OK, the last picture that ties it all together.

Posted By: Gary, 2023A, Milwaukee
Date: 8/31/07 4:28p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Santana 2023 greatest mod ever! (for the factory OEM tillers) (pic) (Gary, 2023A, Milwaukee)

First, the little wheel on the tiller is a 'stand alone' mod. I'm not screaming praises about something that... 'small'... for bragging rights, honest, just because it's awesome. Anyway, I did this all around midnight, in the dark of the driveway. I wanted something FAST, TEMPORARY, so that I could at least 'play' with the Simrad while sailing to Michigan (please keep 'fast' in mind). Truth is, this all works out so strong, and permanant... I'll probably leave it alone, other than treating the wood, touching the entire thing up a bit, cutting off the long threaded (un-needed) shafts of the U-bolt holding the wheel, etc. I cut a strip of cardboard (across it's 'grain'!) Maybe one inch, by 15 inches. I then 'mounted' the Simrad. Then 'supported' the Simrad with a wrench so that it was 'level' (i.e. off the seat). I then held the cardboard it to the tiller, and bent it at it's respectively needed spots, while 'eye-balling' where the respect spot for the nipple attachment should be. Then, simply bent by hand, using bench vice, into rough shape. Each angle, only one at a time. Then held in place, 'eyed' it, then 'touched up' the angles. Literally took only a few minutes. Then, again going for spped (hey, I had to hit the road in only a few hours), I decided a slightly large, wooden block could be QUICKLY shaped, then held by the 'serious' compression of the bracket. Works like a damned charm! Again, all I did was use the pneumatic sander, high speed, to roughly, then polished, grind into shape. Drilled hole, contact cement in it to hold the nipple in place (being temporary, I expected to need to remove it after the cruise). Anyway, the entire thing is as solid as a rock. Works beautifully. And that's ONE way to mount an auto pilot to a boat quickly, and easily!