[C38] emergency tiller

[Tom T.]

Hi Paul,

The emergency tiller on my 38 looks like they used a stock tiller like on the Catalina 27 and just cut it short so it would clear the wheel.

When I had to use my emergency tiller, it was in 1993, just after I purchased the boat.   The wooden steering quadrant stop broke and allowed the rudder to turn too far and allow the steering cable to come off the pulley.  It was late at night in a pouring squall and we were about 2 miles from our marina.  Instead of trying to fix the steering under those conditions, I just unbolted the clamps holding the steering cable to the quadrant and attached the emergency tiller to get us home.

We had already reefed down.  The short tiller was difficult to use in heavy winds but not impossible.  Once we dropped the sails, it was no problem at all using the short tiller.

The following day, I fabricated a new steering stop from aluminum stock instead of the original 2x4 wood stop that had rotted.  I put some rubber fender material on the stop so there isn't metal to metal contact and steering the boat to the stops feels exactly like it did before but now it can't fail again.  Replacing the original wood stop is difficult but a very worthwhile modification.  Wood is a finite life item and will fail eventually.  If you have made the sail locker access modification, replacing the steering stop is much easier although still a #$% of a job.

By the way, my emergency tiller has a stainless bolt with a stainless wing nut for easy and quick use.

Tom Troncalli
Renata #95


----- Original Message ----- 
From: PAUL NOTTE 
To: tdtron at earthlink.net;Catalina 38 Listserve
Sent: 3/16/2009 12:16:21 PM 
Subject: Re: [C38] emergency tiller


Thanx Tom 
It wouln'nt take much to fabricate one I'm sure . I have finally learned not to reinvent the wheel , I'll get some Alu. stock and just drill a hole in it. When you had to use yours I'm guessing it required a lot of force to control the boat?
  Regards Paul




----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom T." <tdtron at earthlink.net>
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009 7:16 pm
Subject: Re: [C38] emergency tiller
To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>

> Hi Paul,
> 
> My boat came with an emergency tiller and I have already had the 
> displeasure of having to use it once.
> 
> My emergency tiller is very short but it did the job.  It 
> has to be short to clear the wheel but if you make sure you can 
> remove your wheel quickly, you could fabricate one longer which 
> would give a lot more leverage than the one I have.
> 
> I think you could fabricate a tiller very easily from common 
> materials.  I would take a picture of mine for you but it 
> is almost 500 miles from me right now.  If you are not in a 
> hurry, I could get a picture to you in a few weeks.
> 
> 
> Tom Troncalli
> Renata hull #95
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: PAUL NOTTE 
> To: listserve at catalina38.org
> Sent: 3/15/2009 3:41:15 PM 
> Subject: [C38] emergency tiller
> 
> 
> Hi all :
> does Catalina make an emergency tiller ? or is there an after 
> market one available?
> Regards Paul
>   Impulse
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