I developed a prototype folding tiller that seems to be working well & folds up `flat`against the stern rail to permit full use of cockpit space at the slip & at anchor including full use of the helm seat.
It was made from an 8 foot piece of 1.5 inch by 3 inch oak trim epoxied together ($11) with a SS chainplate forming the `hinge` ($36) using 3/8 inch SS bolts with Nylok nuts (a bit big but the holes in the chainplate were 3/8 inch). The pivot point is on a large SS washer which forced me to space out the other bolts with smaller SS washers. I shaped the oak with a sander & finished it with tung oil.
Friction allows the tiller to be adjusted to any position, although I have a bolt with wing nut to prevent it from going too low, especially when using the tiller extension which we use 95% of the time from the corner seats. My wife prefers it over the original aluminum tube tiller as she does not have to "support it" which bothered a bad shoulder she suffers from.
The tiller is only 3 inches wide at the widest part, which forced me to shim it with 1/4 inch plywood to set it into the rudder post. I should have used 2 inch stock rather than the more readily available 1 1/2 inch oak, and may make a new thicker tiller this winter, although this tiller seems to be strong enough for the job.
I could have used a diagonal joint between the 2 pieces of the rudder wo lock it in position at the lowest point, but did not want a "sharp" edge that might damage the gelcoat on the helm seat.
It was made from an 8 foot piece of 1.5 inch by 3 inch oak trim epoxied together ($11) with a SS chainplate forming the `hinge` ($36) using 3/8 inch SS bolts with Nylok nuts (a bit big but the holes in the chainplate were 3/8 inch). The pivot point is on a large SS washer which forced me to space out the other bolts with smaller SS washers. I shaped the oak with a sander & finished it with tung oil.
Friction allows the tiller to be adjusted to any position, although I have a bolt with wing nut to prevent it from going too low, especially when using the tiller extension which we use 95% of the time from the corner seats. My wife prefers it over the original aluminum tube tiller as she does not have to "support it" which bothered a bad shoulder she suffers from.
The tiller is only 3 inches wide at the widest part, which forced me to shim it with 1/4 inch plywood to set it into the rudder post. I should have used 2 inch stock rather than the more readily available 1 1/2 inch oak, and may make a new thicker tiller this winter, although this tiller seems to be strong enough for the job.
I could have used a diagonal joint between the 2 pieces of the rudder wo lock it in position at the lowest point, but did not want a "sharp" edge that might damage the gelcoat on the helm seat.
