I purchased our 26S last spring and it came with a homemade tiller that needs to be replaced. It's the correct length (47") and the boat also still has the original rudder. I'm planning on replacing both the rudder and tiller from Ruddercraft this year. I'm thinking about shortening the tiller 8 to 10 inches to save some valuable cockpit seating space. The boat as it's currently setup has a light tiller. I realize I would lose some leverage so it might make the tiller a bit heavier but I'm hoping the replacement rudder would offset some of that. Anyone with experience using a tiller shorter than spec?
A buddy of mine shortened his tiller by about a foot. The difference is manageable but quite noticeable. Having said that it is, of course, all subjective. I would recommend making a temporary tiller the length that you want and try it out for yourself.
I will be out at my boat tomorrow. I will measure and let you know. Also if you upgrade to the entire kit that is transom mounted it will move the rudder handle back 5 inches or so.
Hello,
All you should have to do is move your hand position along the tiller until it no longer feels ok. Don't make one shorter than that. Be sure and check following seas to see how much force is generated when a wave slaps the rudder.
It might not be within the realm of what you are willing to do (although it sounds like you are replacing the whole thing anyway), but the force on the tiller is partly set by the design of the rudder which you can alter if you are willing to go to the effort.
The line of pivot position and its angle on the rudder allow something referred to as “horn balancing” to reduce the force needed to compensate for a shortened tiller. It depends on having a portion of the rudder ahead of that pivot line, it's a kind of “power steering”.
Changing that also changes other handling characteristics of the boat, but it might be something for you to know about or consider.
Andy - if you are lake sailing I wouldn't sweat a foot of the tiller too much. The effect will be the change in the ratio of the pivot to handle length over the pivot to center of effort of the rudder. Ill swag it as something 48/4 to 36/4..
You can easily simulate it under sail as the man says.
You can always add a tiller extension back on, too.
A follow up on my original post. I did install the Ruddercraft unifoil rudder system and it's great. Tiller is shorter so I have more room in cockpit when I have 4 people in boat. More importantly, the boat handles sooo much better. Gas strut keeps rudder down & no more worrying about uphaul lines fouling prop.
Of course there's a story. I installed the new rudder system on a weekend. Drilling holes in transom at waterline does make one pause but I used marine butyl tape to seal. Weather was lousy for a few days so I couldn't get out. A couple days later I was very excited to find out that a slip at local lake was available. Launched boat after work and by the time I get boat in slip and lines just right it was dark. Went home feeling good. Got up at 2 am for bathroom break and of course started thinking about boat. In the excitement of putting boat in slip, I forgot it was the first time in water after installing new rudder & I had not checked back compartment to ensure all was dry. As I lay there wide awake, I could picture the boat sinking from those darn holes at waterline. The irrational fears at night can be crazy. Got up at 3 am & drove to the lake to check. Of course it was dry. Fortunately the lake is only 25 minutes from the house.
Two major upgrades this year have made huge improvements in how my boat handles: New sails from JudyB and the new rudder system from Ruddercraft. Both are great products supported by excellent customer service.
