Tiller extension

[Tom Hoffman]

Good afternoon.

I am making a tiller extension. I got to thinking that it might be helpful, if I knew how long to make it.

My cockpit is about 5' wide. Other than sitting on one side and pushing the tiller over to the opisite side, I don't need something really long as I won't perching on the windward side trying to hold the boat down. I am not heavy enough. HaHa.... It is nice not to be heavy enough for at least one thing...

Any help would be appreciated.

Tom...

 

[Paul356]

Keep in mind that you'll be sitting in different positions depending on how much the boat is heeling, whether you have others in the cockpit, whether you need to stand or sit, etc. So either you need to make it long enough for your farther position (you can always choke up if you're closer) or make it adjustable. I had an adjustable one and was constantly changing its length, sometimes just to accommodate right hand vs left hand on a long sail.

 

[Tom Hoffman]

I decided at least for this first one to make it 30" seemed like a good compromise. I should be able to reach the cabin bulkhead and open it or get a drink out of the drink holders on the cabin bulkhead.

We are going to take our boat up to the river again this weekend and it will be a series of test runs for a lot of stuff.

Thanks for the imput.

Any one else please chime in.

Tom...

 

[RichBone]

I'm using this one-
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|118|297677|103258&id=103259

Most of the time I use the minimum length. Rarely have I needed to extend it full length.

Rich

 

[dscribner]

Similar but different. 24 years ago, we were expecting our first son. Being a finish carpenter by trade and a cabinet maker by nature, we decided that I would make the crib. We didn't know exactly what we wanted so we shopped a lot. Once we found a crib similar in style, I went in with a tape measure and a sketch pad. Sorry Sears and Roebuck! It's now in our closet waiting to be refilled.

Head to WM with a tape measure.

 

[Tom Hoffman]

My first thought is to always make it myself. I have it all turned out now. 34" 2"X2" hard maple blank. Left over scrap. $6.00 for a pivot hinge. I will say this, it has been at least 5 years since I turned on a lathe. I have definitely lost my touch for it. Just couldn't seem to get comfortable holding the roughing gouge. Kept digging in. Took lots of sanding to get rid of the errors.

I will post a picture when I am done.

Tom...

 

[Joe]

I'd make it long.... use it.... the cut it down if it's too long.

 

[John23883]

Why not adjustable?

Here's my $12 Walmart hiking stick. I used the connection from an old non-adjustable extension I had. I did have to add a screw to hold the handle on because it is made for downward pressure only and pulled off.

 

[kenn]

We experimented with tiller extensions this year. I bought and mounted a decent extension pivot on the tiller, then used some junk tubes of various lengths to see which we liked the best.

On our small boat the extension has to fit, and to also be stored by clipping onto the tiller without hanging up anywhere.

We've found the length we like, this week I'm cutting a proper aluminum tiller extension to the desired size and doing the final install.