Rhylsailer99
Well-Known Member
I've just noticed the varnish had a crack so pushed it and found rotten wood underneath . What's the best way to repair it , do I use some kind of epoxy wood repair kit.
Just spotted wood rot on tiller
- Thread starter Rhylsailer99
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Poignard
Well-Known Member
Breakage of the tiller could have very serious consequences.
I would want to know the extent of the rot before deciding what to do.
If it is more than a slightl imperfection I would either insert a new piece of matching timber (using epoxy as an adhesive) or make a new tiller.
KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
How much rotten wood? Dig it out with a pointy thing.
If not too much I would just fill with hardened epoxy.
West System 406 filler would be suitable, and is brown.
If not too much I would just fill with hardened epoxy.
West System 406 filler would be suitable, and is brown.
jwilson
Well-Known Member
I once (on someone else's boat) turned the tiller and it snapped. Not something I'd like to happen again.
Hacker
Well-Known Member
Unless it is really extensive then the usual route is to remove the rot and glue in a graving piece.
AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
+1. I once had the screws holding the tiller-pilot pivot tear out in a gust of wind, and it gave me a very exciting few minutes until I got things back under control - and the tiller was intact, so I just had to get back to it and grab it (I was single-handed and doing something on deck). I fairly soon made a new tiller, even though the old one was still sound - I just didn't trust it not to happen again. If the tiller breaks, you're without steering, and on a tiller steered boat, there often isn't a simple way to fit an emergency tiller; there isn't on mine.
Also worth noting is that rot will already be in apparently sound wood beyond the obvious soft spot. If you epoxy it or fit a graving piece, you could just be delaying the inevitable in a small section like a tiller.
bikedaft
Well-Known Member
make a new one out of stainless 
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
Probably not particularly necessary, but how about making a nice new one?
Nice bit of oak for strength ?
Nice bit of oak for strength ?
Alfie168
Well-Known Member
I was advised that Ash is the right wood for a tiller as it has a long grain and bends instead of snaps.
I had a tiller failure at speed in a Laser 2 dinghy off Cumbrae.... I got wet. I had an Enterprise dinghy tiller greenstick fracture off Nefyn. It got us home safely, hence the trip to the village woodworker who made me a new one in Ash. In a previous life he made Mosquito aircraft components.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
My tiller was a bit dodgy when we bought ours. A curved, laminated one. I didnt fancy the expense, so I wrapped it in carbon and epoxy.
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
Ash sounds good and strong and with good bendyness .
I like the grain of oak but it does not hold varnish very well. It's the only bit of wood that I oil but the tiller has it's own cover when going home. Tillers and wheels become very good friends .
John the kiwi
Well-Known Member
I made mine out of alternating layers of ash and a tropical hardwood that i happened to have. The very simple jig was simply a 2 inch thick 8 in wide board with a curvey cut down the middle then I sandwiched all layers between with sash clamps. Epoxy glue. It was amazingly easy to do. I just use a spokeshave to do the square to round over the length.
With the butt end in the vice it had all the yield and flexibility of a piece of steel of same dimensions!
I chose ash for reasons given above, but I am aware that ash has very low natural durability so it must be well protected
With the butt end in the vice it had all the yield and flexibility of a piece of steel of same dimensions!
I chose ash for reasons given above, but I am aware that ash has very low natural durability so it must be well protected
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
Nice.
Looks very professional to me.
garymalmgren
Well-Known Member
Axe handle?
Poignard
Well-Known Member
Delighted to see the spirit of practical boatowner is still alive!
MADRIGAL
Well-Known Member
Ours is an ash shovel handle from local hardware store. The tiller extension is the top end of the handle of a garden rake. Ash is lovely and strong, yet flexible and feels good in the hand.
Rhylsailer99
Well-Known Member
Rhylsailer99
Well-Known Member
that
sounds like a plan to get me through till Autumn
Tranona
Well-Known Member
That may work short term but I expect it was glued with resorcinol glue and will likely delaminate. Rot getting at one section of the laminate is usually a warning that is days are numbered. similar thing happened to me with a laminated Centaur tiller where cleaning out the failed glue line and rot led to other joints opening up. Fortunately was able to open up all the glue lines, clean up the wood and stick it all back together with epoxy.
ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't be tempted to skimp on such a vital and relatively cheap item. Talk of cutting out and splicing chunks of plywood are ridiculous, the axe handle would make a temporary replacement but a tiller can be subjected to large bending stresses which can really only be resisted by a continuous or laminated piece.
