Two questions: #1 Has anyone tried a Forespar,telescoping tiller extension with a Tiller Lock Box that will allow one to set the tiller easily in a held position. It seems to me like a neat solution. I assume the Tiller boxes could be attached to the port and starboard upright stantions instead of being inset in the coaming. Please reply if you have tried such a rig. #2 Has anyone put self-tailing tops on the two winches. It looks like a handy way to trim the jib but I have not yet explored the cataloges to see if they are available for our winches. Hope to get some feed-back.
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#2 question
West Marine carrys a product called Winchers that is a rubber coller of sorts that fits on the top of non-self tailing winches. I have never tried them. Here is the link. Let us know how they work. Good Luck Jonathan Costello Heeling Powers
West Marine carrys a product called Winchers that is a rubber coller of sorts that fits on the top of non-self tailing winches. I have never tried them. Here is the link. Let us know how they work. Good Luck Jonathan Costello Heeling Powers
#2
I have a 23.5 and tried the smallest possible self-tailing tops and they are to big. Had to bring them back to west marine. I have been unable to find any that fit. Dave Simply Magic
I have a 23.5 and tried the smallest possible self-tailing tops and they are to big. Had to bring them back to west marine. I have been unable to find any that fit. Dave Simply Magic
Why?
I see posts all the time about tiller extensions. I don't understand why. I am new to sailing and own a 1974 Hunter 25. I can stand in the galley and still reach my tiller, and I'm only 5'2". Is there some advantage or situation where I would want the tiller to reach the mast? Or are newer tillers shorter than the older ones. Why do people need tiller extensions? Stephen Fierro Captain of Calamity
I see posts all the time about tiller extensions. I don't understand why. I am new to sailing and own a 1974 Hunter 25. I can stand in the galley and still reach my tiller, and I'm only 5'2". Is there some advantage or situation where I would want the tiller to reach the mast? Or are newer tillers shorter than the older ones. Why do people need tiller extensions? Stephen Fierro Captain of Calamity
Wide cockpits, stern rail seats
I don't think the idea is to extend the tiller's length forwards towards the mast. The issue is that in many boats you can't sit in the cockpit, leaning against the coaming wall, and comfortably reach the tiller when the tiller is centered, let alone push it away from you to correct the heading when needed. The tiller extension is held at about a 90 degree angle to the tiller in this case. Similarly, in light winds or while motoring one can sit on a stern rail seat and steer with the tiller extension if it is long enough or a telescoping model. I replaced my fixed length extension with a Forespar telescoping model for just this reason. As for the original question #1, I saw the coaming wall Forespar tiller lock boxes but it seemed a bit extreme to cut such a big hole for the box. I wasn't sure how strong the lock would be and didn't want to experiment. I recently bought the Canadian-made TillerLock but haven't installed it yet. It's solid and simple but I haven't seen it in action yet. See the link below. ...RickM...
I don't think the idea is to extend the tiller's length forwards towards the mast. The issue is that in many boats you can't sit in the cockpit, leaning against the coaming wall, and comfortably reach the tiller when the tiller is centered, let alone push it away from you to correct the heading when needed. The tiller extension is held at about a 90 degree angle to the tiller in this case. Similarly, in light winds or while motoring one can sit on a stern rail seat and steer with the tiller extension if it is long enough or a telescoping model. I replaced my fixed length extension with a Forespar telescoping model for just this reason. As for the original question #1, I saw the coaming wall Forespar tiller lock boxes but it seemed a bit extreme to cut such a big hole for the box. I wasn't sure how strong the lock would be and didn't want to experiment. I recently bought the Canadian-made TillerLock but haven't installed it yet. It's solid and simple but I haven't seen it in action yet. See the link below. ...RickM...
thanks for the replies to date
I tend to sail alone so the self-tailing on winches has always been nice. Thanks to your post I will measure carefully to be certain the tops will be tight enough. Again the tiller extention does two things: first it allows you to keep your weight to weather and to sail the boat as flat as possible. Flat is fast. Second when sailing alone if set up correctly one can drop the telescoping extension into a fixed position and tend to matters elsewhere i.e. picking up the mooring in a breeze, working on reefing, navigating, making tea below etc. Yes, those lock-boxes are extreme. I plan to cut the Keyhole into a block of wood and then fasten such a keyhole on the stanchions port and starboard of the foreward end of the tiller. I was hoping someone had already done that and had some drawings. I don't expect it to be too hard to do once I have the 48" extention in hand. I still think someone must have already gone there so I will keep watching the Forum.
I tend to sail alone so the self-tailing on winches has always been nice. Thanks to your post I will measure carefully to be certain the tops will be tight enough. Again the tiller extention does two things: first it allows you to keep your weight to weather and to sail the boat as flat as possible. Flat is fast. Second when sailing alone if set up correctly one can drop the telescoping extension into a fixed position and tend to matters elsewhere i.e. picking up the mooring in a breeze, working on reefing, navigating, making tea below etc. Yes, those lock-boxes are extreme. I plan to cut the Keyhole into a block of wood and then fasten such a keyhole on the stanchions port and starboard of the foreward end of the tiller. I was hoping someone had already done that and had some drawings. I don't expect it to be too hard to do once I have the 48" extention in hand. I still think someone must have already gone there so I will keep watching the Forum.
