Aeon’s tiller fitted and ready for finish
Tried something a little different on the second Tiller. I have some brass knob handles to fit on the ends – something comfortable to hold that will keep a line from slipping off – but I’m not certain yet I’ll use them. In the meantime, that leaves an opportunity to play a bit with the handle ends and see what works. So Aeon’s Tiller got a carved knob end. It may just get cut off, but it was fun to try out.
Like Caesura’s, the tongue extends out the back for now, to be cut off flush when the time comes. The slot was made with rocker, so the Tiller can tilt up out of the way when tacking and such.
Got the grippy lip on the Hatch Cover shaped and glued on, and the Mast Collar is now clamped and curing. I like the way the lower profile of this one turned out. In a week it can be cleaned up and the hole sealed.
In fact, I like it so much better I got out the belt sander and ground down the one on Caesura to look the same. Doesn’t look so blobby and obtrusive now, and seems to fit better with the rest of the deck trim all round.
Here’s the before:
And after:
melonseed skiff, mellonseed skiff, melon seed, mellon seed
Awesome, Barry!
You make the rest of us look bad with those close-ups. I like the tiller end to stand proud of the rudderhead. With a little counterpoint curve to liven it up. If you don’t like it you can always trim it flush later…
By the way… I thought that basement was suppose to be your wife’s work area?
doryman
Monday, February 7, 2011 – 03:12 PM
Shhhhhh . . .
I’m already a year past turning it over to her. She’s been very grown up and civil about it so far, but we must be very, very quiet.
Monday, February 7, 2011 – 10:58 PM
I have bionic hearing.
Listen to Doryman! Finish those boats, vacate the basement and take me sailing!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 – 04:22 PM
Sailing soon, T. Spring is almost here.
And thanks, Jim. It’s true, the old style makes up for speed with looks. Once you abandon “fastest” all sorts of shapes suddenly become possible.
Saturday, February 12, 2011 – 04:47 PM
Beautiful rudders, Barry. These shoal draft, fixed blade types have so much sculptural beauty. Makes a kick-up 0012 foil look humdrum!
Jim
Saturday, February 12, 2011 – 09:05 AM
Jim, the Matinicus is looking terrific, by the way.
Saturday, February 12, 2011 – 05:48 PM
Every time I make mention of what a perfectionist nut you are I get a couple of requests for your site. I tell um how fast and easy it is with staples and house paint and all they want to see is your art work, go figure. You aren’t really going to put this rudder in the water are you? I’d hang it on my wall in a frame.
Dave
Friday, February 18, 2011 – 08:43 AM
Dave, it’s like the Side Show at the Circus. Everybody wants to have a look at freaks and oddballs. Two boats in 28 months isn’t THAT bad, is it?
Friday, February 18, 2011 – 07:14 PM
Hello Barry! I’m currently working on the geometry of my tiller / rudder innards and was wondering since you have two boats and would have the perspective…… What does Barry believe to be the proper height for a tiller in your boats with the style sailing you do? Obviously sitting on the gunnels could change that.
Hey Buddy. For comfort, the lower the better. I put the curve in mine so it could dip lower into the cockpit and still have plenty of clearance above the deck. Equally important, IMHO, is that it easily tilt up. There are many occasions when this is really handy. For one, when you’re really lazy you can just scooch to the other side when tacking, lifting the tiller over your head and to go. With such a small cockpit, you often need to get it out of your way without giving up control. And finally, on really calm days I like to stand up and sail that way for a better view and to just stretch my legs. The tilt up tiller let’s to do that really well.