fixing tiller arm

ok guys, I have 2 issues with my other tiller arm I have for my nacra.

The first issue, is it comes out all the way entirely, so if I'm hiking and not careful the whole tiller arm will come out of the other part (it's a telescoping tiller arm)

Secondly, when I loosen it to extend it, and then try to tighten it back up, it doesnt tighten. It just keeps rotating

I'm pretty sure these are not that hard of repairs, but I just wanted to get some opinions before I tried to fix them.

Do you mean Tiller extension perhaps?

Is it the old-style aluminum tiller extension? If so, put it under water and work the entire thing throughout it's range and keep locking and unlocking it. It will probably work better.

As far as it coming out, I don't recall what keeps that from happening but I seem to remember it happening to me every now and then too. You may be able to carefully squeeze the end of the outer sleeve to retain the inner part.

Or, then again, you can go buy an $18 aluminum painting extension stick and use it instead.

whoops sorry I meant to say tiler extension, typo.

Jake, it is an aluminium tiller extension I believe. From a 1986 N 5.0 I believe.

I'm somewhat confused on what you mean about the under water deal, how would that help?

the issue is it doesnt look at all, it's always loose, so therefore it's basically useless on the boat <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

the locking cam probably has some sand or gunk in it. If you put it under water and extend and collapse the tiller extension quickly and work the lock mechanism, it will probably clean it out.

If you can live with fixed lenght, you can drill it and lock it with a pin with ring. I got my cat without hiking stick and made myself one with two old skiing poles.. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> locked with a pin and ring. I made two perforations for length adjustment, but I am so lazy that I´ve never changed it..
The pole grip is not really comfortable but it looks pretty cool and reminds me of winter time while I´m sailing.. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

If it has lasted 11+ years, maybe it is time for a new one. Support your local catamaran dealer and keep him in business

lol I support my local catamaran dealer plenty, dont worry. I have another one and thought I could fix this heh.

Mine had the same problem. Mine is a fiberglass stick which you must keep clean. Any sand that gets in it works like sandpaper and wears away the shape needed to lock the the stick properly. To fix use a very small paint brush and brush a thin layer of epoxy along the raised edge of the inner tube so it locks better. If you over do it then sand it back a little to get the desired effect.

The boat dealers do very well as the mark ups are crazy. Drop the markups and sell more is my attitude. Also, repairing kit makes a sailor far more self sifficient and boat wise.

just incase anyone wonders on this thread later with a similar issue, I just did a good cleaning and it works good now. I think it may of just been some sand