigger boat, but I just use a tiller line if I want to sit up to windward, down to leeward, etc.
 
Re: Very interesting, but, surely...

Rope lashed round the tiller - but you can't push it when going about. Useful on larger boats, but in a small cockpit such as mine or an EA sloop a tiller extension is much more useful specially in single-handed.
 
Re: Very interesting, but, surely...

Well, ideally, a rope that goes from the tiller to a block abeam of the tiller and back to the tiller, where the helmsman either wraps it round the tiller and grips it, if steering midships, or takes it round the tiller and off to his hand if steering on the lee or weather side.

Takes the weight out of the tiller.

Good discussion in EG Martin's book "Helmsmanship".
 
Re: Very interesting, but, surely...

[ QUOTE ]
but you can't push it when going about.

[/ QUOTE ]
I think Andrew means a loop from one side of the tiller grip, out to the coaming then around the back of the cockpit, to the other side, solving that problem but (in my case) obstructing about 30% of an already small cockpit ... and however easily it might be disengaged this would be a pain every time I sat in or out.

185875693_34ea19981b.jpg


But I can see it's a good idea on a boat where the tiller does not overhang so far into the cockpit.

Edited to add: Oops - I hadn't seen the above post when I put this up
 
Re: Very interesting, but, surely...

No, I'm not that clever!

I just meant a line to the weather coaming - one relies on weather helm to pull the boat into the wind, and crosses the cockpit when going about.

I've seen a launch rigged as you describe, with the line running right round the cockpit - a cunning device!
 
Excuse the thread drift, but that is a super looking boat you have there, any chance of posting a few more details?
Are those pics taken at Rowhedge?
 
I am glad your SWMBO likes her - her flush-deck is particularly attractive I feel. I am not sure I will ever be able to get a finish on like Constance though!
 
Regarding your tiller extension, I have a 1958 Classic Day Sailing boat, A Rambler and have made a solid Ash extension for my tiller from a tree in the garden. I grow it and take a bit off now and then, dry season it and so on. Mine is attached with a bolt through with wahers to allow for free movement. It has so far lasted for seven years and is shaped at the handle end to give some grip, in other words it has a neat but bulbous end. Regards, Kevin
 
My previous tiller was jammed into the rudder - to remove I just wiggled it out. I was wondering if this was the same for other transom sterned yachts, or is there some sort of device for locking in place? I might need to take this into consideration in the design of my new tiller.
 
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