jack helms yachts 30

Photo Description
The black piece is a rubber plug in the center of the hollow rudder post. •The head clamps around the rudder post.
A socket head screw runs through the split portion of the block and provides the clamping force.

• A roll pin is fitted through both head and post serves to secure the joint against slipping.

•A separate “H-shaped” Tiller Head piece holds the wooden tiller and attaches to the rudder head block with a bolt, forming a hinge.
A locking nut on the hinge bolt is adjusted for the desired up and down joint resistance.
A teflon washer is placed between under the Rudder Head.

Construction

•A stainless block is fashioned to clamp around the rudder post. The outside width of the block should closely match the tiller width.

•A hole closely fit to the rudder post OD is bored top down in the center and a slot is cut to it from the front of the block.

•Another hole is cross-drilled through the slot for the clamp bolt.

One side of the hole is opened and countersunk to clear a socket head bolt. The other side is threaded to accept the bolt.
Tightening the bolt squeezes the slot and thereby clamps the post.

•A hole is match-drilled through the block and center of the rudder post to accept a roll pin, and the pin is installed. The roll pin is an interference fit and must be tapped or squeezed into place.•

An H-shaped piece to form the tiller head must be fabricated. One set of legs of the H will clamp to the tiller, the other set will fit along side and be bolted to the rudder head at the back end. It is important that the H legs closely fit their mating parts.

A snug clearance hole for the hinge bolt is cross-drilled through the back of the block. •A locking nut with nylon insert (Nyloc) is used to secure the hinged Tiller Head to the Rudder Head block theough the hole. The tiller is attached with three evenly-spaced bolts through the legs and tiller.

revised 03-05-2008 by dbz.

Replacement Rudder and Tiller Head