OUtboard Motor tiller control?

CTro · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011

I have a 1987 Hunter 26.5 with a Mercury 15hp outboard. The motor leaves some to be desired in maneuverability in the currents on the New River here in Fort Lauderdale (we have a long ride on the river to get to the ocean). I was thinking that if I could attach a control arm to the tiller and then to the motor that would allow me to steer the motor along with the tiller I would improve my maneuverability over merely locking the motor straight and steering only with the tiller. Has anyone ever seen such a device or know if this would even work?

Thanks

Yorksailor · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011

I had one on my Corsair F31 but the engine was one designed to be steered and did not have a regular arm It was very simple a line within a steel tube that pulled the tube rock tight between the tiller and motor steering arm. Sorry sold boat so no pic.

I suspect you could make a regular outboard work with some line and a couple of blocks. The lines would have to be very tight so you would need jam cleats too.

Someone here must have worked it out...they have cobbled everything else nautical.

Here is a link to someone that appears to have done it but I can't get the pictures to load.

Rudder to outboard steering link - SailboatOwners.com

Phil

CTro · #3 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011

Thanks Phil. That link is good information. My motor does not have the regular arm/twist throttle/tiller either. My rudder is not accessible above the water line so I will have to fabricate and extension from my tiller aft and then make the connection to the motor. There must be a way.

Yorksailor · #4 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011

Mine ran from engine to tiller and not to the rudder.

JKCatalina310 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011

A friend had a Catalina 25 that had the exact type of arrangement you are talking about. When it was time to sail, he could disconnect it very easy and tilt up the motor. When I see him I will ask if he knows the brand.

Barquito · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011

Might not work going upstream, but, could you just throttle down a bit to turn sharper, then throttle up again. My old Catalina 22 had the tiller on the OB. I could turn just about on a dime with both tiller and motor thrown over.

CTro · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011

JKCatalina310,

That sounds like exactly what I am looking for. I would very much appreciate what your friend has to say.

sterilecuckoo58 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-24-2011

Looks like I may be in the same boat. I am looking for more power than the 9.9 Sailmaster Tiller provides for our Vivacity 24 and found a 25 Johnson set up for electric start, remote control (well, it does not come with the controls). A quick search and I stumbled on Powertiller.com which in their demo has an outboard tiller with the auxiliary offset. Easy enough there to have the OB copy the tiller. (But can you through the tiller way over even though the OB is limited to 45 of center).

I have an inboard tiller so am wondering how to get the 6-inches in each direction to move the center of the remote bracket. Looks like there are other posts I did not see earlier... I shall go through those and related links.

I do need to get the 5" extension for this 1990 Johnson, and change the prop, but those are easy. Big question is whether to go for it, or pull back and stick with the 9.9 on a tiller

sterilecuckoo58 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-24-2011

Yorksailor Phil,

Did you find the pictures at all? The link is promising but I did not find the pics. Perhaps thats what you meant with not loading.