I have the carbon tiller (from the UK) plus the "mega bolt" thing and am having difficulty keeping the tiller tight in the rudder stock.
When I depart I have the rudder only part way down. I then stop, push the rudder fully down, push the tiller hard into the rudder and tie it down to the eye in the rudder (the line is the only thing keeping the tiller in the rudder - I don't use the pin). I have tied a loop in the line so have a 2:1 purchase to get it tight. The line is spectra and thus a "pain" to untie later. (when coming back in)
All is fine until after an hour or so when the tiller starts to work a bit lose. Nothing serious, just that I have a lose tiller (psychological rather than affecting anything else). When a bit lose, the tiller does not flop around and does not hit the traveller cleat. Just me.
I think the difficulty is tying it really good and tight on the water. I remember in Fireballs we used to have fixed rudders that would not lift, but we took them off when sailing back in (easier as you dropped the main before lifting the rudder so arriving ashore was quite gentle even in strong winds).
I did try a cleat on the rudder (rather than an eye) but that was worse so I put the eye back.
Do I just have to learn to tie the line harder and tighter, tolerate a slightly lose tiller ? Do others drop the rudder after departing or do they tie down ashore.
Many thanks
Ian
When I depart I have the rudder only part way down. I then stop, push the rudder fully down, push the tiller hard into the rudder and tie it down to the eye in the rudder (the line is the only thing keeping the tiller in the rudder - I don't use the pin). I have tied a loop in the line so have a 2:1 purchase to get it tight. The line is spectra and thus a "pain" to untie later. (when coming back in)
All is fine until after an hour or so when the tiller starts to work a bit lose. Nothing serious, just that I have a lose tiller (psychological rather than affecting anything else). When a bit lose, the tiller does not flop around and does not hit the traveller cleat. Just me.
I think the difficulty is tying it really good and tight on the water. I remember in Fireballs we used to have fixed rudders that would not lift, but we took them off when sailing back in (easier as you dropped the main before lifting the rudder so arriving ashore was quite gentle even in strong winds).
I did try a cleat on the rudder (rather than an eye) but that was worse so I put the eye back.
Do I just have to learn to tie the line harder and tighter, tolerate a slightly lose tiller ? Do others drop the rudder after departing or do they tie down ashore.
Many thanks
Ian