Hi!
The tiller that came with my boat broke and my spare is having issues telescoping out fully so I’m considering buying a new one. I have a P18 and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a tiller or about how far out it should be able to extend?
Meanwhile you may rivet the spare one at a fixed length, if that’s better than how it is now. For me, if I can hold it on the trap near the daggerboard or so, with my arm extended, that’s enough. If it’s too long your cannot approach it to your other hand to help pulling the mainsheet.
Length depends on a few things
How tall you are, if you are 6 foot 2 or 5 foot 5
What is your trapeze style, all the way flat (racing position) or not as far
On a large board less boat like your Prindle 18, when you're trapped out and by yourself, there are conditions where you may want to be slightly forward of the middle of the boat to make the best progress to weather so you'll need a pretty long one. A hiking stick that long of fixed length will be cumbersome when passing it around the mainsheet and also awkward when you want to sit forward of the main beam. Get a telescoping one.
The PowerStick telescoping carbon tiller extension is $275 from Murrays. You can shop around.
https://www.murrays.com/product/powerstick-telescoping-carbon-tiller-extension/
tominpa wrote: The PowerStick telescoping carbon tiller extension is $275 from Murrays. You can shop around.
https://www.murrays.com/product/powerstick-telescoping-carbon-tiller-extension/
I bought one of these for my Hobie 16 after my Arriba HotStick broke. It's a little thinner but made out of carbon so the strength is about the same. It's not quite as easy to adjust but after a couple of sails, I was fine with it.
I would suggest 8'. That will allow you to slide forward a bit while on the trap. I have added length to all of mine because I trap insanely forward.
It's been a long time since the Arriba was available, and it cost under $200 in the day. Great stick, and I still use one. The PowerStick seems to be the closest available substitute.
There is also malcheski Composits. They make a very nice tiller extension.
https://www.malcheskicomposites.com/
HULLFLYER wrote: Length depends on a few things
How tall you are, if you are 6 foot 2 or 5 foot 5
What is your trapeze style, all the way flat (racing position) or not as far
I'm about 5' tall and I usually end up scooting forward when I'm trapped out. I haven't haven't able to get the boat out solo yet so I'm not 100% sure how far up I would go.
tominpa wrote: The PowerStick telescoping carbon tiller extension is $275 from Murrays. You can shop around.
https://www.murrays.com/product/powerstick-telescoping-carbon-tiller-extension/
Do you know how the PowerStick compares to the Malcheski Composites?
Where abouts are you?
I have a brand new, never used 8’ Arriba Hot Stik, (telescoping ). Still has the stickers on it. It’s been sitting in my basement since the Mystere 6.0XL days. I had both sets of beams for the Beast, but never sailed it in the 8’ wide configuration, only 10’ wide. I needed a 10’ Stik, so the other one never got used.
I can’t remember if it’s the FX-3 or FX-4, I’ll have to get up to the lake house & look.
Edited by Edchris177 on Feb 18, 2022 - 10:23 AM.
I think the Arriba sticks are still available, at least they have a website.
http://arribastick.com/index.asp
Edchris177 wrote: I think the Arriba sticks are still available, at least they have a website.
http://arribastick.com/index.asp
The only tiller I can find through this link is the PowerStick from Murray's which is one of the two main options I'm seeing.