Ariel and Commander metalwork

[ebb]

Good to hear Roger W is going strong, and Bristol Bronze still makes things.
The 1" rudder post - TILLER YOKE (BB3101) $215
and - RUDDER HEAD (BB3901) $245
certainly in the catalog drawing on page 29 looks like our oringinal honking tiller head assembly.
Personally think it a very heavy and awkward fitting, but have been interested in getting the rudder head part because the old one on A338 is chewed up.
The keyway is worn (channel sides no longer 90 degrees), the tightening/squeezing bolt area is a mess and imco not designed really to be able to close the nearly 1/6" gap to tighten it around the shaft.
Perhaps the old rudder head has gotten work-hardened over the years and a fairly newer cast one from Bristol would squeeze better? $245 plus shipping

A worn keyway is a real problem because any looseness or wobble wears the keyway more.
The square key mating the two channels in the head and rudder shaft is doing ALL the work!
The problem may be the key (1/4" 316) which is probably harder than what Bristol used to make the rudder head. The key in the keyway should not move at all.
Not sure if this is solvable.
Do think that customizing the 3/8" hinge bolt so that there are NO threads except for the nut only where the nut tightens is a way to lessen wear and tighten up the hinge parts. The head cannot be drilled out for the next size up bolt.
The tiller yoke/strap bolt has to be shimed somehow (thin bronze and/or delrin washers?) so that wobble here is reduced to zero. Good luck.


All this to ask the board here if anyone got themselves a new rudder head (BB3901) and matched it up with their old tiller yoke (BB3101)?

Is it a match, exact match, for our original rudder head?

I wouldn't want to have to get the whole fitting from Bristol. $455 plus shipping!
and the price list is dated 2008.