mange
Member
Hi,
I've just started my winter project - building a carbon tiller + extension.
A fun thing to do and it saves me a bit of money too...if I succeed
Perhaps someone else is interested or have some own experience to share.
I think I've solved most 'how-to-do' details, but I have some wonders about the length, both for the tiller and the extension.
The tiller length vary between brands, from 96cm (37,75") to 99cm (39").
The length of the extension is a chapter for it self and my own skill is a limitation. The current extension I use is 110cm and reaching to the center of the ratchet block. This is a bit too short for me and I figure I can learn to handle 115cm, maybe even live with 120cm.
What is a good combination and compromise of tiller + extension?
Also the placement of the tiller/ext. joint have some influence on overall length.
Now a little more about the project - for those who find it interesting:
After some study of professional built tillers, I've found out very useful parts to use picked from Hockey and Fishing :
- For the tiller I've bought a hockey shaft made of carbon. Its super stiff and more over, it has the perfect dimensions to fit into the rudder head. The vertical thickness is 19mm so it will be almost as low as many carbon tillers on the market. I bought it for 30 Euro = 35$.
- The extension is a shaft for a fishing (my next hobbie) landing net. Its made of high modulus carbon and is very stiff and light weight. The diameter is 22 mm. Also affordable, about 25 Euro.
The tiller has to be modified in both ends:
- The tapered rudder head end - I will make a small mould out of plastic sheets wich copies the rudder head fitting. Then I will use thickened epoxi reinforced with chopped carbon fibers to fill the mould. After curing it has to be grinded until it fits perfectly.
- The front end will be tapered (like Acme and many others) on the bottom side so that the tiller clears from the traveler cleat. I will cut the shaft to this profile. The hockey shaft is hollow and needs to be filled at the cutted end and reinforced with epoxi and carbon twill. Otherwise it will break easily. After doing this the fixing point for the tiller/extension joint will be solid and about 7 mm thick.
After sanding and finishing the tiller will be painted with some transparent varnish to protect against UV. Finally a wear plate of stainless steel for the traveler is glued on, Omniflex joint and a rudder cleat is mounted.
The tiller extension is fairly strightforward - just cut the fishermans shaft to the 'best' length and fixing the Omniflex rubber joint with epoxi and winding fibercloth around (as desribed om Acme's site). The grip of the shaft is really good, if it suits a mucky fishermans hand it should be ok for a Laserman.
The project cost is about 80 Euro = 95$ including epoxi, omniflex join, etc.
Figure it will not take so many hours to complete.
Any comments - sure I missed something?
/Magnus
I've just started my winter project - building a carbon tiller + extension.
A fun thing to do and it saves me a bit of money too...if I succeed
Perhaps someone else is interested or have some own experience to share.
I think I've solved most 'how-to-do' details, but I have some wonders about the length, both for the tiller and the extension.
The tiller length vary between brands, from 96cm (37,75") to 99cm (39").
The length of the extension is a chapter for it self and my own skill is a limitation. The current extension I use is 110cm and reaching to the center of the ratchet block. This is a bit too short for me and I figure I can learn to handle 115cm, maybe even live with 120cm.
What is a good combination and compromise of tiller + extension?
Also the placement of the tiller/ext. joint have some influence on overall length.
Now a little more about the project - for those who find it interesting:
After some study of professional built tillers, I've found out very useful parts to use picked from Hockey and Fishing :
- For the tiller I've bought a hockey shaft made of carbon. Its super stiff and more over, it has the perfect dimensions to fit into the rudder head. The vertical thickness is 19mm so it will be almost as low as many carbon tillers on the market. I bought it for 30 Euro = 35$.
- The extension is a shaft for a fishing (my next hobbie) landing net. Its made of high modulus carbon and is very stiff and light weight. The diameter is 22 mm. Also affordable, about 25 Euro.
The tiller has to be modified in both ends:
- The tapered rudder head end - I will make a small mould out of plastic sheets wich copies the rudder head fitting. Then I will use thickened epoxi reinforced with chopped carbon fibers to fill the mould. After curing it has to be grinded until it fits perfectly.
- The front end will be tapered (like Acme and many others) on the bottom side so that the tiller clears from the traveler cleat. I will cut the shaft to this profile. The hockey shaft is hollow and needs to be filled at the cutted end and reinforced with epoxi and carbon twill. Otherwise it will break easily. After doing this the fixing point for the tiller/extension joint will be solid and about 7 mm thick.
After sanding and finishing the tiller will be painted with some transparent varnish to protect against UV. Finally a wear plate of stainless steel for the traveler is glued on, Omniflex joint and a rudder cleat is mounted.
The tiller extension is fairly strightforward - just cut the fishermans shaft to the 'best' length and fixing the Omniflex rubber joint with epoxi and winding fibercloth around (as desribed om Acme's site). The grip of the shaft is really good, if it suits a mucky fishermans hand it should be ok for a Laserman.
The project cost is about 80 Euro = 95$ including epoxi, omniflex join, etc.
Figure it will not take so many hours to complete.
Any comments - sure I missed something?
/Magnus