Making a tiller.

[LordNelson]

I lost my tiller when I sold a dingy and apparently is was in the dingy. (guy who bought it would not respond to emails or phone calls)
I ordered one from D&R Marine which was supposed to fit but did not.
Was thinking of trying to laminate two 1 x 6 or 8 boards together, but I can not find ash. I can get white pine, popular, red oak. I was thinking of using popular. I would cut a U notch in one end to go around the rudder as this is how the old one was. I was going to glue them together with Titebond 3. Would popular and titebond this work for a tiller handle?

 

[justsomeguy]

I lost my tiller when I sold a dingy and apparently is was in the dingy. (guy who bought it would not respond to emails or phone calls)
I ordered one from D&R Marine which was supposed to fit but did not.
Was thinking of trying to laminate two 1 x 6 or 8 boards together, but I can not find ash. I can get white pine, popular, red oak. I was thinking of using popular. I would cut a U notch in one end to go around the rudder as this is how the old one was. I was going to glue them together with Titebond 3. Would popular and titebond this work for a tiller handle?

None of the species of wood you're contemplating using here are very durable out-of-doors. White oak handles the environment better than red oak. Poplar and white pine are way too soft, IMO.
There's got to be a decent hardwood retailer in your area. Perhaps even a Woodcraft store.

 

[jssailem]

Poplar might work for a season if you do not put too much strain on the tiller. The Poplar or Pine might be good wood to test your design and construction skills. But as the "Guy" said, "way to soft". Will not hold up to the water and UV exposure for long, let alone the stresses you are going to put on the split tongue trying to steer the boat.
The Owner of Schaefer Marine, Fred Cook, is restoring a Cal 40. Here is a link to his video on building a new tiller.

I know it is not the same size as yours, but you get some ideas from the process.
John

 

[Johnb]

I made a tiller out of a pick handle. Cheap to buy, readily available, tough, and lasted 15 years. Used 1/8 " stainless to connect it to the rudder stock. Made a canvas cover for it.

 

[SchwarckT]

I made a mount for my outboard out of two poplar boards laminated together with polyester resin and fiberglass mat. It has held up very well for the past 4 or 5 years.

 

[LordNelson]

Thanks for the info. I ended up modifying the D&R tiller by shimming out with stainless washers and purchasing longer stainless bolts.

 

[andy creighton]

Ash or hickory would be best, but any good hard wood will be ok if you glass it well. Be sure to use epoxy resin, not polyester. The polyester is cheaper and will work, but will not bond properly to the wood like the epoxy will.
What about bolting together a metal mount to the rudder so you can use an axe handle or some other tool handle?

 

[agprice22]

What about using aluminum tube? A lot less work building and maintaining than wood.

 

[jssailem]

What about using aluminum tube? A lot less work building and maintaining than wood.

Yes Aluminum would work but there is something about the feel of wood when your guiding your boat home. Aluminum just doesn't give you the same feeling. Call it "sailing esthetics" .

 

[Justin_NSA]

Thanks for the info. I ended up modifying the D&R tiller by shimming out with stainless washers and purchasing longer stainless bolts.

How does it look? We need pics! A mahogany and ash tiller from Ruddercraft would have cost about $100. I put one on my Mac 26S. They do look pretty.

 

[agprice22]

I like wood too, but that makes it an offseason project! Now, here in the NE... We Sail! Ahhhhh.

 

[John23883]

When our tiller broke on our Newport 17 we replaced it with a long shovel handle. It was strong, round to fit the hand and just the right length after I modified it to fit in the rudder. It was still working on the boat when I sold it years later.

 

[agprice22]

When our tiller broke on our Newport 17 we replaced it with a long shovel handle. It was strong, round to fit the hand and just the right length after I modified it to fit in the rudder. It was still working on the boat when I sold it years later.

And in a pinch, you could do some gardening!

 

[williamtl]

I used a baseball bat to make a second tiller. I keep the original tiller for solo sailing (it is about 18 inches longer), but when sailing with friends I wanted the room in the cockpit. Has worked well so far, although you really start to understand the realities of a lever instead of just the principles.

 

[LordNelson]

Thanks for all the input. I ended up modifying the tiller from D&R. It cost about $15-$20 in stainless hardware but figured it was faster, and maybe cheaper, to get on the water.