Tiller scraping on the laz

[Curwen]

Getting ready to enjoy my first summer with an autohelm on my 26D. While setting things out last night, I realized that the tiller rests on top of the laz. The gelcoat is actually a little worn here.

Has anyone done something to lift the tiller to keep it from scraping the laz? Without the autohelm, the tiller is usually in my hand. I don't want the tiller sliding across the laz for hours at a time.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Interim]

I bought one of those furniture skids--a plastic disk with a tack sticking up--and tapped it into my tiller. That buffers the friction between the gelcoat and the tiller.

--john

[PrairieMoon]

Mine was the same, only PO ran a bolt through the tiller to attach a cleat, and the end of the bolt carved a trough. Oiks. A friend on a FB forum had wrapped a length of rope artfully around the tiller to lift it. Looked sharp, and I'll copy that.

[Stickinthemud57]

I applied a 1/4" self-adhesive foam material called "Sea Dek" to my lazarette cover on my 26S, primarily to provide a more knee-friendly surface when boarding from the aft ladder, but it also serves to protect the lazarette cover from abrasion. I don't yet know how well it will stand up to the abrasion from the tiller.

[Curwen]

Had a email conversation with Todd at BWY, he said the tiller should be tightened at the rudder to keep it from flopping and sliding on the laz.