Wheel vs Tiller: Which statement is accurate?

Wheel vs Tiller: Which statement is accurate?

• A. The wheel and tiller both move the rudder in the same direction as the control
• B. One moves in the same direction you turn it, the other moves in the opposite
• C. The wheel is not used on small boats
• D. The tiller requires hydraulics

Answer: (B)

Steering devices control the rudder in different ways. A tiller is a direct lever connected to the rudder, so moving the tiller in a direction makes the rudder move in the same direction. If you push the tiller to the right, the rudder moves to the right and the boat responds accordingly. A wheel, on the other hand, operates through a steering mechanism that reverses the input direction, so turning the wheel to the right moves the rudder to the left. That means the rudder deflects in the opposite direction to the wheel turn. So the accurate statement is the one that says one control moves the rudder in the same direction you turn it and the other moves it in the opposite direction. The other options aren’t generally true: small boats can have wheels or tillers, hydraulics aren’t required for a tiller, and both systems are used in various boat sizes.

Steering devices control the rudder in different ways. A tiller is a direct lever connected to the rudder, so moving the tiller in a direction makes the rudder move in the same direction. If you push the tiller to the right, the rudder moves to the right and the boat responds accordingly.

A wheel, on the other hand, operates through a steering mechanism that reverses the input direction, so turning the wheel to the right moves the rudder to the left. That means the rudder deflects in the opposite direction to the wheel turn.

So the accurate statement is the one that says one control moves the rudder in the same direction you turn it and the other moves it in the opposite direction. The other options aren’t generally true: small boats can have wheels or tillers, hydraulics aren’t required for a tiller, and both systems are used in various boat sizes.