all last season i used bamboo for a tiller extension...filled pin end with resin and glass and wrapped it then drilled it out...worked awesome!! ultralight, easy on the hands...broke 2 of them in "oh s**t" moments, takes about ten minutes to make another...got regular tiller extension over winter and don't like it as much as the bamboo ones...plan on making more bamboo ones soon, i'll post pics.
-- Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON" --
i have a lifetime supply in my back yard...i was cutting some back about a month ago and currently have hundreds cut and almost cured and it didn't even put a dent in the supply. i planted the stands about 15 years ago, these are a variety that grows in crowns(no runners invading surrounding areas) with an average height of 25' and average diameter of 2". if i thinned them again i would have enough to build a house! amazing natural product, makes my carbon fiber tiller feel heavy.
-- Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON" --
I have used a West Marine telescoping boat hook, nearly 8' long, often available for under $25 on sale. Pretty easy to whack off the hook and adapt to the universal on your crossbar.
i made short ones(5' or so) and longer ones(8'or longer) for trapping out. if you go with longer ones you have to be careful not to let it fall under the tiller and get caught by the water(snap!). i broke 2 of them last year that way under extreme conditions, but overall they work great. this year i might wrap the entire stick with glass and see how that holds up, i left them natural last year.
-- Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON" --
Anyone want to post a pic? I've been messing around with "found objects" for an hour or so and haven't come up with anything that seems strong enough at the linkage. I don't have the fitting from the old one. (Creeping along up river in light wind, semi-napping while steering with one foot on the tiller crossbar... and it just disappeared.)
We've used a stainless steel tube with an OD of 3/4, filled 2" on both ends with polyester, then slid a clear hose over it. On the end with the hole, we drilled the hole oversize and inserted a bushing.
Depending of wall thickness of the available SS tube, it's pretty light yet stiff enough.
I used a Wal-Mart paint stick this weekend. It goes from 3' to 6'. I just cut off the end and drilled a hole in the end for the linkage. Don't think it will last but one season but it only cost $6.
fortunatly i only need 1 working finger to respond to Philip.. can you guess which one i am waving?
I was referring to using a fiberglass paint stick, not the ariba's
aribas are great, i have purchased at least 6 in my tenure sailing cats. the only drawback (besides the price) is they don't last more than a season or 2 (unless you take em apart and referb them when the locking mech wears down)