I know you will all think I'm nuts. But I've been sailing for 25 years, boats from 8 feet to 45 feet. I have an inboard 27 with tiller steering. I love tiller steering. I've sailed many boats with wheel steering and I prefer the tiller hands-down. You can feel the water; the feedback about what is happening under the boat is right in your hand. You get none of that feeling from a wheel. A wheel is in the way in a small cockpit and takes up too much room, it's hard to move around it. In the rainy northwest, I can hold the tiller and be sitting in the front of the cockpit, under the dodger. I stay dry in the rain and I'm sheltered from the wind and the spray. You can't do that with a wheel, you sit in the rain and the spray and wind are constantly in your face. I have an autopilot for the tiller when I want to use it. I can't think of a single reason to prefer a wheel over a tiller. I'm thinking of moving up to a 30 in the next year and about the only thing that makes me reluctant to do so is the fact that I will probably not find a 30 with a tiller.
Gentle winds and calm seas to you all! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
