A new wheelbarrow tiller for the sailboat

During last year’s sailings it became clear that the tiller wasn’t going to last. The Maxi Mixer is relatively hard on the tiller, and it’s definitely not the kind of boat you can steer with your pinkie when it’s moving fast. Honestly, the rudder force required is the only thing I find less than ideal about this boat. On the other hand, I enjoy the heavy feel because it gives the sense of steering something big with plenty of feedback.

Already during our first vacation week onboard last summer, the autopilot pin started to come loose, and the tiller extension became increasingly wobbly. A closer look revealed that the previous owner had filled the holes with some kind of filler that had no resistance to moisture. The remains were almost like wet sand, and anything attached came loose immediately. I tried to move the tiller extension, but the wood underneath was too soft, even after embedding the screws and the pin in epoxy. It was probably just cheap pine. Toward the end of the season, the tiller even began to delaminate between the layers and started squeaking.

A Wheelbarrow Solution

One of our previous boats was a Smaragd Cruiser, probably one of the nicest sailing yachts ever built. It was like a rocket through the water: sleek and beautiful, 32 feet long and only about two meters wide. When we bought it, the tiller was missing, likely stolen. I had to make a replacement but didn’t want to spend the whole winter on it. A friend tipped me off that a Swedish-made wheelbarrow handle was the exact size needed for the Smaragd’s tiller fitting. Perfect.

It turns out the Maxi Mixer uses the same size tiller. A quick trip to the local farm supply shop on the way to the marina solved the problem. After a few hours of sanding, plugging holes, and making small adjustments, the tiller was ready. I even personalized it with a 3D-printed template. A laser engraver would have been nice for that job, maybe a future investment. I now keep the old tiller in my backyard – I call her Lucille.

And the result? I couldn’t be happier. The Maxi Mixer now has a strong, durable tiller ready for decades of sailing, with a touch of Swedish wheelbarrow heritage.