Cal 2-27 Rudder Post missing something?

[saltysailor]

Is there usually some kind of cap here covering the cloth. I was also thinking that maybe the stainless part is usually lower and near the deck and that the PO built up the post?
Something seems weird although it seems to work fine.

IMG_8289 by picndicular, on Flickr


IMG_8290 by picndicular, on Flickr
jared