Straight/curved tiller for O'Day 272

[cbourne200]

Since I bought this boat used, I don't know if the tiller was straight or curved. A curved tiller was installed when I bought it, and looked to be in very good condition, so probably not original. The PO had a 'tiller tamer' installed, but my attempt to use it with a curved tiller always ends in the rope slipping out of the 'adjusters' on the stern(small black 'plastic' devices where line can be inserted to hold tension). With a curved tiller, the rise is at least 9" from horizontal where it exits the rudder head. I assume shims could be placed under the 'adjusters', but don't necesarily want to do that (although cheaper then a new tiller). I can't really release the tiller to do anyth9ing whether under sail/power as it has a tendency to swing. I need a solution to this, which the tiller tamer would provide if I could make it work...

Charles

 

[HukilauMike]

I don't know if the 272 came with a straight or curved tiller either, but chances are it was curved. Regardless, even if the original was a straight stick, IMHO the curved tiller is so much more comfortable to steer with, and better for others in the cockpit (you won't be banging the tiller against the knees or belly of someone sitting opposite the helmsman). I wouldn't change to a straight stick just to make a tiller tamer work better. Rather than change the tiller, I'd change the tiller device. This and other sites are filled with threads about the various designs that are available.

Here's a couple:

http://wavefrontmarine.com/

http://www.tillerlock.com/

btw, I have a Davis tiller tamer on my curved tiller now, and have no problems with it. I guess it all depends on the angle the line leaves the device.

 

[cbourne200]

I like the curved tiller. My 'tamer' looks like a Davis too, except it is mounted on the underside of tiller, maybe in an attempt to reduce angle. I can't find a picture of the parts that I think are to hold ends of the line (something akin to a stationary cam cleat). Maybe I'm overthinking tis - maybe I don't need to try using those, just tie a line around pushpit stanchion on either side, and use tiller tamer as lock... If I can find a picture of what I'm thinking is a second part of the line holding assembly, I'll post later...

Thanks

Charles

 

[HukilauMike]

I mounted my Davis tiller tamer on the underside of my curved tiller too. I did so because it looks better, not because of the angle of the lines. I mounted two cleats on the upper edge of the transom to hold the control line. I'm blanking on the official name for this type of cleat, but they look like cam cleats except the cams don't move.

 

[cbourne200]

They are called cam cleats - I wasn't remembering the name either until I just went to WM.com and entered tiller tamer. This came up on the same page. See attached. I have one on starboard & port stern next to pushpit. Angle is too high to tamer for cam cleat to 'get a grip' on the line. Pulls out every time...

 

[HukilauMike]

They are called cam cleats - I wasn't remembering the name either until I just went to WM.com and entered tiller tamer. This came up on the same page. See attached. I have one on starboard & port stern next to pushpit. Angle is too high to tamer for cam cleat to 'get a grip' on the line. Pulls out every time...

Hah! I'm smarter than I think!

I see the problem now: because of the curve of the stick, the tamer is so much higher than the cleats, they can't get a purchase on the line because of the angle. I presume that mounting the tamer further back (towards the stern) is not an option because either: the curve is still too pronounced that the height isn't greatly altered, or moving the tamer that far back makes the horizontal angle too acute for the tamer?

Isn't the easiest and cheapest option just to replace the cam cleats with standard cleats? You would have to replace the line too so it would be long enough to wrap around the new cleats, but standard cleats don't really care too much about the angle of the line coming in. So long as you get the line under a horn to start your wraps, you should be fine.