H21 tiller cross arm

Attached picture shows tiller cross arm in different position than how mine came set-up. Tiller cross arm is curved, but mine is turned up towards the sky and has a tendency to invert if my technique is off. Question, Is the arm in picture the proper attachment, and will it work with hobie 20 tiller connectors? Thanks, Mike McIntyre

Nice pic. Does everyone here have helicopters??

Mike,

In the picture you inluded in the post, I got the impression that the arched steering cross bar is high in center and low at tillers. Are you seeing it differently?

Here is my relatively inexperienced opinion of the H21SE steering cross bar. They can develop an awful amount of slop and can even invert. I have a dislike for the curved steering cross bar and I'll tell you what I think I would do if I had one of these boats.

I would build tillers that bent upward to allow for a straight steering cross bar. As it is, the bar must raise up in the middle so that the tiller extention (steering stick) will clear the height of the curved rear beam. I would make the tiller ends the height of the center of the curved cross bar so that I could then use a straight bar with nicer fittings. (H20)

It would look funky, but probably work a whole lot better.

GARY

Thanks Gary, I guess its time to get some glasses.
I'll see if a conduit bender will fit the tubing, but other 21'ers must have dealt with this problem (inverting) or was it caused by the hobie 20 connectors being installed? Thanks again

I'll bet it is your connectors.

One more thing Mike. You can break tempered aluminum tubing in a conduit bender. And you can certainly break a one shot EMT bender if you try to bend tempered aluminum with it.

You can also accomplish some minor bending if you are skillful, careful, and lucky enough. I bent some approx. 7/8" O.D. tempered alum. using a 1 1/4" one shot bender that was made of galvanized steel. I suggest you get some pipe to try to bend instead of possibly ruining the ones you have which already work.

I don't know how they bend the tillers in the first place and I would not be surprised if I found out that they bent them before hardening and annodizing them. But I just do not know.

GARY

Fred, that looks like one of our locals guys, terry Green or Sonnenklar passing under Cardsound bridge.

If it is bent, it is not stock.

Eric,

What are you talking about? If 'what' is bent. You talking about the bridge?

GARY