H&L Marine...for Steve Dion
Is this the same H&L as the one in Rancho Dominguez? I bought some stuff from them recently, including a new H23 tiller. I took measurements which turned out to match the dimensions they had for the H23.5. In fact they ask for certain dimensions, inclusing stock height and width, overall tiller length, shaft curve style and height of the curve.When the tiller arrived the stock was a perfect fit in the rudder bracket and the shaft length and curve were on the money. However, the shaft cross-section was wider than the original H23 tiller, in fact it was wider than it was high. The stock tiller is narrower than it is high.I think this happened because the tiller stock is also wider than it is high. The laminate started as a constant rectangular cross-section, and they trim about the same amount of wood off the height and width to form the shaft. As a result, the replacement tiller was heavier than the original.I don't consider it H&L's fault because the shaft width was not one of the measurements I had given them. The tiller came beautifully varnished and I didn't have the heart to trim the shaft down.If you order a replacement tiller to match the original, ask them about trimming the shaft to match as well. They were pretty accommodating, so I'm sure they would do what you need. Just to be sure there are no misunderstandings, I'd suggest faxing them specific dimensions.PeterH23 "Raven"