Emergency Tiller
Date: November 24, 1998
From: Rob Chamber rchamber@snip.netHas anyone made up an emergency tiller? I know I should have one but haven't tackled the question yet.
Date: November 30, 1998
From: John Bartoszek jbartosz@symbol.comI also have been contemplating an emergency tiller for my 40'. Does anyone know how the original emergency tiller was constructed?
Date: December 1, 1998
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.comThe 'emergency tiller', if you want to call it that, on our E32 is essentially two sections of pipe (I'll guess 1-1/2" diameter), welded at a right angle. There is an access plate in our cockpit floor aft the wheel that gives us access to the top of the rudder post--the emergency tiller slips onto the top of this with the 'arm' facing aft. It appears that it is made of galvanized metal. Personally, I hope I never have to use it. Not that it isn't substantial, but because of it size (24" x 24") and apparent lack of purchase.
Date: December 1, 1998
From: Tom Gilbert TGil95746@aol.comI have one that came with the boat. I hope you can find a similar boat and copy it..... It's one of thos "winter " projects that's worth while...Tom
Date: April 7, 1999
From: Bill Lezotte wlezotte@indiana.eduI have an '80 E32. Had the binicle (sp) come down after the steering cables broke. I had to use the "factory" emergency tiller. I was a nightmare! The piping bends with any stong load like trying to keep pointed to the wind. Mine is now on a plaque in my office that says "Stress, what stress?" My replacement was simple. I went to Sears and got a 3/4" breaker bar (important if you have to binacle still up tp get 720 degree turns without lifting and reseating!) and a 18" extention. At the bottom I have a standard 1 5/16" (I think plz check before you buy) socket. After working with the original in 68 mph winds I have full confidence in my Craftsman replacement.
Date: April 7, 1999
From: Bill Lezotte wlezotte@indiana.eduThere isn't 720 degrees of turn. The breaker bar (15") was so you could get under it while changing tack. The two pieces of pipe at a 90 degree doesn't give the helmsman any space to work under it. Sorry about the mistake.
Date: August 2, 1999
From: Bill Terrell billterrell@worldnet.att.netI had to deploy the emergency tiller on an Endeavour 43 in fairly rough seas. The two pipes provided fit through an inspection port above the tiller post. The system worked, but was gut wrenching to handle. The weight of the water passing the rudder exerts tremendous force on the steering pipe. Long periods of deployment would require a block and tackle arrangement. I would suggest that the two boom vangs could be used if no others are available.
Date: November 3, 1999
From: Stephen McGreevy sdmcgreevy@worldnet.att.net
On a return trip from Isla Mujeres, MX we lost steering. The quadrent (bellcrank) bolts loosened allowing the key to drop out of the keyway,result,loss of steering. Fourtunatly?,on the 79 Endeavour 43 an emer tiller was included. So far so good. The tiller consisted of two pipes, a long one,appox 6',and a short one apox 4'. the long one is the vertical piece with a socket welded on one end to fit the top of the rudder post and a tee on the top end to insert the short piece,the tiller arm. Here we are in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico seas six to eight feet,normally not bad at all. When we lost our steering I told my crew,"not to worry,I had an emergency tiller."
We retrieved the tiller,unscrewed the access plate on deck aft of the aft cabin hatch and the one in the overhead over the aft bunk. The idea being to drop the long pipe with the socket to go on the rudder post, then on deck insert the tiller arm. You would then sit on the aft deck and steer the boat while I and a friend or two tried to find the key and retighten the quadrent,while our other friends steer the boat from topside.... OK up till now ,when we dropped the long pipe through the deck it did not reach the rudder post under the aft bunk. It missed by about two feet, guess what, somebody welded socket "A" to pipe "B". The socket to fit on the rudder post was welded to the shorter pipe,the tiller arm. We brought the short pipe down below inserted it onto the rudder post then inserted the long pipe into the top and we had a tiller in the aft cabin. Oh,by the way did I tell you CAVU is a ketch. Yes,a torsion pipe,support post for the mizzen mast is right in the middle of the aft cabin. Not much tiller throw....
We managed to keep CAVU going and,after much hanging upside down did get the key and retighten the quadrent and regain steering. Edson later told me they had never heard of a steering quadrent loosening like mine. The folks at Edson took good care of me on a couple other items. Moral of the story,if you have an emergency tiller you might consider taking it out on a nice at the dock and checking that it fits. Also, it wouldn't hurt to actually try it.
Date: August 11, 2000
From: Michael Gendel mgendel@worldnet.att.netAll,
I know this thread is old. I am totally rebuilding hull 145. It is still on the hard but will splash soon, sans engine. The tiller is a 64 in. galv pipe with the socket welded on one end and a stainless machined L fitting on the other. This accepts the 30 inch tiller pipe using a carrage bolt and self locking nut. I am glad I tried it.The pipe is staight. However, something is asymetrical as the pipe was rubbing the stbd side of the access plat, vice being centered. Any ideas???But the top of the tiller post was only 16 " above the deck and the end of the tiller fell square in the center of the aft hatch. One would be steering crouched down kneeling on a probably slipery hatch!!! The galv post is very cruddy. The max length if you want to store on the shelf behind the aft berth is 77". So I am going to buy stainless pipe (stronger than galv & prettier). The post assembly will be 77". The tiller will be 48". I will weld the L fitting at a suitable angle. One will be able to stand up and have a bit more mechanical advantage.
