Rope Tiller Mod

Hey Guys I have this idea for a rope tiller extension that I want to add to my TI. I put together a really crude example below to get some feedback. I would appreciate any ideas/tips on putting an actual working model together.

I'd rather not use a long pole for a tiller extension. Basically I just want to be able to loop a rope around a spool and steer with that when I'm out on the Hakas. Pull left rope to point TI to Port, pull right rope to Starboard. I also want a larger lever that sticks up to steer when I'm in the seat. Please see below.

Chris

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"Not everyone who wanders is lost." - Tolkien

You would surely need the rope through a fixed pulley Chris, to give
opposite movement. It would also need two hands to steer. Perhaps
more photos or a sketch would help us understand your proposal.
A piece of wooden dowel seems less complicated.
Cheers,
Brian in S.Aus.

Hey Brian thanks for the response. So basically the spool replaces the current handle. Then by pulling either line it controls the rudder when im on the hakas or anywhere, even the bow. When Im in the seat I use the lever on top of the spool just like I would use the current handle. Just from my quick put together I can see it definitely works. I think a dowel would be good but the line may come off easier. Im tinkering around with it and will hopefully have something more substantial soon

Chris

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"Not everyone who wanders is lost." - Tolkien

Actually yeah I think a dowel might make more sense especially for testing. It will be easier to carve out the bottom so that it fits the entrance to the TI and functions like the handle. I'm going to try that

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"Not everyone who wanders is lost." - Tolkien

Interesting Chris.
I think I have a better understanding.
A detailed photo or two when you have it closer may satisfy our curiosity.
Cheers, Brian

Sounds good. Im going to make a run to home depot today and post more details

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"Not everyone who wanders is lost." - Tolkien

What I'm getting out of this is that the bungie wrapped around the spool works like a rope around a windlass to where the friction of the bungie will allow the steering to be engaged.

One thought on this is that you may want to try getting it wet to reflect real conditions of being out on the water and see if the bungie still engages the spool after being lubricated with water.

It might also slip when you are under a beam reach as there is a strong lateral water pressure against the rudder that the bungie will always be fighting against when you try to steer.

But, kudos to you for thinking outside of the box because we all know that there is a fine line between a dumb idea and genius and it's always the simplest things in life that end up making us all think, "why didn't I think of that ?"

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Yes thats pretty much the idea. I just put together a working demo and posted the video to youtube. Sorry I setup my phone at the wrong angle but you can still see the concept. I want to test it out in the water but would like to make something more solid. I'm sure there's people here much more talented at fabricating this sort of thing. Please see below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX6LkRwhNyQ&list=UU-RummGLrzUF-3WjP6reNIA&index=1

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"Not everyone who wanders is lost." - Tolkien

Chris, I am getting a "private video - sign in message" from youtube.
Could be my work access.

Hey Brian I must have switched it to private by accident. Should work now

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"Not everyone who wanders is lost." - Tolkien

Chris:
I think I see what your trying to do. I like to hike out on my tramps once in a while and have two different setup's for running my tiller that I keep with the boat. First off I have just the standard steering handle with the optional steering ball that Hobie sells which I prefer. The extension I seem to gravitate to the most is just a small piece of 3/8 PVC water pipe with two holes drilled in the end and a small loop of paracord on the end that slips over the steering ball. When not using it as a tiller it plugs into my motor mount and doubles as my diver flag holder post. The other setup that I made and just store in my mesh pocket on the boat is an 18ft piece of paracord with a cinch knot tied on each end. I have my tramps strengthened so I can actually walk on them or lay out on them without sinking down too much so I lay out there while sailing once in a while. What I do is get that long rope out slip one end over the tiller ball, I then run the rope out to the end of the rear AMA and loop it around the upper peg on the Aka (the lower peg is where the AMA bungy clips on). I then run the rope across the boat straight across to and around the other peg then put the loop on the other end over the ball on the tiller. This makes a big triangle that you can either push or pull on while hiked out on either side to operate the rudder. Of course if you want to go back and sit in the seat you have to lift the one end of the rope off the ball (I just lay it on the tramp until I want to hike again). I suppose you could add a couple handles to the loop midway out the tramp, but it's just as easy for me to just grab the rope. I have both setup's on the boat but tend to gravitate toward that little ($.50 cent) piece of PVC pipe most of the time and that long loop piece just sits in the mesh pocket (I hardly ever bother with it, actually it also doubles as my dock line and my tow line for towing our inflatable equipment dingy (for our scuba gear and extra kayaks for when we are offshore with too many people (more often than not)).
I tend to use a lot of that 550 paracord because it's cheap and pretty durable, we can get 50 feet for $5 bucks at Home Depot over here and it's 500 lb test very low stretch.
Hope this helps
Bob

Thanks Bob. I think in the water if I don't have much success with this setup then I will gravitate toward the PVC extension you mentioned. I personally don't care for the current handle and want something that's more comfortable and also adaptable that will allow me to steer from anywhere on the TI. I'm going to tinker around with some different materials and will make sure to grab some of that parachord.

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"Not everyone who wanders is lost." - Tolkien

Chris,
That is a really clever idea and alternative to a hiking stick.
As Brian suggested it would need pulleys either side of the spool to keep the lines winding straight. An alternative would be to use padeyes or eyebolts.
Personally though, I wouldn't want any more lines added to the deck. They just get tangled up.
Each to their own!
I notice in your vid the tiller handle sticking up high. I'd be worried about getting caught on it when hiking out and swapping sides.
Have you seen these alternative hiking stick ideas?
viewtopic.php?f=75&t=50285

Hey stringy I checked out the hobie hiking stick but it looked kind of awkward and cumbersome to me. Its also difficult to imagine effectively steering it from the starboard haka. Im willing to give anything a shot though. As for the ropes I have so many on board already its like ah whats one more rope haha. Out of water even when the rope overlaps on the spool it still steers quite easily from anywhere on the TI. Really curious about on the water though

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"Not everyone who wanders is lost." - Tolkien

Keep up the innovating. Keen to see the results of your testing.
I've found that it's actually the port side that causes problems using a hiking stick. The long stick gets in the way and has to be bent at awkward angles to get a comfortable grip. The starboard side is where it works best.