Steering system help

[QC]

For my Monaco project, for budget reasons, I am trying to use as many of the pieces that I received with my purchase. I have two automotive manual steering boxes that would work very well and I am considering a cable system like this:

The little shaft shown pointing to port off of the steering wheel shaft is the boxes output shaft, a "steering lever" will move fore and aft off of that, hence the need for the first two pulleys (blue mini-circles).

Is this a good plan? I have seen references to a steering quadrant when using a system like this and I fail to see the need. I have the steering lever on the steering box now and I cannot get any feedback to the wheel pushing and pulling on the lever with all that I have. I have a matching length tiller arm for the rudder shaft, and the steering box turns 90 degrees which should be 45 degrees in each direction. All makes sense to me other than the relative simplicity makes me wonder why it is not used more . . . Thoughts?

How much load would you expect on the steering cables etc.? The rudder is 12 x 7ish and I want to make sure that I get pulleys and cables of sufficient load capability.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Steering system help

As long as turning the wheel right makes the boat go right there is no reason it wouldn't work. Mention of a steering quadrant would imply that the movement of the steering arm is opposite of what was needed. When tie rods are behind the axle centerline turning the wheel right makes the steering arm go left & vice-versa. With the tie rods in front of the axle, turning the wheel right makes the arm go right. But it all has to do with how the linkage is set up in the car as to the position and direction of the steering arm in relation to steering wheel movement.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Steering system help

i see no reason it won't work. same technique as a cable pulley system on and outboard. think i would use atleast 1/4 inch cable. you need a tensioner in there somewhere.

 

[QC]

Re: Steering system help

Mention of a steering quadrant would imply that the movement of the steering arm is opposite of what was needed

Roger, I'll make sure that it goes the right direction . . .

you need a tensioner in there somewhere.

I was going to spring suspend a couple of the pulleys in the system and use turnbuckles on either side of the steering lever off the box for tightening and adjusting.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Steering system help

Didn't that boat come with a rack, & pinion, or equivalent cable, in cable system? If not the design you sketched would be fine, as long as you work a coupla spring loaded tensioner pulleys in as TD has mentioned. Of course it won't need as much spring loaded movement on it as an outboard motor would, when being tilted up. IMO the aircraft cable would break eventually from wear, sooner then a cable, in cable system, then you would also need access to the pulleys down the road, to reroute the new cable. This system can be rerouted to just run down one side of the boat, if access is easier?

 

[DJ]

Re: Steering system help

QC,

For a $150.00 you can buy a complete new steering system (single cable) that would be a lot simpler and lighter.

The only thing you would have to figure out is how to attach the engine end to the rudder. That should be an easy do.

I don't know how "retro" you want to go.

 

[QC]

Re: Steering system help

Didn't that boat come with a rack, & pinion, or equivalent cable, in cable system?

No, it actually came with three automotive boxes like used in early Chris Crafts. The hull was nothing more than a hull, nothing mounted, no holes drilled, as virgin as they come.

This system can be rerouted to just run down one side of the boat, if access is easier?

I may do that too. This was first design that came to mind. In fact I may run the cables down the stringers, was just playing with that idea a few minutes ago. It's weird designing things upside down, it's easy to get totally confused . . .

If that last sentence is confusing, check in here: Monaco thread

 

[QC]

Re: Steering system help

QC,

For a $150.00 you can buy a complete new steering system (single cable) that would be a lot simpler and lighter.

Yeah, the lighter thing is why I keep gravitating back to the same. I'm still playing with different ideas. Fact is I can do the pulleys/cable deal for around $35 . . . $115 will buy me a lot of sandpaper . . . And I still need to visit the chrome shop. That one has me worried . . .

Edit: Yeah here's a rotary system at iboats for $105. I had a rotary on my first boat with an I/O and no power steering. Worked well enough, and I can't believe that a rudder's load would be anywhere near as strong as that 140 was . . . Hmmmmmmm.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Steering system help

I'm gonna take a guess here, but I wouldn't doubt those old boats used a long heavy Rod (or 3/8" I.P.S. pipe) from the steering boxes, on a pivot at the tiller arm to work the rudder. Would it be easier, and or less complex, stronger, and more accessable, if you could come up with a system like this?

The 1st boat my dad had was an (old at the time) 18' Correct craft inboard with a 125hp greymarine engine, and a funky (looked homemade) hardtop, back in 1955, I don't remember much of it, except it was fast when it ran, but constantly overheated, he got rid of it fast. I think it was an old tired ski boat that someone tried to make a fishin boat out of,,,lol

 

[QC]

Re: Steering system help

They used to use conduit.

 

[DJ]

Re: Steering system help

QC,

I just installed one of those iboats rotarys in my Whaler. So far, so good. At that price, it doesn't owe me much.

Ya, I'd be worried about the chrome shop too.