EZ Steer alternatives?

[chiroken]

I'm looking to see if there are any more affordable products that do the same job as an EZ Steer. Seems they run $250+ US, afraid to see what they are worth up here in Canada. I thought I read somewhere Panther has a product but I didn't find anything.

I'm running a Mercruiser I/O with a 9.8hp 4 stroke kicker.

Thanks in advance,

Ken

 

[ezmobee]

Re: EZ Steer alternatives?

I just used one of these inexpensive ones for my outboard to kicker set up http://www.iboats.com/Kicker-Motor-...20746994--**********.743366300--view_id.37928

 

[chiroken]

Re: EZ Steer alternatives?

I don't think this will work for a stern drive to outboard kicker?

 

[JimS123]

Re: EZ Steer alternatives?

I bought a pair of QD ball joint fixtures, a piece of 1/4" SS flat stock, 1" wide and a 2 foot piece of 3/8" SS rod. Long time ago, but as i remember they were from Grainger or MSC. Not marine parts, though.

The top cap on the Merc outdrive has 4 bolts. Removed one of the bolts and fitted a piece of the flat stock in place of the washer. One of the ball joints is bolted to the end.

Another homemade bracket is mounted (bolted) to the lower cowl on the OB, angled toward the I/O, with the other ball joint.

The rod was threaded on both ends to accept the QD portion. I only attach the rod when the kicker is in the down position. Takes all of 10 seconds to do it.

If you want pics, I'll go take some. Probably cost me 10 bucks and a couple hours to fabricate it. Looks fine. The Ezsteer looks chinsey.

 

[chiroken]

Re: EZ Steer alternatives?

If you want pics, I'll go take some. The Ezsteer looks chinsey.

If you could take some pics that would be awesome. Had a guy looking at it tonight and he was saying something should be able to be made up to do the job and some pictures would certainly point us in the right direction. His thought was to mount it to the lower pair of bolts on the stern drive (just below the "mercruiser" sticker), not the four upper bolts, only because of not very much clearance to the underside of the swim platform.

I'll see if I can insert images of the stern...
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[JimS123]

Re: EZ Steer alternatives?

Please pardon the pic quality. The boat is up against the back wall of the garage and I couldn't get a broad view of the whole setup so I got closeups of each bracket with and without the rod attached.

I chose the top bolts because they are higher and require a smaller angle to line up with the kicker. Also, those bolts have never been removed, while the ones you speak of need to be removed every time you pull the outdrive for service.

My bracket is only used when the kicker is in service. Because it mounts high on the outdrive its easy to reach to disconnect. If I raise the outdrive it will still work OK, but then the angle of the kicker will be canted slightly to the side, thus the full side-to-side steering capability will be reduced. Besides, I find that I get less drag with the outdrive full down. If it was an outboard that could be raised completely out of the water it would have been designed differently.

 

[chiroken]

Re: EZ Steer alternatives?

I will pursue this route. I think the EZ steer quick connects sell for $30 apiece here locally. Probably can get the SS rod super cheap and know someone who can thread the ends. Still alot cheaper overall than $270 plus tax.