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tiller

boat part
Also known as: helm

Quick Summary

A tiller is a lever used to steer a boat by turning the rudder. It can also refer more broadly to any device that helps steer something. In smaller boats, a tiller is operated manually. For larger vessels, machinery like hydraulic, steam, or electrical systems is used to move the rudder. Historically, early rudders were like paddles, evolving into fixed steering oars before the sternpost rudder became common. Rudders work by deflecting water flow, which pushes the stern of the boat and changes its direction.12

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. tiller
  2. tiller rope
  3. rudder

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