[C38] Tiller conversion

Thu Mar 29 22:21:14 EDT 2018

That would be phenomenal. I’ll send you an email off the list to follow up.

From: David Epstein <davidepstein at earthlink.net>
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2018 12:46:13 AM
To: Marc-Andrea Klimaschewski; Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Tiller conversion

Hi Marc,

I custom designed the tiller and had it built by the company that originally did all the woodwork for Catalina.  I purchased the last bracket that Catalina had to allow a tiller to be attached to the top of the rudder post.

I loved the tiller on the boat.  As we mostly raced the boat, it was good to get the weight out of the stern, and I could see the waves much better sitting on the side.   I had a 40" wheel, which was great, but made it easy to sail with more weather helm than is fast.   The tiller also solved that problem!

I quickly discovered during our maiden tiller-steered race that wood strips on the inside edges of the benches was a mandatory upgrade as there was nowhere to anchor my feed when heeling over.

I am pretty sure I wrote an article with pictures for the Mainsheet magazine, but I don't remember if I ever submitted it to them    I would be glad to send it to you if you would like (assuming I can find it).

After I had a couple kids, I decided to go back to the wheel.   If you are interested, I can put together a package of pretty much everything you would need for the conversion, including the tiller, tiller cover, rudder post bracket and the Morse engine controls (with cables and spare parts).  It would save you a bunch of time and money.  The only thing I can't include is the tiller extension, as it is on the J29 that I now race, but they are easy to get.

Let me know if I can be of further help.

David Epstein
Former owner, SuperStar
Marina del Rey, CA

At 05:20 PM 3/29/2018, Marc-Andrea Klimaschewski wrote:

Thanks David, tiller conversion is one of the things I'm looking into for a couple of reasons. I recently installed an oversize wheel which is nice for downwind sailing in a breeze (and fits my size better, I'm 6'6" so the 32" wheel was on the low side for me) but really limits the feel on the helm. I also talked to Edson about rebuilding the pedestal and they said that after 35 years of use I'd be better off putting a new one on.

How did you like the tiller steering? What kind of tiller did you end up using or did you make a custom one?

I'll look into retrofitting parts from a newer engine onto mine, if it is still the same engine, that should be possible. The local Universal service rep suggested a similar approach.

From: Listserve <listserve-bounces at catalina38.org> on behalf of David Epstein <davidepstein at earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2018 5:12 PM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Re: [C38] Engine stop lever / pull to kill cable

Marc,

The throttle pull-back method of killing the engine was, from what I recall, how the 5424s were set up for only a few years.   The other years the engines were designed for a separate cut-off lever.

When I pulled the pedestal on Superstar to put the tiller on, I had to address the same issue, as most engine controls on the market now combine throttle and shift, which doesn't provide a means to pull the throttle back further than the center "idle" position.

I started designing a custom solution for a separate shut-off lever, which involved one or two sliding brackets to allow the throttle to move throughout its range, and to provide for the second cable that would only perform the shut-off function.  I never got to the building or testing stages as my mechanic found a used Morse control with separate levers for throttle and shift, which was compatible with the existing engine shut-off method.

I don't know of an easy way to do what you want to do, as your engine wasn't designed to work that way.    Perhaps you could research the possibility of retrofitting parts from the later engine that had the separate shut-off cable.  I never looked into that option.

If it will help, I am pretty sure I have the cables with the "T" handles and some new chrome angled escutcheons to mount in the cockpit that I purchased when I was going with that plan. If you need them, let me know and I will verify what I have and come up with a great price for you.

Good luck!

David Epstein
Former owner, SuperStar
Marina del Rey, CA

At 01:32 PM 3/29/2018, you wrote:

Content-Language: en-US
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
         boundary="_000_BY2PR1201MB0933C23A9B146C8D80FDC686C2A20BY2PR1201MB0933_"

On Image, I currently have separate throttle and shifter levers at the helm. In order to shut down the engine, I need pull back on the throttle. I would like to add a pull to kill cable (T-handle in the cockpit to kill the engine). I know some boats have this (saw it on Peregrine for example). On the engine I don’t see a way to attach a kill cable – any ideas? My engine is an Universal 5424 – original as far as I know.

Thanks
Marc

_______________________________________________
Listserve mailing list
Listserve at catalina38.org
http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org<https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalina38.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Flistserve_catalina38.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7C455432f4eff443132e0e08d595d30d2d%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636579656045879362&sdata=8PQRq2%2BFpcJqZPEhE%2FenvBuNVIf2PBC9kxa0u0VN1pQ%3D&reserved=0>

David Epstein
Audio Video Consultation & Services
Phone: 310.308.3083
Mail to: 3826 Grand View Blvd. #66336, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Ship to: 11671 National Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90064

DavidEpstein at earthlink.net
Board Member, CTA TechHome Division
www.cta.tech<https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cta.tech%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C455432f4eff443132e0e08d595d30d2d%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636579656045879362&sdata=VBNecN9xVM%2F%2F98J1MjhX0Qw2ImKMFfnGAZnUs4QkIII%3D&reserved=0> (formerly CEA)

David Epstein
Audio Video Consultation & Services
Phone: 310.308.3083
Mail to: 3826 Grand View Blvd. #66336, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Ship to: 11671 National Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90064

DavidEpstein at earthlink.net
Board Member, CTA TechHome Division
www.cta.tech<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cta.tech%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbef604e0f5164db75e4e08d595d7a582%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636579675781712806&sdata=IzKwD9jHDpRJBkaySSQ1ogKDEXQL3fxFAMcjlvj%2Fukg%3D&reserved=0> (formerly CEA)
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://catalina38.org/pipermail/listserve_catalina38.org/attachments/20180330/ec9b3a8c/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 05D7F2A874964544889C323FA9FA8266.png
Type: image/png
Size: 165 bytes
Desc: 05D7F2A874964544889C323FA9FA8266.png
URL: <http://catalina38.org/pipermail/listserve_catalina38.org/attachments/20180330/ec9b3a8c/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: DF6F564A7B2E41DEB6138831E61084C2.png
Type: image/png
Size: 146 bytes
Desc: DF6F564A7B2E41DEB6138831E61084C2.png
URL: <http://catalina38.org/pipermail/listserve_catalina38.org/attachments/20180330/ec9b3a8c/attachment-0003.png>