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Tiller snapped! (photos added)

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 13:05:00

I was thinking that you could get a bigger piece of wood and just shape with with a jigsaw? No bending.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 13:32:58

You could use a large piece & cut it out with a bandsaw or jigsaw (I've got both), however, you leave stress points where the rings exit the cuts. If it's finely ringed wood, this isn't such a big deal. If you aligned the grain with the major axis of the tiller, you'd reduce the possibility of blow out even more. You could also do a glue-lam block to minimize waste.

I might even make an interim tiller out of plywood, I've got some 3/4" BS-1088 (waterproof ply) laying around from an earlier project that could be used.

Dropping the boom into the cabin door captures the sail fairly quickly so it's easier to put gaskets on it. I have a topping lift and a pennant to attach the boom to, but this was more expeditious. A boomkicker's on my list, but down a ways.

Edited by - delliottg on 02/23/2009 13:40:36

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 13:37:58

Re: Lamination

Yes it Will make the tiller easier to bend, but it also allows you better control of the flexion and weight of the tiller. When building canoe paddles we always used a mixture of basswood, oak, maple, cedar, etc. The lighter woods (basswood and cedar) allowed the paddle to be lighter and more flex while the hardwoods provided strength. If you used too much of the softwoods the paddle would literally act as a spring on each stroke, and eventually the shaft would break. Use too much of the hardwood and the paddle would be "dead" with no feel of the water, and would be heavy as well.

A properly laminated paddle would be light and easy to swing all day, and would allow you to feel the movement of the water across it so you could feather your angle of attack on the strokes. Seems to me the same principals would apply on a tiller - at least so far as the "feel" of the water against the rudder.

Edit to add - I once used zebra wood as the core lamination in the shaft of a paddle - it looked super cool, but was very "dead" to feel.

I have heard of folks buying Wheelbarrow handles and drilling the holes in them to use as an emergency tiller. Wheelbarrow handles tend to be mahogany, and are $5 a pair. They may not have a nice curve to them, but in a pinch I imagine they'd work. Never tried it myself though.

Edited by - Prospector on 02/23/2009 15:57:51

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 16:17:57

The Wheelbarrow idea is excellent. In my case though, sailing on a small lake, if ever I would look either loose tiller or rudder, I could always simply motor steering with the engine. If you are far out though (with a posibility that you won't have enough gas) then I would do what Zeil did where he made himself a plywood spare rudder.

I recently read a forum post on the Cruisers forum about a few boats while near the Carribean had rudder jammed hard to one side without the possibliity of unjamming it (possible due to a torqued shaft or other). Once the rescue arrived divers went in and could not get it unjammed. Tried to tow the boat but it was impossible with the rudder all the way to port or starboard. They took the crew and left the $500K boat behind drifting. I'm guessing the rescue cost makes it not worth saving a $500K boat? Can you imagine loosing your whole boat to something as stupid as a rudder jam? Why didn't they just saw off the whole rudder (at the fiberglass) so they could tow it? I guess you just had to be there to understand. Just before leaving his boat, the capitain radioed a bunch of friends who were trying to help him and was almost crying.

So add to your list of essential things to bring on board, a SAW or an AXE!

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 02/23/2009 16:28:01

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 17:23:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">So add to your list of essential things to bring on board, a SAW or an AXE!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I've got both on SL, plus a shovel.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 17:26:29

Hey David
Found a couple tillers on [url="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/sailboat-tiller-main-oday-catalina-hunter-sail-rudder-G_W0QQitemZ140302048146QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBoat_Parts_Accessories_Gear?hash=item140302048146&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A64%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318"]e-bay.[/url]

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 18:31:55

Thanks Tom, the one that I saw was too small to fit the butt plate properly. I wonder how often they have them on there? This one was a factory second & needed cosmetic work, something I can easily do.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 19:20:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Blackburn
 I recently read a forum post on the Cruisers forum... Why didn't they just saw off the whole rudder (at the fiberglass) so they could tow it?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The rudder shaft was likely a 1" (or heavier) stainless rod. We'll give you a diving mask and a hack-saw, and you can go down and saw that off while the boat is pitching in the seas... or better yet, how about an electric Sawsall?

The blade probably had an internal stainless steel grid, so even sawing that off vertically would be a project at sea. The yachting life can be tough.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 02/23/2009 19:22:55

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 19:37:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Blackburn
 I was thinking that you could get a bigger piece of wood and just shape with with a jigsaw? No bending.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I agree with David... A single piece is only good for a straight tiller. With the S-curve in a piece of wood, the grain is likely to start and end somewhere within the center section of the curve, inviting a sudden and complete break--not just the partial crack that I experienced. You'll still have a sharp stub, but that's the risk. The laminated version is significantly stronger than even a bent solid wood, and looks prettier, too. (But it looks like the price jumped!)

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essen48183
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 19:44:40

Too bad the rescue team didn't have a lightweight set of real tools. http://www.jawsoflife.com/Main/Products,365,365.aspx

The Mini-Lite tool series is the perfect solution for confined space rescues. Lightweight and extremely portable, these tools can be used with either a manual pump or a DC power unit. Sold by the piece or as a set, the Mini-Lite tools are stand alone rescue systems.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 20:11:33

It'd be sad to take that cool tool into salt water...

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Peregrine
Admiral

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830 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 20:25:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 [quote]Originally posted by zeil
 As John suggests, every hole is an invitation.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Gentlemen,
This a family forum.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2009 : 20:38:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 Thanks Tom, the one that I saw was too small to fit the butt plate properly. I wonder how often they have them on there? This one was a factory second & needed cosmetic work, something I can easily do.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Here's another. [url="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Sailboat-TILLER-Laminated-SAILING-Tiller-Bracket-WOW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem140300090366QQitemZ140300090366QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear"]E-Bay Tiller[/url]

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