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Replacement tiller arm for a topper |
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Philelmes
Newbie Joined: 24 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
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Topic: Replacement tiller arm for a topper Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 3:22pm |
Hi all. Im new to this forum and to sailing for that matter. Ive recently bought myself a topper dinghy to learn and practice sailing on. My problem is it didnt have a rudder, rudder block or tiller arm. Ive managed to get a 2nd hand rudder and block on ebay but no tiller. A new one is nearly £100. Im a carpenter by trade so skills arent an issue to make a new one. My issue is, i cant find any dimensions online to go by. Would someone eithet have a tiller going cheap, or, can someone sketch out the dimensions for me to make one from oak? I realise itll be slightly heavier than the original but that foesnt really matter as i dont intend on racing it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Edited by Philelmes - 24 Jul 17 at 3:23pm |
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 5:15pm |
You only really need to get the length about right, as the original isn't wood, the rest of the dimensions won't help you. and even the length isn't that critical, so you can judge it from photos.
The critical part are the cutouts on the top of the tiller which control the locked down and locked up position, but you can mock them up with cardboard rill its right. However if someone's got a tiller handy and wants to post the measurements that would be even better. BTW, wouldn't you be better with ash or hickory, same as a tool handle? |
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Philelmes
Newbie Joined: 24 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 6:49pm |
Ive done a bit of research and oak seems to be the wood chosen by most. Ash doesnt last long when exposed to salt water......even varnish wont stand up.
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 8:08pm |
That sounds wildly exaggerated. Ash is a common material for dinghy gunwhales. We're talking about a dry sailed boat and a tiller that lives under a cover, not a component on a boat on a mooring that's soaked by waves every day. I have a partially ash tiller on one of my boats, it was varnished 15 years ago and hasn't been touched since. |
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Philelmes
Newbie Joined: 24 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 8:25pm |
I can only go on what others have said. I have a garage full of oak and boats used to be built from oak so im gonna be slightly more biass towards that than any other timber.
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Rupert
Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 8:37pm |
Oak will work. Ash is commonly used because it flexes slightly rather than snapping suddenly. I have a 50 year old ash tiller, rarely varnished.
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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 9:59pm |
Many different woods used for different parts of ships/boats/dinghies. TBH if you have oak then use it, you can always make another when/if it finally gives up (but that will probably take several years). Enjoy your Topper :)
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