1961 gale bucaneer 25hp steering control help and plowing in the water

[kocotheclown]

hi all,
i just bough my first boat - a doo-er-upper - and it came with a 1961 gale bucaneer 25hp. on close inspection i found that part of the steering bracket/handle is missing(all of it). the boat came with no cables and now i am trying to figure out what i need
1. could some one please post a few pictures of a similar engine - front end where the steering cable attatches so i can see what exactly i am missing
2. any pics of the gear/throttle cables would be a good help
3. when on the water, i opened up the throttle and she moves fast - but it seems to me as if the boat is plowing through the water. what can i do to prevent this ?
4. can someone plese explain the low speed high/speed mix nobs to me (newbie). how do i set these is there a good medium for general use ?
thanks very much for any help
koco

 

[F_R]

Re: 1961 gale bucaneer 25hp steering control help and plowing in the water

1. Go to www.marineengine.com and look at the parts book for a 1962 Evinrude or Johnson 28hp. Not the totally exact engine, but very close.

2. http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s311/frankr_photos/PgA2TwoLeverRemoteControl.jpg

3. "Runs fast" you say. So I assume it is not a power problem, but a trim problem. Do you have the engine tilt adjusted so it sits vertical when under way (planing)?

4. The knobs are not rocket science. They are close enough to get it started, so all it might need is dialing in. While running at full throttle, turn the high speed knob to the right till it starts to lose power, then back to the left till it regains power. Then do the same at idle speed, adjusting the slow speed knob. With thatone, it will usually cough and may die when set too far to the right. Once you are satisfied with them, leave them alone.

 

[kocotheclown]

Re: 1961 gale bucaneer 25hp steering control help and plowing in the water

hi,
thanks for your reply.
1. i guess it is a big job to change the steering handle ?
what additional gaskets and parts would i need to buy in order to change the steering bracket ?
2.thanks for the reference pictures thay are very useful.
3.how do i adjust the engine tilt ?
4. i know they are not rocket science - thanks for your help here also. i did not want to mess with them - so i guess i know why it cut out a few times on me now, probably i had the adjustment wrong
thank you very much
koco

 

[F_R]

Re: 1961 gale bucaneer 25hp steering control help and plowing in the water

It looks like a major job, but isn't as bad as it looks. Basically, remove teh fuel line and the vertical throttle shaft from the side of the powerhead. Then remove the clamshell covers from the lower rubber mounts, and the front mount. Also that honkin' big spring. Then remove the nuts from the upper side mounts and loosen the nut on the upper front mount. The whole motor can then be lifted up and out and away from the steering bracket. Too much to handle, you need some kind of a hoist for controlled lifting.