Backwards Wheel Helm... duh... what?

[Martinini]

Your right it doesn't immediatly jerk back to center or even past it like a tiller if you let go. Thats a good thing! It has been my experiance that letting go of a tiller for any reason under sail is not something you want to do, same with a wheel. it can put you in a bad place in a hurry. The worm gear will give you a few seconds to recover before going to center. Yes it does go back to center, if you have any headway at all, it's just slower. Feedback on a tiller or wheel = getting tired faster. If you need to feel how much force is on the rudder you should probably be hove to anyway! I don't know about you but I get feedback from the whole boat, not just the tiller,rudder or wheel. And yes since I started sailing my Allied Princess I have become a worm gear snob. It just works so much better.