Rubber Disks
The catalogues show that the Watski #13449 should fit the Lewmar #6 winches that are on the H-240. Is that the one you tried? Are the winches on the 23.5 the Lewmar #6? Thanks for the warning. Hope this reaches you.
The catalogues show that the Watski #13449 should fit the Lewmar #6 winches that are on the H-240. Is that the one you tried? Are the winches on the 23.5 the Lewmar #6? Thanks for the warning. Hope this reaches you.
Tried the smallest size
I tried the smallest size that west marine had. They were just to big. I really wanted the self tailing functon also. I can not remember the number on them, sorry. Dave Simply Magic BTW, where do you sail in NH, I lived in Derry a 20 years back and worked for the Manchester Journal.
I tried the smallest size that west marine had. They were just to big. I really wanted the self tailing functon also. I can not remember the number on them, sorry. Dave Simply Magic BTW, where do you sail in NH, I lived in Derry a 20 years back and worked for the Manchester Journal.
Manchester-by-the-Sea
I sail out of Manchester-by-the-Sea in Massachusetts. About 15 years ago they changed the name from Manchester to the stupid new name but few of us use it. I voted against the change as the reason for it was a Band for a wedding showed up down here and they were supposed to be in NH. My son just moved to Warner, NH not far from Derry. In the summer I sail out of Blue Hill, Maine. I am going to contact the Watski people in Walpole, NH to see if they can get down to a Lewmar #6. Their smallest now says Lewmar #7 but the Drum size seems to be that of a # 6 but I'm sure that is the one you tried that did not work. I will report back to you. Is your email on the owners list. If not send a message to me at : mime@tiac.net
I sail out of Manchester-by-the-Sea in Massachusetts. About 15 years ago they changed the name from Manchester to the stupid new name but few of us use it. I voted against the change as the reason for it was a Band for a wedding showed up down here and they were supposed to be in NH. My son just moved to Warner, NH not far from Derry. In the summer I sail out of Blue Hill, Maine. I am going to contact the Watski people in Walpole, NH to see if they can get down to a Lewmar #6. Their smallest now says Lewmar #7 but the Drum size seems to be that of a # 6 but I'm sure that is the one you tried that did not work. I will report back to you. Is your email on the owners list. If not send a message to me at : mime@tiac.net
Tiller extension and lock boxes now on
This morning I made two wooden lock boxes with open tops so a swift kick will free it if you are in a hurry. I mounted them on the rail stachion which are slanted aft. Not being an engineer my boxes ended up on an angle but work very nicely nevertheless. Next model I will get the angle corrected. I put the Forespar 27"-48" telescoping tiller extension on the tiller mounting it one hand grip aft of the foreward end of the tiller. (Neither the 27" nor the 48" are accurate but they are close and it works very well. A bit of industrial strength velcro holds it in the clip on the real tiller. Try it you will like it.
This morning I made two wooden lock boxes with open tops so a swift kick will free it if you are in a hurry. I mounted them on the rail stachion which are slanted aft. Not being an engineer my boxes ended up on an angle but work very nicely nevertheless. Next model I will get the angle corrected. I put the Forespar 27"-48" telescoping tiller extension on the tiller mounting it one hand grip aft of the foreward end of the tiller. (Neither the 27" nor the 48" are accurate but they are close and it works very well. A bit of industrial strength velcro holds it in the clip on the real tiller. Try it you will like it.
Self-tailing Winch tops
I put The Winchery #1 tops from Watski on my Lewmar #6 Winches and they work. A while back "daver" Olympia, SIMPLY MAGIC said he tried them but they were too big. I do not understand that unless he but them on the wrong way up by accident in which case they would appear too large. (Please do not ask how I happen to know that.) If you know "daver" pass this on to him. He is not likely to look here again. I did not locate his email on the Owners's listings.
I put The Winchery #1 tops from Watski on my Lewmar #6 Winches and they work. A while back "daver" Olympia, SIMPLY MAGIC said he tried them but they were too big. I do not understand that unless he but them on the wrong way up by accident in which case they would appear too large. (Please do not ask how I happen to know that.) If you know "daver" pass this on to him. He is not likely to look here again. I did not locate his email on the Owners's listings.
I am still here
Sorry for not checking back sooner, but I did not put them on upsode down, I purchased the smallest ones that West Marine stocked and they were just to big. I will go back and look at the smaller ones and see if they fit. I do have lewmar 6 installed. Thanks Dave
Sorry for not checking back sooner, but I did not put them on upsode down, I purchased the smallest ones that West Marine stocked and they were just to big. I will go back and look at the smaller ones and see if they fit. I do have lewmar 6 installed. Thanks Dave
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