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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

shortening the tiller

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blanik
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Canada
210 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/17/2012 : 18:06:19

i had to notch a bit of the tiller to allow it to come down at the right height in the cockpit but while trying it i thought it would be better a bit shorter, i remembered being annoyed last summer by the tiller that took half the cockpit, now i'm considering shortening the rudder end of the tiller by one hole (moving the plates one hole up to the 2 first holes and drilling a new 3rd hole), that would shorten it by about 2" which feels about right and since i have a balanced rudder i don't think the leverage loss would be noticeable

what do you think about this? anyone ever did it?

1984 C25 FK/SR #4593
Lake Champlain

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2012 : 19:00:29

There was a previous discussion about this, but shortening it about a foot. Two inches wouldn't make a noticeable difference in leverage, but wouldn't be worth it to me.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2012 : 20:30:44

Some time ago, there was a posting showing a tiller improvement that effectively shortened the tiller but did so using a sort of clamping arrangement so that the tiller could also be extended to the normal length.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2012 : 03:33:24

I tried searching in the archives for the previous posts regarding shortening the tiller but also able to extend it when desired. The best I could come up with was a past posting thread when I mentioned the same mod and I included the link that I thought had that mod but could not confirm because the photos were no longer available. Anyway, my description of it was a bit more descriptive as it was more fresh in my mind back then. But still, this is of little help to show the mod. Anyone out there recall that mod and/or saved the photos ? The link I provided within below archived postings...could not confirm if that was indeed the mod I am talking about but perhaps my description below will trigger others memories and by chnace can come up with the proper link or photos.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23878& SearchTerms=tiller

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2012 : 05:41:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by blanik
 I had to notch a bit of the tiller to allow it to come down at the right height in the cockpit...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Why wasn't it at the right height? Do you have a non-stock tiller or rudder?

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blanik
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Canada
210 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2012 : 14:32:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by blanik
 I had to notch a bit of the tiller to allow it to come down at the right height in the cockpit...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Why wasn't it at the right height? Do you have a non-stock tiller or rudder?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

it's a new Foss (CA) rudder, it's a bit taller than my 84 original, instead of resting on the transom, the tiller ends up mid-way between the transom ant the traveler bar and the top end of the rudder isn't exactly like the original so my tiller was tilted a bit upward when resting on the forward notch of the rudder, all of this made the tiller hang too high in the cockpit so i removed a 1/4" X 1/4" piece of wood from the lower en of the tiller so it would rest level (a tad lower actually) to bring it at a reasonable height... once adjusted i remembered how long it is and how annoying it was last summer when i was tacking so by looking at it i felt that 2" shorter would be good, hence the idea of bringing the plates forward by one hole and drilling a 3rd one...

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2012 : 14:46:58

I cut about 6" off my tiller a few years back. (I had a 250lb genoa trimmer and he complained that he always went home with a bruised butt!) I'm now contemplating cutting off another 6" as I still have the same problem when tacking.
I cut the piece off at an angle and then rounded the end with a sander. I also used polyurethane (4 coats) to highlight the laminations

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blanik
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Canada
210 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2012 : 15:10:54

@ Derek, do you have a compensated rudder or the stock one?

my stock one last summer needed some heavy pulling and pushing sometimes, removing too much tiller will also remove some leverage force, i was contemplating shortening it in part because i have the comp rudder, i figure the loss in leverage force won't be bigger than the gain in compensation force... :-/

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2012 : 18:03:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by blanik
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by blanik
 I had to notch a bit of the tiller to allow it to come down at the right height in the cockpit...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Why wasn't it at the right height? Do you have a non-stock tiller or rudder?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

it's a new Foss (CA) rudder, it's a bit taller than my 84 original, instead of resting on the transom, the tiller ends up mid-way between the transom ant the traveler bar and the top end of the rudder isn't exactly like the original so my tiller was tilted a bit upward when resting on the forward notch of the rudder, all of this made the tiller hang too high in the cockpit<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hmmmm...I believe this rudder was made from the mold taken from a rudder from the latest C25 with the redesigned deck and stern which apparently has a taller rudder. Someone might want to let Foss Foam know that there are two different sized rudders for the C25.

Edited by - dlucier on 04/19/2012 10:48:42

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2012 : 08:59:40

I have the improved rudder. I did not notice any difference in handling after removing the 6".

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Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2012 : 14:24:20

if you want to provie it out, just hang on to the tiller where the end would be in heavy weather. Once confident, lop 'er off.

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