Tiller connection to rudder head?

Rocketagp

New Member
Hi All; I just got a Capri 14.2, and I am fixing the rigging to get it ready. My tiller slides through the rudder head, and it is only stopped from sliding out by a small screw at the butt end of the tiller, and that screw is a bit wallowed-out in it's hole, so I foresee disaster as it slips out and leaves me tillerless! How is the tiller supposed to connect to the rudder head, and how do you fix / prevent any slop in the tiller?

Thanks!

Andrew
 
Hi All; I just got a Capri 14.2, and I am fixing the rigging to get it ready. My tiller slides through the rudder head, and it is only stopped from sliding out by a small screw at the butt end of the tiller, and that screw is a bit wallowed-out in it's hole, so I foresee disaster as it slips out and leaves me tillerless! How is the tiller supposed to connect to the rudder head, and how do you fix / prevent any slop in the tiller?

Thanks!

Andrew
Andrew, The tiller handle is clamped tight with a screw assembly under the bottom of the aluminum housing. NOT a good design. I drilled two holes in the top and put two small screws through into the wood. This removes any chance of the handle moving or slipping out. The housing is connected to the body of the rudder with a bolt at the rear which allows the handle to lift up for sailing. This works for me and is quick and easy. Good luck with the boat. Charley
 
Thanks Charley; I knew something was amiss here. The tiller was just being bumper-stopped from sliding out of the rudder head by a small philips-head screw! Yikes! You know, the previous owner said his family didn't like sailing the boat much.... I don't wonder why. The halyards were too thick to cleat or tie off, the centerboard bungee was worn out, and the rudder/tiller assembly is missing parts and rigged wrong!

On the plus side, the hull, mast, boom, and sails are in fine shape!

I can't wait to sail it!

Thanks.

Andrew
 
I like the fact that my tiller can slide through the rudder head. It allows me to "shorten" the tiller if I need to
 
Hi Mike; thanks. How is your tiller attached to the rudder head? Does being able to slide it in the rudder head while sailing leave a lot of slop in the steering?
 
My tiller is attached as the OP stated, "My tiller slides through the rudder head, and it is only stopped from sliding out by a small screw at the butt end of the tiller". I find that I rarely shorten it more than a few inches which keeps the large part of the tiller within the rudder head, therefore it never gets sloppy. I would imagine if I shortened it to the point that the narrower part of the tiller was in the rudder heard, it would be quite sloppy. Those few inches, I find, can make a difference in where I am able to be in the boat
 
Agreed, mine is also stopped only by a small screw. The shortening this allows is really useful at the dock, because you can back it way out to help clear it from the traveller or sheet if things get tangled at all. Underway, I'm with mike that I rarely need to shorten it more than a few inches, but when my trolling motor is on and the rudder is kicked up, it's also useful to back out the tiller to make room. I wouldn't want mine permanently set. Oh, and the max shortening also helps to get the whole assembly into the cuddy and stored on occasion. If it were set, the handle is too long and sticks out, so the cover can't be closed.
 
I finally decided to connect the tiller using a pin with a ring at the top and a clip under the tiller. It works great, is more sturdy, and it allows me to remove the tiller from the rudder head for storage. You guys were right! Being able to slide the tiller back when motoring was excellent. Thanks. I tried the velcro for the tiller extension, and that works well too. I also put a cotter pin through the rudder wing-nut bolt to keep the wing-nut from falling off at an inopportune time. Now on to a tiller tamer, so I can lend my mate a hand on the halyards.

Other than a few tune-ups, the boat sailed wonderfully! It was a first time for my wife, and she settled down and enjoyed it!
 

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