Spinlock Tiler extension

[djr]

Sorry for all the questions - I have realised that the tiller is great but I want to make it longer so I can get closer to the cockpit - but I can't find the best one to get... and how to mount it - any guidance would be pretty awesome

DR

 

[NotBirdseye]

A boat that I've been on recently has a metal attachment that is mounted pretty much on the end of the tiller and then folds back when not in use. There's a swivel joint as well for when moving from port to starboard. Really quite simple. You could probably fashion your own simply by bolting another length of wood (say a ft or two) onto the end (right on top) using a standard bolt through the middle allowing it to move the extended handle to move freely and still able to tie it up on top of the tiller itself when not being used. (You could even be clever and fashion a clip).

You wouldn't get the vertical allowance, but you'd get the horizontal swing room.

 

[William_H]

Regular tiller extensions sit at the end of the tiller witha goose neck swivel in effect so that all steering is a push or pull action. This enables the helmsman to sit well out to windward to see past sails. Or even to leeward if he wshes. Mine is just a piece of ali tubing with a tee handle glued to the end. The swivel is a fitting designed to attach a block to a deck mounted on top of the tiller near the tip. It allows the stick to be raised or lowered and swung back to a plastic pipe clamp to keep it out of the way when not in use. Bought extensions use a rubber piece to allow universal movement. Now I have found when single handed sailing that it is useful to be able to use this stick rigid to the tiller to extend the tiller forward. To do this mount the extension back from the tip of the tiller say 12cms then I use a piece of bungee wrapped around a few times to clamp the extension to the tip of the tiller. Not strong but adequate to adjust direction when I am in the forward part of the cockpit adjust sheets etc.
If you want a solid extension of the tiller to simply make it longer then you need a robust perhaps tube over the tiller or pieces of wood bolted each side going forward to join together. However you can only extend a bit becuase it will get in the way of your movement from one side of the boat to the other and may resrict the angle you can move the rudder. ol'will

 

[ottow]

I was about to get a Spinlock tiller extension but was not happy with the lenghts offered, so I ended up buying a RWO Mightystick (https://www.palynch.co.uk/search.asp?cid=33705, http://www.fjmarine.com/brand-new-rwo-tiller-extension---mighty-stick---msr-2-adjustable-tiller) instead with I am quite happy with.