I can't recommend the Davis brand tiller tamer

I'm afraid that I have to agree here. I replaced the one on Umiaq once before giving up on it. Good implementations of the idea do exist, though. Dolphin has a strong all-metal device that works well, and is strong enough that if it breaks I'll have other more pressing things to deal with. Giles Morris Vancouver 25 "Dolphin" Montgomery 15 "Umiaq" Sundry small craft