Our small-boat fleet includes several sailing dinghies, which are sensitive to weight distribution. Depending on the number of crew and the wind conditions, we’ve found that a tiller extension is often useful for attaining good balance and trim while maintaining precise control of the rudder. The most versatile extension that we have come across is the Ronstan Battlestick with its fully articulated universal joint. Assembly of the Ronstan Battlestick is straightforward. First the mounting plate is screwed onto the tiller. Next the rubber sleeve (seen here, flattened, at bottom left) is fed onto the extension stick. The mounting-plate cap is then slid onto the swivel joint (bottom right), which in turn is fed into the end of the extension stick and held in place with the stainless-steel pin. The sleeve is worked down and over both the pin and the end of the extension stick to lock and protect the connection. Thus assembled, the swivel joint is slotted into the mounting plate and locked in place by the cap that snaps down onto it. The Battlestick can be removed from the tiller simply by prying the cap off the mounting plate.
Photographs by the author
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Hello,
Great article, thank you. Have you tested the twist-lock telescoping tiller extension (Ronstan or other)? Are you aware of a telescoping tiller extension longer than 8′? I want one for the Norwegian tiller of my Caledonia yawl and I need at least 9′ max length.
Thank you,
Viktor
Do you need the push-pull tiller that comes off the cross piece or an extension for the push-pull tiller?
Hello Ben,
I am not sure I quite understand your question. I want the actual tiller to be adjustable in length, and ideally in an easy and efficient one-handed operation. The only system I can think of would be a kind of twist-lock with inner and outer elliptical or oval tubes. My current tiller is about 8′ long and that forces me pretty much to sit at the aft end of the cockpit. I usually sail single-handed and I think it might help to be able to move further forward especially when going up-wind. I could of course make a longer tiller, but that would be in the way when tacking. I can think also of several ways to make an extendable tiller that would require two hands for adjustment, but I am not interested in that. I would be prepared to buy an extension like the Ronstan Battlestick, but they seem to have only a max length of 8′.
Thank you,
Viktor
We have used other telescoping tillers (Alcort) and they work well. We have not come across a tiller longer than 8′, for that requirement we’d start to look at continuous line steering like some sailing canoes use. There’s no reason you couldn’t have both.