bring tiller bar forward of block

Has anyone modified the length of the rudder arm to bring the tiller bar just forward of the block assembly? It seems to me this would make coming about so much simpler since you wouldn't have to let go of the tiller.

Not really (unless you aren't planning to use a tiller extension. You will be very limited in the length of the tiller extension you can use if you set up the rudder system this way since you would have to flip the extension in front of yourself when you tack. Plus your mainsheet line will be crossed under your tiller system. I isn't going to work well. You're much better off just figuring out how to tack by flipping the tiller extension behind the boat. It's really not that hard.

sm

sometimes I just huck it in the water behind the boat and after I cross over I just pick it up again, Hummm after reading that it kind of sounds lame???

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

I use to do that when I first started sailing, til one day, the extension got caught under the leeward rudder in the process. Well, it was leeward at the I started the tack. BTW, I was sailing solo at the time. Never tried that again.

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Happy Sailing,

David

Other than the the problem of the tiller extension swinging through crew sitting on the tramp... The tillers would have to be extended well forward of the blocks. We did that on the early Waves to make sailing easier, without a hiking stick. The tiller crossbar swings closer to the blocks as you turn, so you have to have some room forward of the blocks to enable a full turn.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)