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What's in a Tiller?

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/09/2009 : 13:45:21

While out sailing last week-end I put a little downward pressure on my tiller and it cracked due to delamination at the connection to the rudder. Defender has several for around 68 bucks, Catalina direct for $120 I think, and West Marine for $140 (surprise surprise). Are the Defender tillers OK and if so (or not so) which one should I buy? Thanks!

Dave Robbins
PO to*Bamboo*
'89 SR/WK #5877
Daytona Bch., FL

http://bambooc25.weebly.com/

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2009 : 14:50:06

Those tillers probably all came from the same place, H&L Marine Woodwork in California. I bought one (from West Marine) 6 or 7 seven years ago (for $48.00) and its been great. You can call and order a tiller directly from H&L, but they are a little backwards in how they operate their billing department. You might save $10.00, but if Defender sells them for $68.00, you might as well go with them.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2009 : 15:03:08

IMHO, if Defender sells it, it's OK. Like Don, I suspect they all come from the same place--they all look the same to me. A few years ago, I got one from CD for about a third of WM's price at the time--same tiller from the same maker.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 03/09/2009 15:04:21

dreddick
Navigator

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117 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2009 : 18:57:00

I had the same thing happen to me at the end of last season. The one at Catalina Direct that is around $120 is the African Mahogany & Ash. For some reason I had to use their search function but found and purchased the standard C25 tiller from them here...
http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display& Product_ID=474

It just arrived a couple of days ago and appears to match my original.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2009 : 07:20:04

Thanks Guys,
I appreciate the comments and info, going to order one today!

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2009 : 07:42:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dreddick
 I had the same thing happen to me at the end of last season. The one at Catalina Direct that is around $120 is the African Mahogany & Ash. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

$120.00 or $69.95?

Does your new tiller have the H&L stamp on the bottom of the aft end? Mine does, along with a phone number for ordering a replacement.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2009 : 08:22:43

After many years, I got tired of having to maintain and repair my laminated tiller every year, and made a solid mahogany tiller that never delaminated or rotted, and only needed a fresh coat of varnish each year. My woodworking skills are nominal, but it's an easy project. Select a piece of wood with grain that curves where the curve in the tiller will be, so it won't be weak at the curve. Use the old tiller for a pattern. (I made mine slightly thicker than the old one, for extra strength, since it wasn't laminated.) I traced the shape on the blank, and paid the lumber yard to cut the basic outline. Then I rounded off all the edges with a router. If you don't have a router, you could also use a 4 1/2 inch grinder.

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dreddick
Navigator

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117 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2009 : 08:46:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 
Does your new tiller have the H&L stamp on the bottom of the aft end? Mine does, along with a phone number for ordering a replacement.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, it has that.

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 09:40:54

First day mine split at the rudder as the holes are in line at the bracket. I redrilled to offset the holes and put two bolts through vertically as a prevention for an other split.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 15:28:19

I hear you guys talking about repairing tillers (and rudders in other threads) but with Ponce Inlet being what it is and 3 to 6 ft swells outside many times I'm not taking any chances. I will repair the old one and keep it for a back-up.
Ok, I ordered the one from defender for $68.00. I wanted to have it here by Friday so ordered it with the 3 day delivery, but at the end of the transaction, the site said it had a problem with the credit card. Well I called and it turned out I'd used the wrong billing address, but while on the phone the girl noticed my delivery option and told me she had switched it to regular (saving me money) because it would only be 3 days to FL anyway! There's still lots of good people out there!!

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