Agreed, and also depends on how well the boat is balanced.

A spade rudder can be "balanced " itself, which can lighten the helm
considerably, as opposed to a rudder hinged to the trailing edge of the
keel.

"DSK" wrote in message
...
~^ beancounter ~^ wrote:
what's better & why??


For what kind of boat, doing what kind of sailing?

It may be easier to figure out if you go back to first principles... the
problem is that a lot of people don't know how, or have a number of
strange superstitions where applied physics should be.

Fast and/or heavy boats develop more force on the helm than slow and/or
light ones. How big a boat are you comfortable steering with a tiller in
25 knot winds and 8'+ quartering seas? With a tiller you can get somewhat
faster reaction & more feel, but at some point, even a strong human is
going to not have the muscles (or just plain get tired).

Tillers are certainly cheaper, too. And if designed to be unshipped or
pivoted up out of the way, they leave the cockpit much clearer.

Wheels can be very cool, though.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King