Saturday 6 January 2018

A new tiller for Snow Goose


Having snapped off my original Macwester tiller last summer at an awkward moment at sea its time for a new one, the old repaired one becoming a spare. The new tiller might as well be properly made in laminated hardwoods. This time it will be a little longer to aid single handed sailing and more comfortable to hold.

The problem. The solid wood tiller broke along the grain at its weakest point
The design for new tiller with a Snow Goose's head
7 laminates of alternating Ash and Sapele on a jig to match the original curve. (The cling film separating the base board from the gluing tiller essential with this indestructible Resorcinol glue)
Glued....
...and sanded ready for shaping

Rounded, tapered and the Snow Goose head carved....

...with dark hardwood eyes
The new tiller completed and ready for installation
Snow Goose has a new ergonomic (and zoomorphic) tiller

I used Resorcinol two part glue for the first time, instead of epoxy, which is excellent stuff although you can see the brown colour in the joints a little. The intention was to suggest the goose's head rather than do a more literal carving and ensure that the resulting shape was good to hold for hours on end at the helm. The dark hardwood eyes were satisfying to do. It remains to be seen how it performs.

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