Tiller extensions

[Ben Howett]

Hi folks

I know a couple of you have built tiller extensions in the past - I was just wondering what layups have been tried and whats been successfull?

The tech article on the main site suggests a layer of glass braid, then a 300gm UD layer, then another layer of glass/kevlar braid... that sounds a little on the light side to me?

[Stuberry]

Rumour has it that Robin and Will won the Nationals using tillers made from one layer of 200g weave! Apparently it was so light the Flexi-joint held it up. This is maybe a little extreme.

I think one layer of UD and 2 layers of weave souns like plenty. I'd maybe think about putting 300g UD in the 90deg orientation for more hoop stiffness, because for me the most common cause of failiure is crushing by leaning a hand or knee on it.

To be honest, by the time you've bought the fibre, epoxy and peel ply it would be MUCH cheaper to go with the old fishing net handles. I'll post the details for my dealer in the members-only section or we'll chat on MSN.

This is the word of the Strawb.

[Ben Howett]

The cherub is already packing landing net 'Stalking handles'... this is unfortunately for a less cheruby project requiring a little more student proofing...

[Phil Alderson]

I made ones with the glass sock followed by the 300g UD and finish with another layer of sock.

I snapped one quite quickly when I caught it against the rack. I then rebuilt it and reinforced the other one with another layer of UD and sock over the area that sits on the wing bar, they both lasted fine after that.

Doing it again I would possibly just go with three layers of sock plus extra at the wing bar and not bother with the UD, by the time you have the robustness you have more than enough stiffness.

I think with carbon extensions there are two ways to go either the light flexible and fragile fishing rod style that is so cheap you do not mind regular replacements or like most of the expensive ones that are for sale rock solid will outlast everything on the boat but are actually quite heavy.

For student proof then Bamboo is ideal, £5 for a pack of 10 if it is just for a hiking boat then PVC waste pipe works well

[Ben Howett]

Thanks Phil

On a related note: does anybody have a source for Aramid or Carbon/Aramid hydrid braid? Matrix only stock carbon but are trying to find some for me... Any other suggestions? I seem to remember a french company comming up a while ago but I cant find any mention of it now.

[ross_burkin]

Is it worth using something like Kevlar somewhere in the lay up? If it was to snap/get crushed you will still have some sort of tiller extension in one piece not a stubby, sharp mess attached to your tiller.

[phil_kirk]

I've made jib sticks for the ent that are two layers of 300 gramm uni and one layer of weave.  They work in compression but take a few knocks and I haven't broken one yet.  My first attempt about 6 years ago was a tube of balsa and one layer of weave.  not well made because I didn't know what I was doing but it was light and lasted for a while.

[Will_Lee]

I think it was one and a half layers of 200g uni. And the UJ did hold it up in the air!

[phil_kirk]

Wow!
Perhaps a few tow fibres spiraled around the uni would make it light and less delicate.
Or some v. light glass arond where it may hit the racks to provide some ruggedness.

Haven't made tiller extensions yet so may experiment with left over material. Uni is much easier to lay around small diameter mandrels than weave.

[phil_kirk]

made some tiller extensions recently.

They are about 23mm diameter and are made around 21.5mm dia plastic tubing from our favorite hardware store.  Concerned about a practical cloth handling issue we used a cloth of uni 15cm wide and a cloth of weave of the same width.  Effectively about two layers of each.

To ease the layup issues we wetted the two cloths out on a strip of plastic with the weave overlapped onto the uni.  the plastic sheet was used to offer the wetted out cloths to the mandrel.  the uni was layed on to the mandrel first and the mandrel was turned taking the cloths from the plastic. At each half turn we smoothed the cloth down to avoid voids.  Overlapping the cloths allowed the uni to trap the edge of the weave making it much easier to achieve a tight  wrap of the cloths.

Peal ply and shrink tape was used to consolidate.

Each extension weighed 160 grams. lighter than our carp landing net handels.