"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:04:59 -0500, jeff wrote:

Catamarans of course have an issue since the keels are usually only
slightly deeper than the rudders, so strikes are common.

That can happen of course, but most monohull steering failures are
caused by structural issues internal to the rudder or in the cables,
blocks or quadrant.

Failures in the cables , blocks or quadrant are what your emergency tiller
is for and should not present an insuperable problem.
Internal structural failures in the rudder are another story and I have
often wondered why the simple expedient of putting a hole through the top
after part of the rudder is not normal practise as this would enable you to
easily rig a couple of control lines as has been mentioned here before if
that kind of failure occurred.
I hate the idea of a rudder that fills with water because there is no way
of checking what corrosion etc. is taking place inside.

Some emergency tillers leave a lot to be desired. When I got my boat I found
that the rudder head was visible in the cockpit and had a hole into which
about 18" of pipe could be fitted. That was the emergency tiller and it
could not be any longer since it would foul the steering wheel pedestal. I
have a boat that is quick on the helm and has a balanced spade rudder so in
emergency this would only allow me to crouch down in the cockpit steering
with this short tiller while someone else told me where we were going. Not
helpful while single handing.
I have modified this tiller by attaching another arm at right angles to it
so now I can sit up in the cockpit and steer with it while looking where I
am going. The tiller the boat came with was pretty useless for all practical
purposes, yet it appeared to meet the requirements that the boat should have
an emergency tiller and the surveyor noted it as such without commenting on
its uselessness.