Re: international moth tiller extensions

scorpion_1925 · Post by **scorpion_1925** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:39 am

I was wondering what people are using for their tiller extensions on international moths because mine is a bit of plastic conduit water pipe and I'm finding its a bit flexible at the worst possible moments.

phil58490 · Post by **phil58490** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:07 pm

I have used landing net handles, available from your local fishing tackle shop. Being a cheap-skate I used the aluminium one but they are now made in carbon fibre.

I have to confess I got mine at a boot fair.

Post by **neil** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:19 pm

I've had a very bad experience with a carbon landing net handle used as a tiller extension on an IC. Yes they are cheap when compared to tiller extensions but I had one break and it left loads of sharp shards of carbon - very painful. I've heard of others having a similar experience

PeterV · Post by **PeterV** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:29 pm

Plastic water pipe works fine on my Finn!

Post by **Rupert** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:41 pm

I jammed dowling down a waterpipe, with insulation tape wrapped round it for a really tight fit. Composite!

bornagainmothie · Post by **bornagainmothie** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:30 pm

Water pipe is usually ok,although some types are a bit thin-walled. I use black 20mm electrical conduit with some rope spiralled around for a grip. Looks like carbon but costs pennies and you get a free spare one out of a 3m length.

If you do find the extension bending too much then maybe the steering is too heavy. Is the leading edge of the blade vertical in the water? Has the tripod been bent? A few degrees trailing can alter the feel tremendously.

A moth rudder should be fingertip control because its only there as a token gesture, the angle of the hull having more effect on steering than the rudder does. Think rudderless sailing, heeling the boat to get round corners.

Lyndon

trebor · Post by **trebor** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:54 pm

I used a stainless steel Slazenger golf club handle (a broken wood), wrapped it in bike handlebar tape.

JimC · Post by **JimC** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:51 pm

Piece of bamboo inside the water pipe ought to do the job for you...

PeterV · Post by **PeterV** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:33 pm

My Contender tiller extensions were just bamboo.

angus · Post by **angus** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 10:17 pm

I tried electical conduting on my national 12 and found it a bit flexible in waves so I tried putting about 18" of ali tube inside it and this stiffened it up just enough but I could still sit on it with out putting a bend in it.
All the ali tiller extensions I used in Agent Orange ended up like bananas.

scorpion_1925 · Post by **scorpion_1925** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:17 am

I think the rudder is OK its pretty light and I suspect I'm trying to use too much rudder and not enough boat balance for steering. Its when I hear a way in a gust or a bit of wind the tiller extension just bends and the boat goes straight on