Emergency Tiller Configuration: Hunter 376

[duck21]

Hi all,

It was a bit of a slow day at work today, so I was thinking about emergency tillers (as one does). I know where mine is, in case I need it, but have never actually tried fitting it in position. I was looking at my reference pictures and realized...it may not be as straightforward as I have always casually assumed.

The PO installed a linear drive system. In doing this he modified the floor boards, cutting out the normal floor in order to make room for the rudder position sensor. He then added a fiberglass "stepstool" that sits over this area on the edges of the cut out floor. The cut out removed the normal port/cover that one would open in order to drop the emergency tiller post into position.

In looking at the rudder cable system underneath I realize that I'm not sure where the post would mount. My gut feeling is that I would need to remove the rudder position sensor and the block of wood upon which is mounted (the black device that says Raytheon) to expose the hole into which the tiller would drop. But I'd rather not go tearing things apart just to test if I'm actually incorrect on this...

Does anyone have knowledge or a picture of your non-modified setup on a mid-90's mid-sized Hunter? (We have a 1996 Hunter 376, but I'm sure most of the 30-40 foot boats of that era have a similar configuration).

Pardon the messiness of this area. When I took the picture I was pulling things apart to clean, but that came later in the order of operations.

Thanks!
Doug

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Don’t have the picture you seek but that clearly won’t work with the tiller handle you have

 

[duck21]

Nope, definitely not in that configuration.

Some additional Googling (Google Lens is getting pretty good at image based search) leads me to be pretty confident that the appropriate mount IS under the wood/sensor. My dad sails an unmodified 2000 H340, so I might bug him to look at his setup as well next time we're both at our boats.

Don’t have the picture you seek but that clearly won’t work with the tiller handle you have

 

[smokey73]

Interesting, I can't say as I have ever seen the Rudder Position Sensor positioned there? In my Hunter 40.5 the emergency tillers fits right there and has a slotted end that fits over the thru-bolt that goes through the hollow shaft of the rudder post. There is also an opening through the floor board with a removable cover that lets you insert the emergency tiller without removing the floor. Not sure who advised the PO to put the rudder position sensor in the location he has used.

 

[Johann]

In looking at the rudder cable system underneath I realize that I'm not sure where the post would mount. My gut feeling is that I would need to remove the rudder position sensor and the block of wood upon which is mounted (the black device that says Raytheon) to expose the hole into which the tiller would drop. But I'd rather not go tearing things apart just to test if I'm actually incorrect on this...

Does anyone have knowledge or a picture of your non-modified setup on a mid-90's mid-sized Hunter? (We have a 1996 Hunter 376, but I'm sure most of the 30-40 foot boats of that era have a similar configuration).

You are correct. Here is a pic of the floorboard on a 1997 H336.

 

[Johann]

And here is the quadrant without the rudder sensor.

 

[Johann]

The rudder position unit should be at the other end of the threaded rod. Not installed on top of the quadrant. The installation is pretty flexible, you could probably install it below the floorboard forward of the quadrant.

 

[Johann]

You can see where I mounted mine just forward and a little bit below the quadrant.

 

[duck21]

Thank you for the pics and reference points. It makes sense to move things (both to open up the tiller position AND to maybe not have to have the extra "step stool" that he has in position to avoid hitting the sensor).

Of course, the downside is that it's pretty unlikely I'd be able to find a replacement floorboard (and I'm not sure I'm totally up to trying to form my own), so I'm probably stuck with the flooring portion of the modification...but tiller access is still preferable.

This isn't the first...odd...choice that the PO made. But, if it weren't for those choices I probably wouldn't have nearly as many fun projects!

Thanks again. I appreciate everyone on here for their insights and willingness to share.

Doug