I will also be installing an under deck hydraulic auto pilot. Any favorites????
So yes. DO NOT WAIT FOR AN EMERGENCY. It is only prudent take your tiller out now and try it. You wouldn't check your smoke alarm batteries after you saw the flames.
Date: September 4, 2000
From: Wolfgang Harms Wolfgang@pioneer-research.comI want to have an emergency tiller made for my E 43 ketch. I have the measurements, an 80 inch long pipe with a 48 inch tiller. Does anybody have a good shop who can make this?
Date: September 5, 2000
From: Donna Cass bacchus42@earthlink.netWe have an emergency tiller that came with Bacchus, and it consisted of four pipes with fittings welded to the ends. These were made in Florida, but any good welding ship should be able to construct one. The 80" length is broken down into 2 40" sections with one end of the lower section designed to fit the top of the rudder shaft, and the second 40' pipe designed to mate with a square male/square female srainless connection. this connection and the 90 degree connection are also drilled through and held together with fast pins. Suggestion, this tiller will be very difficult to steer with for any length of time, and we are planninh to have an eye welded to the end of the tiller so as to be able to fasten line to blocks on either side of the boat.
Date: September 5, 2000
From: Michael Gendel mgendel@worldnet.att.netEureke,
The tiller as described has been fabricated and is very attractive. (Dig pic available) It fits as planned. I can stand up in front of the aft hatch and the tiller is about waste high. The tiller end has a nice, smooth, rounded cap. The assembly bolt has a nut and then a clevis-like pin fits through a hole in the end of the bolt to keep the nut from backing off. Stay tuned for a review of the actual performance once the boat is launced. If you are in need of a tiller or need to replace the tiller you have because it is corroded, weak, or is not functional, please feel free to contact me.
Date: September 6, 2000
From: Bill Lezotte wlezotte@indiana.eduYes, Sears, Craftsman.
Date: September 7, 2000
From: Sam Woolsey SamWoolsey@aol.comWolfgang,
The emergency tiller for my E40, which was onboard when I got the boat, consists of a piece of galvanized pipe (1-1/2" or 2") with a hex female socket wrench welded onto one end, which mates with the hex male fitting welded to the top of the rudder shaft. The other end has an elbow, or a Tee, welded to it. A second piece of galvanized pipe serves as the tiller arm and mates with the first. Any competant welding shop should be able to fabricate such an arrangement.The reason I am so vague on this is that my emergency tiller is stored out of sight and I'm getting older and can't picture it as clearly as I once could.
In addition to the Emergency Tiller, on Solveig, I have a hydraulic autopilot that is attached to the rudder shaft by a separate arm from the quadrant for the Edson pull-pull steering system. Of course all these systems are worthless if you lose the rudder.
Date: January 8, 2002
From: Thomas and Constance Long Irontriangle68@aol.comEndeavour Lovers:
I have a 1979 Endeavour 32, I am looking for an Emergency Tiller, If anyone knows where I can locate one, please drop me a
line. Thank You.
Date: January 8, 2002
From: Paul C. Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.comThomas,
The emergency tiller that Endeavour provided was really worthless as is the case with most provided by the manufacturer. I have one, I know. It's essentially 1.5" pipe welded together to form a right angle but I can tell you that if I needed it in all but calm conditions, it would be hard to steer the boat. It is short and fits over the aft seating area.If I were you, I'd start from scratch and make one that you could depend upon in heavy conditions.
Date: January 8, 2002
From: William Lezotte wlezotte@indiana.eduI have replace my '80 E32 Emergency tiller after bending the crud out of the original. I found that Sears and Craftsman make fantastic emergency tillers in the form of 3/4" breaker bar and 18" extension bar plugged into a large socket that regrettably I do not remember the size. Besides the greatly improved strength the breaker bar allows you to avoid hitting the helm with it's pivot head.
I believe I sent a short story to the effect of replacing the e-tiller in '98 to the forum.
Date: January 8, 2002
From: Peter and Marilyn Sicurella psic@rcn.comHi Tom,
I purchased a 1/2" socket from Sears. I believe it is 1-1/8". However, you should measure the nut on top of the cable pulley under the plate in the cockpit. I purchased a 1/2" breaker bar also to be used with the socket. Measure the height of clearance so the handle of breaker bar should be above the cockpit seats.
Date: March 11, 2005
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.comThe following is a transcript of a letter sent to an owner by Endeavour regarding making up a custom emergency tiller for their E32. I'm not sure if it's applicable to boats other than the E32. Also, in my opinion, I'd suggest this 'design' as a starting point since from my experience, it's not really very effective:
February 14, 1985
We no longer stock emergency tillers for the Endeavour 32. You should have no problem having one made up at any localmachine shop or welding shop.
The emergency tiller is merely a galvanized pipe with a 90° angle with a 4 or 8 point socket welded to the end of it. The socket size is to fit the top of the rudder shaft. You'll need to measure from the top of the rudder shaft to get proper length coming up, then determine how far out you would want it to come in the event you had to stand in the cockpit to use it.
The earlier emergency tillers were one piece of piep w/ a 90° angle. For easier storage they are now 2 pieces which slip into each other and held with a pin. You may want to consider that style.
One of the problems is that the tiller arm is very short and has little leverage. If in other than calm seas, this tiller design can be very difficult, if not almost impossible to use.
Having said that, I'd encourage all owners to check and properly maintain their steering systems annually. It's very easy to do and is spelled out in your manuals.