[Denr]

After a similar discussion about a year ago, I checked out the emergency tiller on my 34-foot sloop. To my shock, I could not get it out of its mount without cutting a notch out of the wooden bracket that held it in position. After studying this problem I determined that the wooden brackets were installed on the hull before the deck was permanently fastened to the hull. Once the deck was in place there was not sufficient vertical clearance to lift the tiller out of its mount. This is a very good exercise for all boats (new or old) before you get into trouble when it’s really needed.