Rick, One of the nice things about the M-15 is taking it where others fear to go. I've found that she's very forgiving in tidal/shallow waters provided you take immediate action to come about when the kick-up rudder kicks up. Otherwise, your keel will go aground very soon. Unless you sail in ample water depth most of the time, or will not be using the bungee arrangement in potentially shallow waters, I'd be reluctant to attach anything to the top of the tiller that will prevent it from lifting. The M-17 fixed rudder has been know to tear out nasty chunks of stern when grounding. I'm playing with the idea of a V wedge device under the tiller in which the bungee could be clamped which would allow the rudder to kick freely - another of the those "when I get a round tuit" projects. Of course then the occasional patch of floating sea grass will spoil my daydreaming while on "auto-pilot" so it is a tradeoff. Stan M-15, # 177, Carol II