a couple of weeks ago I realized that my new purchased Vee Jay 2 had some sort of aluminium and plastic tiller extension that wouldn't have lasted a hour off shore. For 25 years I had a straight tiller with the nice strong SS extension.

Sadly that SS ladder tiller extension appears to no longer be made, but I put a call out on this site and two people offer up their spares.

Koos Louw, owner of #79, gave me one. But then I realized that that extension wouldn't work on the nice new curved laminated tiller I had to upgrade to ...

Koos, an architect by profession, solved that problem for me and said bend it to shape. 2x4 at each end of the shaft inside the welds and two full 155lb hops on the center seem to do the job.

following up ... once you have a nice tiller with the original and strong stainless steel ladder extension you need a nice tiller cover ... that is wide enough to cover the 6 in. wide ladder and all the wood.

made special by LindaMay2006 on Ebay.com



this is not her "any size" bid price deal, as it uses nearly twice as much fabric and is longer than the standard fabric width.

So ok ... i know you "guys" are into those flimsy aluminium excuses for an original SS tiller extension ... but I can tell you I recognize a real j30 skipper by the foot action on the tiller.

and the relaxed mode running his 5-mile spinnaker watch this last weekend in a race to Caxambas Pass. This is Brian, skipper of J30 #22 Hornet, normally in VA Chesapeake. He's on his way home for Xmas and wrapping up his boat for the winter; back in Jan. to race again here in Naples.





[photos by Vee Jayer Taylor]