Tiller kicker with controls? Possible?

[salvageyard saviour]

This might be a stupid question, but here goes.
Can a tiller outboard around 10 to 25 hp be set up to be used with mechanical controls from the pilot seat?
My goal is to have a trolling motor. Both my boats (150 Johnson on glass cuddy 20.5ft and 350 ci in 24ft glass cuddy) go too fast without pulling buckets

 

[roscoe]

You can set up with mechanical controls, but difficult, if you have room.

Better to spring for a hand held remote system. Panther makes a steering system, and others do as well.
Same with speed controls like itroll.

Trollmaster
Python
Tailfin
Panther
ConTROLLKing

I don't know how it handles starting and shifting, but speed and steering is definitely doable with a wireless remote.

I'm sure someone will suggest tying the steering to the main motor, but not really practicable unless you fish from the helm seat.

 

[salvageyard saviour]

I generally fish alone with a bungee cord auto pilot while setting poles.
I've been watching CL for something in my price range and year range of boat (personal weirdness for looks) most of what I see are tillers.
Some are there like the 70's Twin, but usually without controls. My plan would be to link the kicker to the main drive unit for steering and have shift /throttle at the helm.
Question, will any type of controls (like old mercruiser or OMC) work, or are they model specific to the motor?

 

[444]

Yes they exist. My old 1955 evinrude 15hp fastwin tiller has connections for remote controls. I don't have them but the literature said they made controls specifically for them. If you're handy at all it won't be too tough to figure out. Steering is basically a link to the main engine.

 

[matt167]

Suzuki and others ship motors down to 9.9hp with remote control. Most companies build kits for motors down to 5hp

 

[salvageyard saviour]

Thanks everyone for replying,
Since I'm looking for a early 1970's or older motor, finding a conversion kit made back then plus the cables and control box to fit the job is more than it's worth.
I'll just stay on the hunt for a remote type model, they do show up now and then with the cables and control box included.
I like the Evinrude comment, I'll keep that in mind when I see one, plus checking eB/CL for the conversion.
Until then I'll keep washing buckets

 

[matt167]

I just watched a YouTube video on older Evinrude Johnson's. It shows the parts needed and suggests they are still available. Old johnnyrude was his name iirc

 

[444]

I just watched a YouTube video on older Evinrude Johnson's. It shows the parts needed and suggests they are still available. Old johnnyrude was his name iirc

That dude's collection astounds me. And the fact he gets them running and out on the water is fantastic!

On my 1955 evinrude the throttle and shifter controls have lugs on them for remote controls to attach. I have no doubt it wouldn't be overly difficult to rig something up. If you're handy with fab work the linkage doesn't look like it would be too difficult to adapt with a few heim joints or something.

 

[salvageyard saviour]

That video explained a lot!
Doesn't seem so complicated as long as I find the right outboard, which is probably most in the year range I'm looking.
Just some drilling and bracket attaching, not really a kit after all.
The cables and control box seems like they could be any dual lever type.
I'm liking this idea again . If I do it, I'll post a how to.

 

[matt167]

You could use a simplex control, many of the aftermarkets or one of the later boxes but wiring won't match up.

 

[salvageyard saviour]

I'm stripping a 73 Starcraft 20ft I/O. This idea is for my 24ft 350 OMC electric shift. If I mount the kicker on the right side, the cables might even be long enough.
The OMC is a Truetrack steering, but I have the push-pull mount from a part unit that I bet could be used to link steering to the kicker.