Stick steer

[FirstRealBoat]

Hello all,

I finally got the boat out with the new to me motor today, it did better than I expected. Which leads me to my question.

I have a 1967 18HP Evinrude. Is there away to retrofit controls and stick steering to it? It was rather uncomfortable to be twisted in the rear seat, If I could sit facing fully forward and control every thing but shifting would be better.

Plus it would let me move my weight a bit forward to plane the boat better also.

Thanks

 

[bonz_d]

There have been a few here that have done it, trying a search for stick steer. I know there were a few by tashasdaddy.

 

[FirstRealBoat]

There have been a few here that have done it, trying a search for stick steer. I know there were a few by tashasdaddy.

I did a search with over 200 results and most of what I read was not for my motor. I was kind of wanting to be specific.

How can I narrow down my search results so I am not getting every post with "Stick" in it?

 

[MTboatguy]

Doing a stick steer on smaller motors is really not motor specific, they all pretty much work just about the same. Sounds like you are currently using a tiller steer, but I don't quite understand why you are twisting around, I can control my tiller steer motors without even looking behind me?

 

[FirstRealBoat]

Doing a stick steer on smaller motors is really not motor specific, they all pretty much work just about the same. Sounds like you are currently using a tiller steer, but I don't quite understand why you are twisting around, I can control my tiller steer motors without even looking behind me?

I have to sit in front of the motor, can't sit off to the side. The boat is not that big, and I'm 300#'s so that doesn't help with me sitting next to the port side of the boat. This makes my left arm stick straight back, hurts the shoulder that way. I spin and side at an angle to relieve the pressure on my shoulder, which makes me sit almost sideways to even remotely be comfortable.

Edited: Also, how do I put controls on it if it is not motor specific? I still need to be able to control throttle and shift. I would even be ok with extending the tiller, offset it and make it 12-18" longer. But extending it straight would make it so I could only turn one direction.

 

[Frank Acampora]

I had an early 'Rude 5.5 fitted to a 13 foot runabout (lake limit 5.5) Those early engines had special clips that bolted to the lower cowling to accept shift and throttle cables. There was (and probably still is) A special clip that fits to the front bar and allows remote steering. For more specifics try the OMC forum and an antique boat site.

 

[MTboatguy]

Do you have the ability to post a couple of pictures of your set up?

 

[FirstRealBoat]

Do you have the ability to post a couple of pictures of your set up?

Let me see if I have some in my phone.....

If I don't I will put some on tomorrow when it get day light.

I really just want this to be comfortable to take the kids for a ride and maybe do a little fishing while out. If anything, just comfortable for me to steer.

 

[MTboatguy]

I really just want this to be comfortable to take the kids for a ride and maybe do a little fishing while out. If anything, just comfortable for me to steer.

I don't blame ya, that why I asked if you could post a picture or two, so we can see what you are dealing with and offer our words of wisdom on how to make it comfortable for you.

 

[bonz_d]

Take a look here at post #2. I will try and find more.
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...outboard-discussions/287239-tiller-extensions

 

[bonz_d]

Also do a web search for EZglide Stick Steering. Any of the old 2 lever controls will work with all those engines. As for the clips I have some somewhere out in the garage. I'll look tomorrow and post pictures if I can find them.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Cable and pulley steering is also an option... Then the stick for the steering really IS just a stick

 

[smokeonthewater]

No Title

As for ez glide:

http://m.ebay.com/itm/13-Ezy-Glide-...ering-Model-840-1300-/181230097564?nav=SEARCH

 

[gm280]

To change over fro tiller to stick steering can be interesting. It really depends if your engine allows for a standard steering setup or if it has to use special brackets to accomplish the steering ability. I am presently working on an engine that has to use non-standard steering setup. In other words it was made before the usual tilt steering cable setup design. I can't use a through the pivot shaft type steering cable and therefore I have to go with the brackets in front of the engine to connect up to the engine. That limits the setup capability. I can't tilt the engine as far without binding the steering capability. So before swapping look at all the options. JMHO!

 

[FirstRealBoat]

Take a look here at post #2. I will try and find more.
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...outboard-discussions/287239-tiller-extensions

That is what I was looking for! Thanks

I am still learning this forum, the search function is not the best, but I am trying to figure it out.
That set up would work perfect for this boat!

 

[smokeonthewater]

That's the ez glide.... It lookin at close to $300 for the steering plus whatever you do to adapt it to the motor plus your throttle and shift controls.

 

[keninaz]

I think I know what you are looking for? I am about 240# and went with a 10 HP motor on a 14' boat so I could use it in the 10 HP restricted lakes locally. But with my weight and the motor and such in the rear of the boat it would not plane.
I bought one of these which allowed me to move to the middle of the boat and it's adjustable. Much more comfortable and allowed me to balance the boat out so it would plane and have much better speed. http://www.amazon.com/HelmsMate-
Till...ller+extension
And to show you the difference, my boat with the 10 HP motor (1/2 of it's max rating) would only make 7-8 MPH recorded on the GPS with the normal load in it. With the extension and the same load and much better balance I can get up to 13-14 MPH on a very nice plane. Big difference!

 

[FirstRealBoat]

I think I know what you are looking for? I am about 240# and went with a 10 HP motor on a 14' boat so I could use it in the 10 HP restricted lakes locally. But with my weight and the motor and such in the rear of the boat it would not plane.
I bought one of these which allowed me to move to the middle of the boat and it's adjustable. Much more comfortable and allowed me to balance the boat out so it would plane and have much better speed. http://www.amazon.com/HelmsMate-
Till...ller+extension
And to show you the difference, my boat with the 10 HP motor (1/2 of it's max rating) would only make 7-8 MPH recorded on the GPS with the normal load in it. With the extension and the same load and much better balance I can get up to 13-14 MPH on a very nice plane. Big difference!

With the universial joint how floppy is the handle? How does it steer? Instead of a left to right push/pull, is it more of a forward and backwards push pull?

Thanks

 

[keninaz]

I u-joint does not affect your steering. You'll find as I did that I put one hand on the front of the tiller extension and the other just behind it. The front hand controls the throttle and the rear hand push pulls the motor direction. Just push a little with the rearward hand and you change direction. You will have to see the tension on the motor just so it's correct for steering for your feel.
I was apprehensive about this unit but I read the reviews and bought one and 5 minutes in the boat was all I needed. Get the one with the maximum adjustment, it's a bit more but very nice to adjust rather than just being fixed, I sit on the middles seat in my boat now to control the motor. I think your older motor has a side shift on it for direction but you could control it with a piece of dowel and a hook I would think.