Assembly Package Inventory:

1 Adjustable Hiking Stick.
1 Tiller Storing Clip.
2 In-use Rail Locking Clips and Mounting Brackets.
2 # 6 X 1/2" stainless steel sheet metal screws.
1 7/8" white hole-cover Finishing Cap.
1 7/64" drill bit.
1 1/4" drill bit.
1 7/8" spade bit.
 

Tools Required:

Drill.
7/16" Socket Wrench.
 

Instructions:

You would like to have the hiking stick mounted to the tiller so that your hand can hold the tiller without being disturbed by the hiking stick when this extension control is not in use. This means that you will probably want to mount the hiking stick about 6 to 8 inches back from the bow end of the tiller.

Drill a centered 1/4" hole at this location, making sure that the hole is drilled perpendicularly so that the hole comes out centered on the bottom side of the tiller. The use of a drill press (and even a smaller pilot hole) is suggested.

Remove the lock nut and two washers from the mounting assembly at the pivoting end of the hiking stick. Temporarily insert the 1/4" mounting bolt (at the pivoting end of the hiking stick) from the top side of the tiller through the 1/4" hole drilled in the tiller. Looking at the bottom side of the tiller, estimate how deep (if any) a recess must be drilled into the bottom side of the tiller to allow the threading on of the 1/4" lock nut. Then remove the hiking stick from tiller and, using the 7/8" spade bit and the already drilled 1/4" hole as the guide, drill the required depth recess into the bottom side of the tiller.

Slip a washer onto the hiking stick mounting bolt and insert the hiking stick pivoting bolt into the 1/4" hole in the tiller. Slip the second washer onto this bolt from the underside of the tiller and thread on the l/4" locking nut. Tighten so that the hiking stick can be moved but will not be loose enough to move by itself. Tap on finishing cap over recess on bottom side of tiller.

With the hiking stick mounted to the tiller and in its non- extended position, locate the not-in-use hiking stick storing clip on the top side of the tiller at the point where this clip will engage the plastic sleeve near the ball end of the hiking stick, and mark the two mounting holes. Drill 7/64" shallow holes at these two marks and install the storing clip with the two # 6 sheet metal screws.

Take one of the two rail mounting tiller locks and remove the two sheet metal screws from the split mounting bracket. Look at your stern rail(s) and select the leg(s) or stanchion(s) that you feel would be best suited for your sailing convenience in locking the tiller on course. Hold the tiller locking assembly against this rail and screw the other half of the mounting bracket back on to this assembly making certain that you have maintained the original a1ignment of the mounting screw holes. Adjust the bracket to a height on the rail that is approximately the same height as the tiller. Tighten the two screws in the split bracket sufficiently so that the mounting bracket will not move on the rail by itself but can be forced to rotate on the rail should you wish to perfect its alignment with the inserted, extended hiking stick. If you wish to use two tiller locks, repeat this mounting to a rail on the other side of the boat.

Using the Hiking Stick:

When not in use, the hiking stick is kept out of your way in its storing clip that was screwed to the top of the tiller. To use the tiller locks, lift the hiking stick end from its tiller storing clip and rotate the ball end so that the hiking stick can be extended. Open the appropriate rail tiller lock and install the hiking stick so that the ball end of the stick is just against the side of the tiller lock.

Move the tiller to your course and rotate the hiking stick ball to lock the hiking stick extension mechanism so that the tiller will lock in place. Fine tune this adjustment by rotating the ball end of the hiking stick and extending or shortening the hiking stick an incremental amount to put the boat on the course you want for the current set of sailing conditions.

Leave the tiller unattended to take care of any short term duties but do not go to sleep !