Rustler 31 (or 36)

[Guest]

My Rustler 31 is one of the few that was fitted with wheel steering. I do not like it and intend to replace it with a tiller. I have received an outline drawing of the yacht from Holman & Pye but it does not give a lot of detail. Does anyone know of a 31 or 36 within striking distance of the North side of the Solent that I could have a look at?

 

[andrewhopkins]

There was a 2nd hand review of the 36 in YBM about 2 years ago where they sailed in down Southampton Water. I think it was kept in Gosport. If I remember, i'll get it out and see if they give details.

 

[Twister_Ken]

On a R36, the tiller passes through a long slot cut in the back wall of the cockpit, passes across the top of the lazarette and emrges througf a shorter slot in the transom to connect to the rudder (at least it did on the one I sailed). The tiller is hinged vertically before the cockpit slot so that it can be lifted out of the way when not in use.

Complex. My Twister is a 28' Holman design from the same era, and there the rudder stock is just higher than the transom, so that the tiller fits it directly, going over top of the 'stern deck'. Mine is connected to a metal hood on the rudder stock by a single bolt, so that it can be folded out of the way. Some Twisters use another method, where a fore and aft slot is cut through the top of the rudder stock, with the tiller slotting in and being pegged in place. The tiler can therefore be removed easily when not required.

Either of these solutions would be much easier to implement than the R36 version.

 

[johna]

There is a tiller steered Rustler 31 for sale with Ancasta at Cobb's Quay Poole. I thought of buying her but I wanted a wheel.

 

[Guest]

I was initially attracted to this yacht because of the wheel steering.

You might like to know why I now dislike the wheel.

1. With only a slight heel, the steering position becomes very uncomfortable. If standing behind the wheel, the cockpit is too narrow to spread the feet so it is impossible to brace yourself. I built a seat cum gas locker behind the wheel but it doesn't help. The most comfortable position is to sit to the side, as with a tiller, and change position on tacking. The wheel only shows some advantage under engine and under fairly calm conditions.

2. You lose the main sheet traveller.

3. I sail single-handed with an Aries wind vane gear, but the added friction in the wheel steering means that the wind strength has to be quite high before the Aries will cope.

 

[Guest]

I have made an emergency tiller arrangement where a metal 'hood' fits over the rudder stock which is level with the top of the transom. The emergency tiller then sweeps over the top of the cockpit coaming. It works well, but I have worried about the forces at the top of the stock if I make this system permanent. On the designed system, the tiller/wheel drive is fitted further down the stock, between the top two gudgeons. The 45 degree negative slope of the transom and rudder doesn't help.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Do consider the weight of the vessel and the leverage obtained via a tiller vs a wheel. From personal experience of a Rustler 36 you could find the lower leverage obtained via the tiller version (which is what I experienced) quite a handful.

PWG