Hi to all:
If you have a bit of play in your tiller (and, God forbid, it's not the rudder stock tangs that have come loose) the culprit may be the bronze head which joins the tiller with the rudder stock. This is kept tight with a key inserted from the top and a pair of allen-headed screws on the starboard side. Inherently, it's a rather week arrangement. My friend Mats Wik, who sailed his Ballad to Greece several years ago and now has a berth on my pontoon in Athens, came up with an interesting solution--and having been a machinist for three decades--executed in great detail. The photos below are from my installation but I copied his exactly. Essentially, the idea is to split the back of the bronze head with a 1.5-2mm disc to create a slit and then drill through both sides so that a tightening bolt can be inserted. Obviously,the head of the bolt has to be flush with the surface so that the tiller can later be inserted. Also, we chose to make a clear hole on one side and a threaded one on the other, so that the bolt could be tightened well. It is a very solid arrangement which renders the small allen screws on the side unnecessary. However, if you wish, you could also drill int the rudder stock a few millimetres and use the screws (originally, they were just tightened against the round surface on the stock and were, effectively, useless).
Nicholas Koligiannis
Moments of Clarity, hull no.334
Play in the tiller
Re: Play in the tiller
Nicholas,
That's interesting because my Ballad (#1085) has a tiller head with that exact modification. I'm wondering if it was a standard feature on later model Ballads, or maybe a previous owner did it. ??
Also, there is no evidence of any other set screw holes.
That's interesting because my Ballad (#1085) has a tiller head with that exact modification. I'm wondering if it was a standard feature on later model Ballads, or maybe a previous owner did it. ??
Also, there is no evidence of any other set screw holes.
Peter http://www.mostlyaboutboats.ca
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Victoria, BC, Canada
Albin Ballad Restoration Photo Album
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Victoria, BC, Canada
Albin Ballad Restoration Photo Album
Re: Play in the tiller
Interesting, I'll take a look at mine tomorrow (hull #332).prjacobs wrote:Nicholas,
That's interesting because my Ballad (#1085) has a tiller head with that exact modification. I'm wondering if it was a standard feature on later model Ballads, or maybe a previous owner did it. ??
Also, there is no evidence of any other set screw holes.
Re: Play in the tiller
Just had a look. The tiller head on my Ballad (#332) doesn't have the modification. Would be fun to hear from some of the owners with hull numbers between 334 (Nicholas) and 1085 (Peter)
Re: Play in the tiller
I have to agree with Nicholas ... it's a rock-solid upgrade well worth the time and trouble.
Peter http://www.mostlyaboutboats.ca
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Victoria, BC, Canada
Albin Ballad Restoration Photo Album
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Victoria, BC, Canada
Albin Ballad Restoration Photo Album