[Public-List] Tiller wobble and possible fix.

[Gordon Laco]

Yes, you’re guaranteeing corrosion damage,  and the aluminium is too soft to last long in that application.

A permanent cure would be to build up the inside bearing surfaces of the rudder head with brazing, then grind and sand it down to fit.  Not difficult to do, but this will be a lasting solution.

Gord
 #426 Surprise

On 2017-11-21, 8:12 PM, "Public-List on behalf of Jonathan Bresler via Public-List" <public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org on behalf of public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

    Folks,
    
    Got tiller wobble,  The metal H shaped section connecting the tiller to the
    rudder head fitting does not fit as tightly as I would like.  Initial
    movements of the tiller take up slack then finally start to move the
    rudder.   Decided I needed to do something about this.
    
    Obtained two pieces of top shelf aluminum shim stock from the side of a
    Heinekin beer car.  Folded the two pieces in half.  Trimmed the pieces to
    match the height of the H fitting and a similar length. Drilled a 3/8" hole
    in the center of each of the two.  Installed one shim on each side of the
    rudder head fitting between the rudder head and the tiller H fitting.
    
    Went sailing today.   Comparatively NO wobble.  Nice tight response.
     Shouid have done this a while ago.  Hoping that the aluminum shim stock is
    softer than other metals, bronze for the rudder head, and steel(?) for the
    H fitting.  Would be happy to replace the shim stock every year in order to
    prevent wear of the other parts.
    
    Thoughts?   Am I risking corrosion damage?
    
    Jonathan
    
    P.S. Stole the idea of using beer can shim stock from Robert Pirsig's
    _Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance_.  Hard to believe that the book
    is forty-three years old now.
    
    -- 
    Jonathan M Bresler
    S/V Constance Alberg 30 #262
    Annapolis/Eastport MD
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