tiller rudder shims

[Paul]

Is there a specific part used to shim the space between the rudder and the tiller at the bolt connecting the two? The boat originally had what looked like a piece of leather. Following a trip it was no longer with us and the slop now between the two is pretty annoying as well as making the autohelm unusable. Thanks Paul (Magnet II)

 

[Mike]

Stainless washers

I think the short answer is that there is no "official" part to do the job. On my Oday 23, the tiller is bolted to an h-shaped piece of stainless steel. This piece in turn is bolted to the top of the rudder. It's not clear if you have a problem with the connection between the stainless piece and the rudder or the stainless piece and the tiller. If you have play between the tiller and the stainless holder, leather works and won't mar the finish on the tiller, but it will disintigrate eventually. To fix the play I had between the stainless stock and the rudder head, I used a few stainless washers. If the problem is that the hole in the rudder has enlarged because of the play, you will have to fill the hole with epoxy and redrill it. Be sure to overfill it on both sides so that it really "sets" your repair in place.

 

[SH]

Spanking

Hello...Had the same problem, also loosie goosie pintle to gudeon, before I went to a J-24 type tiller and connection... I used nylon washers with a silicone washer squashed between and outside again, the friction between the two held the tiller wherever I left it in the air...also ran a light line around the stanchions thru blocks at the tiller and back to the cockpit coaming for a lazy steer'er (old lobster boat trick)...I can steer the boat from anywhere on deck or from the hatch standing up, and the drag on the line is just enough to hold the tiller on any tack...saves the auto helm juice on day sales...sails...SH.