Wheels make non-sailing passengers happy!
In a perfect world all of our friends/spouses/co-workers/relatives/etc. would be great sailors - but we don''t live in a perfect world.
I have sailed with tiler boats that bash peoples knees and require gymnastics to get out of the way while tacking. Tiller extensions make the situation worse.
Wheels inhabit a fixed position that is easy to stay away from. Let your non sailing guests sit fore or aft of the
wheel, don''t heel too much, and they will have a great day on the water.
This may not seem like a good reason to have a
wheel, but then again you may find this compromise makes all the difference in keeping a boat...trust me!
