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Thank you Junior. A very positive and fair outcome. This is great support from RS for the Aero fleet going forward. I hope your investigation reveals the reason for the failure.
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27/06/2020 22:43:00
Mike0rea
Posts: 58
All
For transparency Mike and I met today after some offline communication. I have taken his problematic part in exchange for a new one with the intention of investigating deviation from production standards. This is my line of enquiry at the moment as the data does not support a ‘design error’ but a process deviation. 7 reported and validated cases out of 2k boats supplied.
Process deviation is a genuine warranty claim, miss use is not.
Watch this space for updates.
Junior
RS Technical
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25/06/2020 21:18:00
Posts: 0
Hi Mike
I've looked up your communication with RS about this matter and so far I'm pulling up a blank. Can you please let me have the Ticket Number that was raised when you were in communication with us or forward your comms to [email protected]
For all other readers: RS operate an online portal for customer questions / issues
https://www.rssailingstore.com/templates/RSSailing/AfterSales/after-sales-online.aspx This portal logs and manages your questions. It also provides me with data that indicates trends. Its this Data Set that drives change.
Junior
RS Technical
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24/06/2020 10:47:00
Posts: 0
Thank you Peter.
My issue is with Galvanic corrosion between the carbon and the alloy rudder stock casting. I have read the link, this indicates that the issue was sorted 6 months after production started, my boat is 4 years old, which is well away from the first production boats. So using GRP and paste clearly does not solve the problem.
Initially I did speak to RS and emailed them a picture. They still said I would have to buy a new assembly. Not very good when this is a design problem, not a usage or care issue
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22/06/2020 11:08:00
Mike0rea
Posts: 58
Hi Mike,
Sorry to hear about your tiller.
RS Sailing gave a detailed account in that thread recently of the progressive evolvement of RS Aero tillers, initially to combat the early corrosion and strength issue. More latterly they improved to withstand a higher level of misuse.
Have you contacted RS Sailing? Their email is on that link.
The shortening of the tiller is covered in the Class Rules posted on the documents page of the Class Website.
Paul,
In the previous existing thread RS detail how the Mk2 dealt with the corrosion issue.
The Mk4 made the casting so strong that in the unlikely event of a Mk4 breaking it would be the carbon breaking first, which is then more easily repairable.
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Sorry to hear about your tiller.
Are you aware of the existing thread? It is a few posts further down this section titled 'Tiller Strengthening' here;
RS Sailing gave a detailed account in that thread recently of the progressive evolvement of RS Aero tillers, initially to combat the early corrosion and strength issue. More latterly they improved to withstand a higher level of misuse.
Have you contacted RS Sailing? Their email is on that link.
The shortening of the tiller is covered in the Class Rules posted on the documents page of the Class Website.
Paul,
In the previous existing thread RS detail how the Mk2 dealt with the corrosion issue.
The Mk4 made the casting so strong that in the unlikely event of a Mk4 breaking it would be the carbon breaking first, which is then more easily repairable.
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19/06/2020 23:58:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4672
Thank you Paul & Gareth for responding. RS need to sort this ASAP. This issue is not going to go away. This is a know engineering issue. My old mast on my RS800 collapsed for the same reason, because RS joined the carbon mast sections with aluminium. I will check the rules. Cheers Mike
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17/06/2020 10:26:00
Mike0rea
Posts: 58
You can shorten the tiller - the minimum length is in the rules. From memory you can take about 4 inches off it but please measure and check. I use a slightly shortened (and repaired) early tiller. RS have strengthened the join between tiller and stick several times. I repaired by packing the tube around the join with epoxy and battens. (Cut up old sail battens into 6" lengths to all but fill the tube then added epoxy and random mat to fill out the gaps.When set drilled out the hole for the rudder string.) I like the slightly shorter tiller as it means I can use slightly less rudder during a tack and still get the extension past the mainsheet. Been using the repaired one for a couple of years.
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17/06/2020 09:01:00
Gareth
Posts: 170
We have had three carbon tillers fracture in our Florida fleet this past winter, all about the same age. Electrolysis between the carbon and the aluminum. Yes, a design flaw but so far, no solution from RS. A redesign is necessary so the entire tiller/ rudder head does not need to be replaced.
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17/06/2020 01:32:00
Paul Gingras
Posts: 21
The carbon tiller on my four year old Aero has failed, this is due to chemical action of two materials namely alloy and carbon, this forms a small battery. I wrote on this forum several years ago that this would be a problem. RS this is a design fault, I should not be told that I have to purchase a new carbon tiller. A second issue is that can i reduce the length of the carbon tiller?, in order to re-use it. It could be repaired with a couple of rivets and some compound. The boat and equipment is always washed down with fresh water after sailing.
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16/06/2020 12:13:00
Mike0rea
Posts: 58
