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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Custom Tiller Cover

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/12/2012 : 21:39:11

I spent some time a few weeks ago refinishing my tiller. It came out pretty good, so now I want to protect it. I purchased a Tiller Tamer, and from what I've read, the tamer will keep me from using any "off-the-shelf" tiller covers. So, I made one:

I want to put a snap at the back, which should ensure that it won't fly away. The cover has holes along the bottom to allow everything to breathe, and to allow any moisture to drain out.

The design will also allow the lines for the tamer to stay attached without a problem.

- Jim
Formerly of 1984 C25 named Dragon Wing

NOTE: In my case, PLEASE don't confuse stars/number of posts with actual knowledge. On any topic.

Edited by - JimGo on 04/12/2012 21:39:52

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2012 : 23:15:41

Nice! I need to make one for my tiller. I never got around to putting any UV protection on the one I built, and it's showing it. I need to refinish it, and see if I can get Rita to make a cover out of some spare Sunbrella we've got.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 05:57:39

Thanks! It was pretty easy to do.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 06:27:59

Jim, now I understand your user name!

Good for you!

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 06:32:51

It looks nice Jim. I have to make a new one, I made one at first that didn't fit the tiller tamer. Could anyone in Seattle use it?

My other recent sewing projects are a foredeck bag for our genoa (it's pretty nice not having to remove the sail from the forestay) and a bag for our dumpster that holds the drop boards. I got one of the Reliable Barracuda sewing machines, 7 yards of Sunbrella and have been going to town. The Barracuda is a nice step up from my home Pfaff machine, it goes through the Sunbrella much more easily.

Making something like this is probably on the horizon, although the next project is just a fabric flap for the companionway:
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/crose2.asp

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 06:35:28

Looks good! My Sunbrella cover fit without issue over my TillerClutch.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 06:51:28

Alex, list your cover in the Swap Meet. I'm sure someone will take it! I want to make a hatch board cover too. That's on my list!

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 08:13:25

I'll take a photo of the hatchboard cover this weekend. It is basically two 37x14" panels sewn together for the large board, a 37x12.5" in front of that for the middle one, and then a 27x11" on the front for the small one. Sizes are raw, before hemming. There are fastek buckles that hold it all together and some seatbelt webbing along the top that will receive gromets for mounting it into the locker.

One nice accomplishment last weekend was looking at the remainders left over from making the foredeck bag and figuring out exactly how to make the hatchboard cover with those. At the end of both projects all of my waste would have fit into a quart ziploc bag.

alex

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 09:12:29

Thanks for the dimensions, Alex! I was thinking to my self that I'd have to take the measurements this weekend when I'm out at the boat. Now I just have to remember to measure the diameter and height of the winches, and the length and height of the grab rails.

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 09:21:45

I also kept forgetting to measure them, so I just used the dimensions for the boards off of Catalina Direct.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 09:37:32

Looks good Jim!

We bought a replacement sailcover off the swapshop and have been using our old one for these sorts of small projects.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2012 : 10:49:42

I found a Sunbrella knock-off on eBay for a good price, so I'm using that for now. But the idea of the sail cover is a great one!

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2012 : 21:38:19

I finally remembered to take some photos today.

This is my hatchboard cover. I haven't installed it in the dumpster yet, but it is very handy just being able to put the boards into it and get them out of the way. The rear panels are 35x13", the front is 27x11" (smaller because that made the best use of our available fabric).

This is a jib storage bag, using a pattern from Sailrite:

Both were made from the same 3 yards by 46" of Sunbrella Pacific Blue fabric. I had very little scrap left over.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 06:20:02

Very nice! I took my hatch board bag to the boat on Saturday and did a test-fit, and it was almost as though the bag was MADE for the covers. Quite impressive! ;) I like your straps, that's a good idea. I have a cover on mine, but adding a strap will help keep them securely in place.

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 08:23:43

My plan is to insert grommets into the seatbelt material at the top, then hang it in the dumpster. I just need to make it to Seattle Fabrics to get a grommet kit.

If you add the straps (which I do recommend, they work nicely) I'd make the top ones as short as possible to give you the most adjustment available in the bottom ones. I made them too long.

I also find it handy to put my padlock around the straps so that I don't misplace it elsewhere.

Someday I need to remove that fender from the bow pulpit, I don't know why the PO installed it there.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 09:21:33

Alex, if you have a Harbor Freight Tools near you, they have a grommet kit. I'll have to look for some appropraite strap material. Perhaps I have an old backpack I can salvage...

As for the bumper, it adds a certain "mystique" to your boat - I'm sure everyone wonders why it's there.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 10:30:01

Call the fender a bowsprit. Paint a mermaid on it. Turn it into a feature.

Edited by - on

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