steveg wrote:If you have a tiller, should you carry a spare?
I would start with an assessment of your tiller, the tiller strap, and the cap assembly which attaches directly to your rudder shaft. If all are in good order you may wish to carry a spare tiller or tiller assembly based on your own comfort level when taking into consideration the intended use of your vessel and the body or water on which it will be used.
If you intend crossing the North Atlantic I'd advise a full spare tiller assembly. If you predominantly daysail in non-hazardous protected waters then you may be fine just doing a close inspection before your season begins and following up with a safety check prior to use.
I met a gent in Bermuda a couple years ago who had broken his tiller. He stayed on a close reach for several hours while he whittled the remainder of his tiller to fit the tiller strap, added a couple hose clamps to make up for his lack of a perfect fit, and sailed the rest of his journey to the island with a stubby, but perfectly serviceable, tiller.