mixmkr
Well-Known Member
I've got the original wood tiller (ash?) and wood tiller extension, connected with a 1/4 x 20 screw....what was there when I became the new owner of my '69 fish.
This morning I went sailing and the wood tiller had a slight bend in it, under force at times. Probably 15kts+ wind...just starting to whitecap decently...but actually not that choppy... on Kentucky Lake. I was fearing busting the tiller. It wasn't bending a lot, but it wasn't remaining perfectly straight....since it is such a long affair. The tiller extension connection has to go as well. The screw threads where gladly sawing away at the hole in the tiller.
This is the first time I was getting in wind over 15-20 kts at times in THIS boat, so it became apparent, easily about an hour into the sailing.
Ok... I've got plenty of stainless bimini tubing to make a metal tiller and some smaller stuff for the extension. Is this necessary?? I can't see spending $250 at APS or similar...and I don't race so legality isn't an issue.
What are some solutions and am I going to eventually break the tiller like a toothpick? I'm an experienced big boat sailor, marine tech on cruising sail boats, but just revisiting the sunfish, after only sailing them in my childhood, 40+ yrs ago. So....I like heeling, pushing things...and riding on the edge of excitement. IOW, there are going to be tiller forces for sure.
also...what about my wood rudder blade and dagger board? They're both coated with West Systems epoxy and I keep them out of the sun when not in use. They seem decently strong, but I don't need to bust things and actually feel comfortable making new fiberglass ones from scratch to save a couple hundred bucks or more. I do it for a living, but not sure of the sunfish limits. Compared to a 40ft Beneteau Sailboat, things seem pretty under rigged...granted a small daysailor
This morning I went sailing and the wood tiller had a slight bend in it, under force at times. Probably 15kts+ wind...just starting to whitecap decently...but actually not that choppy... on Kentucky Lake. I was fearing busting the tiller. It wasn't bending a lot, but it wasn't remaining perfectly straight....since it is such a long affair. The tiller extension connection has to go as well. The screw threads where gladly sawing away at the hole in the tiller.
This is the first time I was getting in wind over 15-20 kts at times in THIS boat, so it became apparent, easily about an hour into the sailing.
Ok... I've got plenty of stainless bimini tubing to make a metal tiller and some smaller stuff for the extension. Is this necessary?? I can't see spending $250 at APS or similar...and I don't race so legality isn't an issue.
What are some solutions and am I going to eventually break the tiller like a toothpick? I'm an experienced big boat sailor, marine tech on cruising sail boats, but just revisiting the sunfish, after only sailing them in my childhood, 40+ yrs ago. So....I like heeling, pushing things...and riding on the edge of excitement. IOW, there are going to be tiller forces for sure.
also...what about my wood rudder blade and dagger board? They're both coated with West Systems epoxy and I keep them out of the sun when not in use. They seem decently strong, but I don't need to bust things and actually feel comfortable making new fiberglass ones from scratch to save a couple hundred bucks or more. I do it for a living, but not sure of the sunfish limits. Compared to a 40ft Beneteau Sailboat, things seem pretty under rigged...granted a small daysailor