Snapped Tiller, Rudder Angle to Blame?

[Cpl.Punishment]

This weekend I snapped the tiller on a borrowed 4.8m day-sailer. I was told to run the rudder at a 25-30 deg angle. This proved to very difficult as the pressure on the tiller was very great resulting in the break. I thought it would be better to run it at 90 deg. Any thoughts on this?

 

[WestCoast]

Sounds like you got it figured. Seen some rudders mounted 90degrees off, and heard of people sheering rudder heads when rudder kicks up on accident in good breeze.