laminated tiller replacement.

[nickdick]

Typical YBW forum user, having spent his money on other much more exciting bits of kit, now has no money left to fund the important bits like - a tiller. I need help finding someone who might be able to make me replica of my simple laminated tiller for a reasonable price. i.e not a Yard. Has anyone come across such a person ? Thanks.

 

[Spuddy]

Find an old "technology" teacher who should therefore be able to do proper woodwork.
regards...spuddy

 

[castaway]

I did this 15 years or so back and I know for a fact (as I know the guy I sold the boat to) that it still looks as good as the day I built it!

This is dead easy and very cheap!

I had a sheet of 3/16 or 1/4 inch ply knocking around and simply ripped it down into 2inch or so strips, it was very flexable so no problem bending it around some formers.

Got sufficient strips to make the depth of tiller I wanted, prob 10 or so, and then made up a board with some peg holes positioned in it to ensure the correct 'fluid'curves that I wanted.

I covered the board where the tiller would lie (on its side) with paper ( or similar)to stop it sticking, and glued it all up with Epoxy. Clamped it into to the correct position and 12hrs later I had the roughly formed tiller.

With epoxy its a good idea to plane it before the glue goes rock hard if there is a lot of 'squeeze' to get rid of. And altogether a lot easier if you have an electric plane.

I ended up with a beautifully tapered and curved tiller for a couple of hours work that has lasted for years and has an attractive laminated look to it. I guess the cost was less that a fiver.

Tillers need to be tactile, look good and be a nice tight fit in the rudder stock.

Good luck Nick

www.yachtsite.co.uk/fairweather

 

[isandell]

A yard might not be as expensive as you think, if you go to one that works in work ( I suspect that most yards would sub-contract that sort of work these days).

Also, you could try Trafalgar at Fareham. They do laminated blanks for Westerlys (ie not smoothed and finished).

Ian