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Tiller Extension Extension on NE Dory?
Does anyone sail their NE Dory from the seat right behind the daggerboard housing?
I am wondering how you reach the tiller extension?
I know one builder on here said he sits sideways straddling the seat with his back against the bulkhead/side of the boat and that way he can reach the tiller extension, but I like to sit in the middle facing forward and slide butt to windward on tacks which makes reaching the tiller extension difficult.
So I was thinking of making an extension for the tiller extension that could be removed when sailng from the middle seat. I have a Forespar extension but dont know if that would work due to it making a swivel connection. (Pic below)
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Curt
4 replies:
RE: Tiller Extension Extension on NE Dory?
And I just had another thought - still along the lines of avoiding the universal joint. How about a tiller extension that simply made the existing tiller stick longer, but still resulted in one "solid" length of tiller? Develop some sort of a ferrule that would join the two pieces. Maybe a foot or two of PVC pipe might do the trick, insert your extention half-way into pipe and glue in place, slip it over the end of the existing tiller stick, with a pin to hold the two together.
RE: Tiller Extension Extension on NE Dory?
Bubblehead...bingo...I think the trusty PVC pipe idea is the simplest...could even paint it brown to blend in with the brightwork. I have black rubber clips from Duckworks that I use to temporarily clip the extension to the rail a foot or so from the end of the current extension, I could mount another one for the longer extension when I'm sitting up there.
Somewhere I read a lot of posts (maybe pintrest) about how to heat and beat PVC pipe into any shape...maybe I could make the ends the same shape as the wood sticks..
For that matter I guess I could make a "pipe" out of wood to snugly fit both the old and new extension and pin each one in half way like you said.
Thanks for your ideas!
Curt
RE: Tiller Extension Extension on NE Dory?
» Submitted by Bubblehead - Tue, 4/30/19 » 3:11 PM
Test things to see what you like, but I think an extension to the regular tiller (basically ending up with, starting from the rudder yoke) - rudder yoke, rope (almost universal) joint, tiller stick, universal joint, tiller extension - will make for a very loose and funky feel for the steering. Just by themselves, the one long tiller stick and highly non-vertical rudder hinge-angle on NE dory, combined with the push-pull steering arrangment already makes for a rather unique steering feel that takes some getting used to. Adding another universal and extension stick into the whole she-bang isn't something I'd do personally.
So, I'd recommend just going for one longer tiller stick, no extension. I thought about using fir, bamboo and rattan. I ordered a skinned rattan stick about 1.25 inches in diameter from a supplier in California. https://www.franksupply.com/bamboo/rattan-poles.html Varnished it and used it in place of the specified fir stick. Cut to length of preference (I can steer from center seat, though I've added removable side-seats (see separate thread) and like those very much. The rattan is quite flexible and virtually unbreakable.
That's my two cents.