Vertical TillerArm -Hull-Hole Size - Clearance?
Jim, I think the simple answer is that the quadrant arm needs that much of an opening in order to move from port to starboard, lock to lock....
Agreed. I'm more curious regarding the vertical size/clearance of the hole there where the tiller arm enters the hull.
...From what I've seen, it appears that to remove the steering arm (say to service the rudder, etc) one separates it from the tiller itself, pulling it inboard. However the yoke that hugs the tiller on the tiller-steering arm doesn't itself (-?) need so much vertical hole clearance?
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I haven't looked at the tiller-hull entry yet up close on the E36c, so just curious if it's one of the typical design "flaw" or compromises (in this case to have wheel steering).
...I keep thinking about this fellow solo hand-steering to Hawaii from the states right now, and taking on following seas, which isn't so uncommon points of sail for a cruising boat all things considered. Even if the steering mechanism compartment drains quickly (and any further ingress is sealed), every little thing like that can ad up. A lot has been learned over the decades in finding solutions to reduce the compromises in designs. I would think there is a not-too-difficult solution to sealing up these aft areas from the sea without going to full tiller steering.
If it's the same on the E36c, I think one of our first projects would be to find a solution there to keep following seas out (as much as possible) from that stern compartment. I would think a plate on the tiller arm that follows the hull as the tiller turns would do a lot towards that end.
Come to think of it, I once saw someone with a flat-stern who had a stainless plate manufactured to sit against the hull, that the tiller-arm went through. He had a piece of old plywood stuck to the tiller arm on the outside. I didn't know what it was at the time, being young, but I'm guessing now that it was a jury-rig en-route so when following seas would get against the stern, it would press the plywood against the plate, stopping a lot of the sea from entering through the tiller-arm hole. ...Anyway. Just curious. If we get the E36c we'll be in a lot of situations where I'll care about following seas.
...If you take a look at the photos of my quadrant locker in the #2 post above, you'll see where the factory did a pretty poor job sealing up the space...
-Great shots by the way -not everyone would have gone in there AND then posted the results! Thank you!