Do tillers have to be wooden?

[savageseadog]

I have an aluminium wheel made from tubing. It's painted or powder coated and covered with a thin neoprene covering and is no worse to handke in cold weather than wood. It's a good idea, dead tree is so yesterday, the less wood the better in my opinion.

 

[colhel]

I'm pretty good at making stuff from metal but hopeless at woodwork which means I could make an ally one for next to nothing or buy a wooden one. Ive never seen a cruising boat with anything other than a wooden tiller (as far as I'm aware). It was a genuine question to find out any pitfalls from using ally. Thank You.

 

[pmagowan]

In response to an earlier post:
The point of threads like this is to provide some harmless diversion and entertainment that sometimes yields surprising and interesting facts.

To the OP: Aluminium is dirty stuff -the acids on your skin will mean that you end up with grey palms at the end of a day - unless you put some sort of grip on it.
I like the aesthetics and feel of wood personally.
A tiller is your tactile connection with your boat. It needs to be something you like holding on to.
Cheers

And connected to the rudder!

 

[Easticks28]

I've sailed on an old Broads cruiser with an iron tiller. It had a 6" grip of wood slipped over the end. It was a lovely old thing.

The tiller on my Broads cruiser is made of brass with leather covering the end.

 

[johnalison]

We tied up next an scruffy old tub in The Christianahavn in Copenhagen some years ago. It appeared to be occupied by some hippy types but the most remarkable thing was the tiller which consisted of the branch of a tree, more or less unmodified. The Christianahavn was almost as scruffy.

 

[DownWest]

Mine is laminated wood and gently curved. I enjoy the feel of it. If I had a much bigger boat, then something tougher might feel better. But wood is the preferred touch.
Any perves can make what they want from this...
DW

 

[Lakesailor]

the tiller which consisted of the branch of a tree, more or less unmodified.

Heavy man....

 

[knuterikt]

Most steering wheels are made of aluminium or stainless steel (I know that both carbon an wood is used also.
To get a better feel these wheels are often covered.
Se no reason you could not do something similar on a metal tiller.

I had my 30 year old wheel fitted with new moose leather covering this winter.
A large improvement compared to the old dried and worn covering.

 

[30boat]

I'm thinking of replacing mine which is unvarnished mahogany with a grp one.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I'm thinking of replacing mine which is unvarnished mahogany with a grp one.

A GRP tiller would be a good material for a tiller, easy to make and low cost.

 

[sarabande]

one might perhaps, in a less than sanguine moment, consider what might be the effects of an aluminium tiller in an electrical storm. Wood might provide an element of insulation.

 

[mjcoon]

one might perhaps, in a less than sanguine moment, consider what might be the effects of an aluminium tiller in an electrical storm. Wood might provide an element of insulation.

Only if you stick it where the rain don't pour...

Mike.

 

[Hypocacculus]

one might perhaps, in a less than sanguine moment, consider what might be the effects of an aluminium tiller in an electrical storm. Wood might provide an element of insulation.

Tell that to trees.