Emergency Steering

The tiller fits in a hole in the floor that is covered by a large screw off cap. It is in the same place on this boat as on my old 46, and serves the same function. On the H-46, the cap covered the rudder post. When my rudder broke, that was the first place I looked. When I turned the wheel, the rudder post turned. I knew then that the linkage was fine, but there was no rudder below the post.

On the new boat, the cap also covers the rudder post directly. You unscrew the cap, get out the tiller and place it in the proper alignment with the rudder post and there you have it. Lewmar constructed a special connection with a pin holding the E-Tiller to the rudder shaft.

You move the tiller, and the rudder moves. A very positive and direct feel. Now, of course, the 2 steering wheels also turn, but you get a great sense of security seeing it all work together.

The emergency rudder is also a good feature to have, especially for one that has lost his rudder before!