Length of tiller

[Bill1]

2 Questions:

1. Is there a rule of thumb concerning the length a tiller should be, maybe related to displacement or the waterline lengh? My Nimrod came with a tubular screw together tiller about 70cm long rather crudely but strongly attached to the rudder stock, I suspect that this is too short. I'm planning to do a bit of trial and error with a bar that will slide through the attachment on the tiller stock but if anyone has any thoughts on a suitable length to start with I would be grateful.

2. Insurance - I've only ever insured dinghies before and then usually only third party, is this possible on a trailer sailer yacht? If not will I have to have a survey? Doesnt seem very sensible to sped several hundred quid to survey a boat that probably only worth a thousand and will only be used for estuary and inland lake sailing.

|Any thought gratefully received.

Regards Bill

 

[Mirelle]

1. I don't know of a magic formula. I reckon you are right, though, and it is too short.

Rough way of thinking about it - it wants to be of a length that lets you easily hold it whilst sitting in the cockpit and facing forward.

2. Quite agree. Third party only should be OK.

 

[Stemar]

My 2p'th:

1. a) Long enough to give enough leverage to steer astern. Forces on the rudder can be surprisingly high then.
b) Short enough not to take up too much room in the cockpit - and also to allow you to go from lock to lock easily

2. I have 3rd party insurance from Bishop Skinner - From (dodgy) memory I paid £80 and it covers all European waters. Doesn't cover you in your dinghy, that's extra.

 

[Evadne]

I would agree with the above, for an 18-footer I'd have thought a metre or so in length feels right.

An insurance survey on my 29 footer is around the £300-£400 mark these days, I'd guess you'd pay 1/2 to 3/4 of that and if she's over 25 you have to repeat it every 7-10 years so I'd agree that 3rd party sounds more sensible.

Re. insurance, just a few thoughts: if 'twere me I'd probably want to cover her for accidents while being trailed, fire, theft and (perhaps) total loss, the latter being something that long-term cruisers seem to get even if they don't have "normal" insurance. Insurance against theft of an outboard might be expensive, though, especially if its normally left bolted onto the boat.

 

[pheonix]

tiler should be long enugh to enable you to comfortably access the forward end of the cockpit in my oppinion particularly when single handed, considder a hinged extension as per dinghy style
2/ regarding insurance try gjw of liverpool "large adds in most magazines they dont insist on full survey but require a owners condittion report for full insurance, but be honest in your report i have my pandora 22' insured with them and previously my 17' pedro trailer sailor.
dave marsh /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[William_H]

I think the idea of an extendable tiller is great. A long tiller makes for easier sailing especially in strong winds when weather helm can be heavy, So a metre is good. This can depend on how much balance you have in the rudder. ie area forward of the pintle line 20% is really good. The length of the rudder front to back is what gives the load so a deep short chord (front to back) has lighter loads than a long chord shallow rudder. You will note if it is a swing rudder how loads just get too much if rudder is not fully swivelled down.
My 21ft T/S has a swing rudder about 1 metre long about 25cm chord and the leading edge is about 50mm forward of the pivot line.
On the other side a longer tiller takes away from cockpit room however on a trailer sailer be wary of too much weight in the stern. Get someone else to photograph or note the stern down degree. Ideally the bottom of the transom should be just at water level. Depending on design.
regards olewill

 

[Bill1]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll try about 1m with some sort of tiller extention.

Bill

 

[Guest]

Re: Length of tiller / Insurance

Tiller length is governed by two factors :

Amount of free swining room in cockpit and second - the amount of effort needed to steer. Shorter tillers are great untill you have to steer against some exterior force !!
So answer is - what you fiund comfortable ..... my boat has two tillers .... one about 20cms shorter than other ... to suit ..

Insurance .... KC Powell will insure a boat under 24ft if a Recognised Boatyard issues a letter stating boat is seaworthy and as far as can be ascertained in general good condition and maintenance.
Third Party Insurnance via Basic Boat Liability ..... type that it into google and it will bring up web-site ...

I do not recc'd Northernreef - which will offer insurance without Survey / letter.