CD 36 Tiller steering. GGR

[Niko69]

Good afternoon, all, new to forum. I was hoping someone can share information about the C36. I was reading somewhere that some of these boats also came with tiller steering. However, I have never seen one in the market. Do they actually exist? or myth? Understanding also upcoming Golden Globe race, from what I have noticed all the boats are either fitted or came with tillering steering. The C36 being one of the few qualifying boats allowed to participate. Appreciate the feedback

[John Stone]

Not a single CD 36 was ever built with tiller steering. Zero. Zip. However, several have now been converted by their owners. My CD 36, the Far Reach, was the first to be converted. I documented it here. http://www.farreachvoyages.com/blank-40/

Two more have been recently converted and both were accomplished without dropping the rudder. David Frederik in Connecticut (he did his own boat) and Mark Meredith from NY (James Baldwin did the work in GA). See YouTube Atom Voyager.

I can attest to the fact the boat steers beautifully with a tiller as I think Mark and David will too.

Let me know if you have more questions.

IMG_0968.jpeg

[Carl Thunberg]

Russ Cambell, CD36 Nutmeg in Tenants Harbor, Maine has also converted to a tiller.

[John Stone]

Russ Cambell, CD36 Nutmeg in Tenants Harbor, Maine has also converted to a tiller.

[tvangilder]

I intend eventually to convert my CD36 to a tiller.

I previously converted my CD30 to a tiller.

-Thad

[John Stone]

That sounds great Thad. Tillers rule. Gonna take over the world.

[tvangilder]

The 36 next to me for the winter (Nutmeg) has a tiller.

[tedmroyer]

Hello, I am brand new to the forum. I am trying to gather the parts I need to make a conversion to tiller steering on my new to me 1984 CD36. if I buy this part in bronze what else is needed to mate this part to the CD36 rudder stock emergency tiller fitting?

https://edsonmarine.com/bronze-tiller-h ... dder-post/

Or is there some other head fitting I should use?

[John Stone]

Hi Ted
Unless you want to cut the cockpit sole out of the boat to lower the aft end of the cockpit you will need a coupling too.

I converted my boat from wheel to tiller during the long rebuild of the Far Reach. This was the first CD 36 to be converted. Here is a link to the rudder project. Scroll down a little more than half way to find the tiller conversion section.

http://www.farreachvoyages.com/blank-40/

Happy to answer any question via email or phone.

Good luck to you.

[tedmroyer]

John,

After I made the post, I saw the link to your excellent detail on this. My bearing feels okay, so for now I am just going to get a shaft cut exactly as you describe 1-1/2" X 9" with a 3/8" keyway on one end and 1/4" keyway on the other. Looks like with the keyways aligned to each other that centers the tiller fitting with the shaft to match the rudder position, correct?

I could not locate the Edson coupling, but I found a shaft coupling on McMaster-Carr:

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/shaft ... alignment/

Beyond that your detail answer every question I can think of on conversion. Your boat is a master piece and your You-tube videos and those of James Baldwin of Atom voyager are what pushed me back to the CD36. Thank you.

[John Stone]

Ted
Thanks. Read that post carefully. I pulled my rudder out and had a couple inches cut off the rudder post so that the top of the coupling would fit below the top edge of the cockpit. That's why the extension is the length it is. I don't think you have to cut the rudder post down. But if you don't the extension will need to be shorter. My recommendation is to get the coupling and the tiller head. Buy a wood dowel 1.5" in diameter. Place it on top of the rudder post and see if you can slide the tiller head over the dowel without moving it or the having the tiller head clear the vertical face of the aft ending the cockpit. Keep cutting the dowel down till your sure everything will fit. I have less than 1/4" clearance. You can of course cut a hole in it and install an inspection plate but I wanted a clean factory look.

You'll need to make a base plate and a tube for the extension to pass through. You might have enough room for the coupling if you cave a bit out of the underside of the base plate. Take your time and get it right. Reliable strong efficient steering is critical.

Good luck
John

[John Stone]

Ted
I checked your McMaster Carr link. I would not want to use that part for a coupling. It's cast iron according to the description. Not appropriate. Call Edson and talk to them about the tiller head and the coupling. I bet they have them. You don't want to McGyver this.

I can't tell you about the keyways. There is enough variation in these boats I would want to have the parts in my hand and see how everything lines up and measure the keyway slots etc before I order the shaft extension. You're going to need a good machine shop to do the work to make it right.