My piece of classic plastic, Pearson 35, came with a wheel. Thought i could adapt but it was such a PITA that I tossed it after a couple of years. Bought a piece of hollow bronze rod to act as a sleeve to extend the rudder stock above deck, added a piece of solid bronze as the new tiller stock, and used a block of PTFE plastic at the cockpit sole to act as top bearing and water seal. Works a treat and solved a nagging problem with the rudder shaft seal constantly leaking with PTFE giving the rudder stock additional support. Knew from the first extended sail that the wheel wasn't in my and the boats future. Looked for a couple of years on Ebay and boat yard sales for a suitable rudder head and tiller straps. Never did find one in the 1 1/2" size of the rudder shaft. Went with a new one from Edson which was the most expensive part of the change over. If I'd given it a little thought, could have made the stub rudder stock any diameter within reason to accept a used tiller head that I could find. Seems most of the used ones I found were 1 5/8" or something smaller than 1 1/2".

I now know where the rudder is pointed at all times, can steer with my legs and work the boat at the same time, the self steering vane works like a dream, now. It's so much easier to steer by hand than fighting that damned wheel under sail and way easier to maneuver the boat under power in close quarters. Bought a tiller pilot cheaply on Ebay so have that for the few times I use it when powering. Working on rigging it up to the self steering vane to have a very low drain autopilot for the very occasional time I may want to steer an exact compass course under sail.