Flying with a tiller

8817

8817

Member
Iam packing up for Hayling Island next week and was wondering what kind of sailing gear you can take as a carry on when flying? I would prefer not to check anything but doubt i can take my vang and my tiller on the plane with me. The biggest issue is that my tiller doesn't fit in my luggage. How do you travel with yours?

Mike
 
I used a long tube that engineeers and architects use to carry drawings. I have flown before using that as a carry-on, but that was several years ago. These days they may consider a tiller extension to be a weapon for all I know.
 
Yeah that is quite likely nowadays seeing as you're not allowed anything close to sharp (not even pens or pencils) and no liquids more than 150ml. Also they are very iffy about objects which a large volume that you could store dangerous things inside.
 
An easy way to get a tube to hold the tiller and extension is to purchase a fishing rod container. Fishing supply stores such as Bass Pro Shops carry a variety. US Airways has a policy regarding sports equipment. Other airlines are probably similar. They do not specifically mention sailboat parts but fishing equipment including rods is included as one piece of checked baggage as long as it is in a proper case. I am presuming that a tiller and extension in a fishing rod holder is equivalent to a fishing rod for purposes of complying with this policy.
 
I would maybe double pvc tube it, with some foam or other shock absorber, they really throw you stuff around so pack it in as tough a container as you can muster up. If they can break it, they will.
 
torrid said:
These days they may consider a tiller extension to be a weapon for all I know.
Click to expand...

A few years ago I had a spare shackle in my bags confiscated by French airport security because it could be used as a weapon. When I argues the point with them, their justification was it could be slipped over a finger and used like a "knuckle duster" !!

Ian
 
You could have counter argued that a wedding ring could also be used in the same manner.
 
AlanD said:
You could have counter argued that a wedding ring could also be used in the same manner.
Click to expand...

It was in France. When a French official decides something then is nothing on earth that will cause them to change their minds (logic, common sense, .... enough said).

Ian
 
I flew Air Canada (like you I expect) with my tiller and ACME fatso extension from Ottawa to London, and carried it on. I also had a full size carry on and laptop. I did put the tiller and extension in a cardboard tube.

Not a problem.

See you there
Simon
 
I've flown out of newark airport in new york maybe 10 times in the last two years with my tiller as hand luggage and had no problems. I do wrap it up just in case I'm asked to check it...I use two mailing tubes (see link below), tape together and cut to length. You can fit two tillers and ext in this tube. All my other sailing gear and sails goes in a suitcase but I carry on my compass in my carry on bag (interesting the tiller never gets inspected by the TSA as I guess its carbon fibre...the compass always gets inspected as it must have metal in it which probably looks like some kind of martial arts weapon!)

http://www.staples.com/Staples-Whit...8355?cmArea=SC1:CG16:DP1781:CL141868:SS467860
 
Its not the airline is TSA that you have to worry about. My dads a pilot for usair and when I traveled with my tiller and extension (on usair) he recommended i check it because your bound to get some idiot reading the screen thinking its a club or a bat and you get to watch them throw $400 away(chances are they'll question you and miss your flight too). Luckily it made it through the trip and back without getting it lost.

The other problem is the risk of checking a bag and it not making it to you. I had a direct flight and a suitcase full of my gear disappeared and is still floating around, sticking up some warehouse.

and whatever you do, never never ever try carrying on a trapeze harness, my friends almost got arrested for it.
 
Iam flying Air Transat and they are saying that fishing gear has to be checked. Too bad, I liked the idea of the case for the fiishing rod.
I have one of the Cylopack plastic tubes they use for rolled up drawings and it just fits.
I will likely have a problem because it's made of metal not carbon so I will probably have to check it because it's bare stainless and looks like a weapon.
Thanks for all of the tips.
Mike
 
I took my tiller and extension setup to Midwinters East in a cylindrical mailing tube and after some degree of haggling about it being fragile enough to carry on (carbon fiber, etc.) they just let me take it. It was a cardboard tube that my tiller extension was shipped in when I bought it.

I say go for it
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top