twin tiller problems

[HighwaytoHelm]

So this is really basic, bought some fishing rods to male into twin tiller extensions. (Tenner each on ebay) but can't decide how best to attach the joints. The thinnest end of the pole has a female threaded screw which is about 4mm smaller than the universal joint. I can see three options:

1. Knock the pin holding the thread in out and remove the thread and insert uj. (Tried this tonight harder than it looks)

2. Borrow a lathe and turn off the excess on the uj then screw it in.

3.cut the pole above thread and put in the uj.

also I have limited tools living in uni halls! Any input greatly appreciated

[JP233]

Mine are also carp landing poles. That also had a threaded end. I hack sawed the threaded insert off.
Insert uj. Drill through the tiller and uj. Bolt. Double and some tape for good luck.

[HighwaytoHelm]

Cool, Weirdly it may well be easier to borrow a lathe than a saw... I need to then work out how to attach the uj to the tiller 

[JP233]

Drill a hole and throw a bolt down the hole?

[Tim Noyce]

I also did this mod when living in uni halls. A trip to Wilkinsons (aka Wilko) will sort you out. Buy a cheap hacksaw for a quid or so, and a multi pack of tape. Saw off the heavy brass end of the pole. No one needs that much metal in a cherub. Get your UJ, and wrap it in as much tape as is required to be a reasonable fit in the end of the pole. Next, go out for a big curry, with lots of beers, and potentially an early morning kebab.

By the morning, you will almost certainly have a brewed up something catastrophic, and 10 minutes in the john will have resulted in a blocked toilet... go to your halls reception and call in the issue as urgent. "Send a plumber, NOW!" Within a matter of minutes (maybe hours), someone will turn up to sort out the problem... and then you pounce. In their state of shock and horror when witnessing the plumbing delight, you ask if you can borrow their drill. They'll no doubt be delerious due to the injestion of airbourne particles of Kingfisher, Vindaloo, Donner meat and yesterdays lunch by this time, and they will be unable to say no.

Wedge the UJ into the new tiller, drill a hole in one side, and pop in some sort of screw to stop it coming out. Then apply more tape around all of it. Thank the plumber for his time. Perhaps open a window for the poor chap, and leave swiftly.

Congratulate yourself on a job well done. Celebratory beers and curry anyone?

(this is how it was in my day anyway... uni might have changed since)

[HighwaytoHelm]

Thanks tim, that's a great idea!! the maintenance guys are pretty sound, I'll probably just have to ask. Failing that I'm sure I can beg borrow or steal one at the club

[BenR]

Tims advice is sound! if you have the kit and the patience, you should wind some wetted out tow around the end to stop the fishing poles from splitting (which they do quite easily as they have no hoop strength in them at all).

[roland_trim]

I find a layer of  gaffer or two on the outside before the application of drill stops the splitting.
Drilling the hole is fairly key to stopping it splitting...

PS Born Slippy's were only held in by leccy tape for about 2 seasons after her last refurb. Only found out when someone "tidied" the messy tape - resulting a a rather aborted bear away and a lost tiller.

[Clive Everest]

Don't underestimate the power of sticky tape.
I believe that a French man recently climbed a sky scraper in Dubai using nothing but a roll of gaffer tape.
many boats have been held together with sticky tape for years.
 

[roland_trim]

many boats have been held together with sticky tape for years.

The UJ's mounting to the tiller is still only sticky tape :0)

[BenR]

I did drill a hole. it is just if you can be bothered to do a proper job wrapping tow around the end 5 or so times will solve the problem of splitting afterwards and will look better than tape. Too many cherubs held together with tape and hope is what gives us the undesirable side of our reputation.

[JimC]

I find araldite rapid or the equivalent from the local DIY shop is OK for packing out tiller extensions to UJs after cutting off the end with the brass thingummy. Don't forget to abrade the inside of the landing net handle to give it a key, its rather embarrassing to pull the extension off the UJ on the way out to the start. Any old bit of glass will do to wrap round the outside, doesn't need to be carbon, and if you haven't got a mix of chosen brand epoxy handy more of the araldite rapid will do to laminate the glass with if you use plenty of pvc tape to consolidate. Araldite rapid + microballoons also handy for daggerboard tip temporary repairs. Its an expensive way to  buy epoxy but the packaging is very convenient and reduces mess.