Remote Control for small outboards??

[Tom Holland]

Hi,

I have a 5Hp outboard on my J/29. The boat is tiller steered.
The outboard's controls (throttle and gear shift) are difficult to
reach when motoring. This becomes a pain when I am bringing the boat
into its slip without a crew.

Having recently been on a friend's boat which has the engine controls
on the wheel's pedistal, I realized how convenient that configuration
is for docking. Before I sit down and design my own, I am wondering
if anyone knows of after-market remote controls for small outbards.

I have seen a Tiller extension at West Marine which gives you control
of the throtle, but at best that is only half of what I want. Any ideas
or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

--
Tom Holland | Soap and education are not as sudden
Compaq Computers, Tandem Div. | as a massacre but are more deadly in
Cupertino, Ca. | the long run.
Holland...@Tandem.com | - Mark Twain

[Bill McKee]

At the San Mateo show there were two sellers of remotes. One is a cable
set up, with I think a hook-up to your steering wheel, which makes it bad
for you with a tiller. The other was a hydraulic setup, with pump run from
12v and a remote wire link. I think it's call a TRS and was over a
thousand bucks. Was nice, but too expensive for what I was looking for. I
may have some literature at home, e-mail if you need more info. I think
there were out of Nevada City.

Bill

[Jesse Deupree]

Tom Holland wrote:
> I have a 5Hp outboard on my J/29. The boat is tiller steered.
> The outboard's controls (throttle and gear shift) are difficult to
> reach when motoring. This becomes a pain when I am bringing the boat
> into its slip without a crew.
>
> Having recently been on a friend's boat which has the engine controls
> on the wheel's pedistal, I realized how convenient that configuration
> is for docking. Before I sit down and design my own, I am wondering
> if anyone knows of after-market remote controls for small outbards.
>

There are a number of remote control setups available. The classiest is made
by spinlock- It is a flush setup that uses a winch handle as the control. The
advantage of this is that the handle removes so there is nothing to snag when
sailing. You can see it in the Layline catalog. It is expensive.

If you remove your motor routinely when racing, remote cables will be a major nuisance.

Jesse Deupree
F27 ION
Portland Maine

[Mel Haylock]

Tom,
Check with your motor manufacturer. Many outboards can be hooked up to
remote controls. Will require removing tiller arm and sometimes needs
adapter at motor. Universal control box and cables are available
after-market or through dealer. For docking,you definitely want F-N-R
shift as well as throttle without leaning over the stern. Most control
boxes also include some interaction between the controls (e.g. limited
throttle in neutral to avoid no-load revving).

I have used two different setups on two different boats:
1. Motor held fixed in fore-aft direction & use the tiller/rudder to
steer. Control box mounted in cockpit, handy to steering position
(control cables led over stern). Docks like an inboard auxilliary (no
steering below about 1kt).
2. Connect motor to tiller or rudder with connecting bar so that it will
swing to always remain parallel to rudder. Use regular steering, but
motor thrust will steer boat even below rudder stall speeds (will turn
boat almost in its own length below 1kt forward speed!). On this setup,
my boat has wheeel steering and motor control cables are run aft below
decks.

Hope this helps.

Mel Haylock

Tom Holland wrote:
>
> Hi,

>
> I have a 5Hp outboard on my J/29. The boat is tiller steered.
> The outboard's controls (throttle and gear shift) are difficult to
> reach when motoring. This becomes a pain when I am bringing the boat
> into its slip without a crew.
>
> Having recently been on a friend's boat which has the engine controls
> on the wheel's pedistal, I realized how convenient that configuration
> is for docking. Before I sit down and design my own, I am wondering
> if anyone knows of after-market remote controls for small outbards.
>

[Dave Brown]

Tom Holland wrote:

> I have a 5Hp outboard on my J/29. The boat is tiller steered.
> The outboard's controls (throttle and gear shift) are difficult to
> reach when motoring. This becomes a pain when I am bringing the boat
> into its slip without a crew.

Can you tell us the brand and year? It's a tad difficult otherwise. ;-)

--
Regards,

Dave Brown
Brown's Marina
http://www.brownsmarina.on.ca/

[Ken]

Why not just forget about the tiller (lash it amidships) and do
everything with hands on the O/B? You don't have a great view bent
over like that, but it seems to work OK. Cost $0; effort 0.

Ken

Ken
(to reply via email
remove "zz" from address)

[Jon Alvord]

Tom,

Yes they do make aftermarket remotes, even with electric start. I have
a Nissan 8hp and it does have a remote, I will have to look at the boat to
tell you the name!

Jon

Tom Holland wrote:

> Hi,

>
> I have a 5Hp outboard on my J/29. The boat is tiller steered.
> The outboard's controls (throttle and gear shift) are difficult to
> reach when motoring. This becomes a pain when I am bringing the boat
> into its slip without a crew.
>

[David Hord]

In answer to the post below............................................see
below.....

Tom Holland <holland...@tandem.com> wrote in article
<holland_thomas-...@hollandiicx.loc201.tandem.com>...

> Hi,
>
> I have a 5Hp outboard on my J/29. The boat is tiller steered.
> The outboard's controls (throttle and gear shift) are difficult to
> reach when motoring. This becomes a pain when I am bringing the boat
> into its slip without a crew.
>
> Having recently been on a friend's boat which has the engine controls
> on the wheel's pedistal, I realized how convenient that configuration
> is for docking. Before I sit down and design my own, I am wondering
> if anyone knows of after-market remote controls for small outbards.
>
> I have seen a Tiller extension at West Marine which gives you control
> of the throtle, but at best that is only half of what I want. Any ideas
> or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
>
> --
> Tom Holland | Soap and education are not as sudden
> Compaq Computers, Tandem Div. | as a massacre but are more deadly in
> Cupertino, Ca. | the long run.
> Holland...@Tandem.com | - Mark Twain

Tom.
I have just acquired a 1973 Catalina 27, which has the out board instead of
the Atomic
4. The motor is located in a small square window in the center of the
transom,
and to get to it, for anything, I have to raise the lazerette seat lid, and
bend way down in to the lazerette get to throttle, gearshift, anything.
Handling the tiller,
and this motor set up while trying to dock the boat, safely and somewhat
gracefully, is impossible. I've just purchased the control box/adapter
kit/
and cables, from the Mercury dealer for my 1979 7.5 electric start engine.
I am going top install an Automotive starter switch, also. I'm going to
set it up
as if it were a power boat, running the control box into the cockpit on the

front of the starboard cockpit seat, running the cables back to the motor
in
the lazerette compartment. I'll be able to start/stop/shift to forward or
reverse/
all from the comfort of sitting at the tiller. Just pretend it's a power
boat, and set it
up accordingly. Make Sense ?
Dave Hord.
s/v "The Shannon Kaye"
a 1973 Catalina 27