Tiller Length?

[redtailseven]

I am restoring a long neglected DS II. The tiller ends a few inches past the tiller extender in a rotted stump. There is no way to tell how long it was. I have made a tiller out of laminated cherry (long story-just ask) and went well beyong the pattern to 58 inches. How long are yours?

[Adrift]

48 inches, end to end.

[redtailseven]

Looks like I have 10 inches to spare. I think I'll split the difference. I can always cut it down later, but I can't make it grow! Measure twicew, cut one my grandpa said.

Thanks,

greg

[gerald]

dont cut it til you try it...58 may be the exact length it should be....

[redtailseven]

Gerald,

Of course you're right. I still have a good sized patch and a hull paint job scheduled before I sail her for the first time. I don't even have a sense of what I need yet. I've just seen my the only other DSII I've ever seen in the area. Now I'll be able to physically compare boats.

Greg

[Roger]

redtailseven;

Tell us your laminated cherry tiller story. I have over time replaced almost every part of my boat that was wood, not that there was much in the first place. I have replaced and repaired the hatch twice, (perhaps more), this time it is plastic! The jib cleat risers are next as they are cracked and deteriorating... I have already repaired them once. Not long down the road is the tiller, that although has been refinished once also, is showing cracks as well. On the point of a wooden tiller however, I refuse to go to fg or aluminum, so am considering laminating up some ash with either cherry or lilac. Tell us your story.

[redtailseven]

RATS!!

I was just finishing up a detailed story about the tiller about 3 paragrapgs long, when my connection broke. I'll give the bare bones and flesh out the details after work, if necessary.
I use cherry because a local furniture company puts scraps out in a bin for wood workers and wood burners. I check the bin frequently. I just used some to rebuild a canoe for a buddy who just got back from Ramadi, Iraq.
I made a wedge the with of the throat of the tiller and about 18 inches long. Using "Gorilla Glue" I glued and clamped a !/2 thick strip to the wedge with enough for the prong going past the web. Let dry for 4 hours or so, then I glued another 1/2 strip to the other side and a 1/4 strip to the first side. When dry, the other 1/4 strip goes on. Round with a router or plane drill the bolt holes in the prong and cut to length.
My original has some reinforcing hardware that I don't know if I'll duplicate. Since there is only about an hour of fun work involved, I figure I can afford to experiment.

I can post a couple of picture in a day or so.

Regards,

Greg

[redtailseven]

The strips are 1 3/8 wide, so the finished tiller is a rounded 2x1 3/8 with a fairly gentle taper up to 3 or so inches wide (however wide the original was-of course!).

[redtailseven]

This really dates my restoration project. Last Saturday I sailed Redtail 7 for the first time. As I suspected,, it was too long. I kept getting poked in my side as I moved from side to sid. I cut is down to 48 inches, just as Adrift suggested. The forum wins again!