Ian Powell has fitted a Tiller Extension to his Victoria 800, "Much Ado" and would like to recommend it to all his fellow yachtsmen.  Here are some pictures and what he has to say ...

The 'Friend' in the stowed position aboard "Much Ado"

I must make a recommendation for the most useful accessory ever - not one for the purists I'm afraid - the 'Friend' telescopic tiller extension.

Anyone who has ever sailed any kind of boat with a telescopic tiller extension will know how useful they are. You can steer the boat while sitting on the coamings (great in good weather) or standing on the side deck (dead useful when conning your way into a tight spot).

The 'Friend' goes one further. It has two small folding attachment points that you bolt onto the pushpit (two small blocks of wood needed) and you can then snap the end of the extension into them to lock the tiller in place. Then just give the 'Friend' a twist to adjust the position of the locked tiller.

It's dead easy and so useful you'll wonder how you ever managed without one!

I've been looking for a suitable model ever since I purchased "Much Ado", and I've looked at every one on the market but had to discount most as they were too long to work properly in our canoe stern (you must be able to clip them back onto the tiller easily), and many needed huge holes drilled in the tiller - the 'Friend' doesn't.

There was only one choice in the end, the shortest model in the 'Friend' range with the straight handle option, available from Pro Boat, or any of their stockists (No, I don't work for them, or the Italian (?) manufacturers!).

Tiller locked in position by the 'Friend'

The 'Friend' in use aboard "Much Ado"

Just be warned, once you've sailed a boat with a tiller extension you'll never want to sail a boat without one.

Happy sailing...

Ian

"Much Ado"

Check out the Pro Boat website at

www.proboat.co.uk