What are tiller cantilevers?
On sailing ships, especially on small dinghies, you'll almost always find a three-part system that makes up your steering gear. There is the rudder blade, then the rudder head with tiller and finally the connection from the ship to you, the tiller boom. In principle, tiller outriggers are only extension tubes connected to the tiller by rubber joints with a grip surface that allows you to move your body as far away from the rudder as possible. In the different classes, different positions of the body in the ship are extremely important. In case of less wind to reduce the wetted area of the hull or in case of more wind to keep the boat straight. You have to move your body away from the tail and the tiller, which only works if you hold the matching tiller boom in your hand.
Different lengths, for what?
In different boat classes, tiller outriggers of different lengths are permitted, in use and necessary. For example, in an optimist, the length is limited to 60cm and is therefore only distributed in this length. In boat classes such as laser, however, different lengths are permitted. Especially in the growth phase it is important to use the right tiller boom for your body size in order to be able to ride over the edge as much as possible and to sail perfect manoeuvres at the same time, without the too long tube hindering you.
What defines a good tiller boom?
A tiller boom must above all be able to do one thing: Transfer your movements and thoughts perfectly to the rudder. You need a tube with maximum stiffness and perfect grip to make an ideal connection between man and rudder. The grip should also be designed so that it does not slip out of your hand after fast manoeuvres, for example. Last but not least, you should not forget that your tiller boom will be attached to the stern of your ship - a place on board where you should take care of minimum weight. That's why the super-light carbon tiller arms are on the advance, perfectly implementing all these features.