Sugar Magnolia, Rhodes Meridian Restoration

[sugar magnolia]

So we are hauled for the winter... a bit early, but nice to get some work done in the fall

which brings me to my problem of the day: how to remove the tiller head? it seems the head is seized to the shaft
any advice on how to remove it...charlie? (I know you had tehani's off)

I've tried the gentle (and maybe a little not so gentle) prying, tapping, heating, spraying ritual
I'm thinking of building a puller to push on the deck to push the head up

[Jeremy]

I have mine off for some bronze work to fix oblong bolt holes and resulting tiller play.  Liquid wrench and a hammer did it for me.  If yours is the same as mine, inside is an oblong bit of bronze that fits into a groove in the tiller head fitting and presses against the post securing it in place when the tiller head bolt is tightened - be careful not to lose it!

I'll try to post some photos later.

[CharlieJ]

Just emailed a pic of Tehani's rudder head

[ntica]

Hi. Nice boat!!! I was almost buying one once, here in Sweden (maybe I mentioned it?) On my swedish site there's a pic of her. Also some story about a blind man who crossed the pacific at:
http://evantica.blogg.se/2009/march/meridian-25.html
and here:
http://evantica.blogg.se/2009/march/meridian-25-snacka-om-bedrift.html

[Nate8thcvi]

Hi, Kevin,

I own the green O'Day Mariner which sits on a mooring farther down the Niantic River by the National Guard Camp.  I sail frequently on the River and have passed by your boat numerous times - what a gem!  I have often wondered who owned such a great boat.  I'm sure you don't remember, but one day I sailed close by when you were on the boat, before you had restored her.  I yelled, "Nice boat," and you replied, "Thanks, she'll look a lot better once she's restored!"  Anyway, she's one of the best looking boats on the River, in my opinion.  Congratulations on a successful restoration.

Nate Bayreuther

[Oldrig]

I own the green O'Day Mariner which sits on a mooring farther down the Niantic River by the National Guard Camp.

Nate,

I sailed an O'Day Mariner when I was in my 20s. I had the fin-keel version, is yours keel or centerboard?

Nice little boats.

--Joe