Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

[joe1267]

This may be a dumb question for many of you, but I need two of the spring tensioners that attach to either side of the splashwell for the cable/pulley steering on my '59 Aristocraft. I have been racking my brain trying to find them online and have come up dry so far. I can find all the pulleys, just not these. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Joe

 

[Ken G]

Re: Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

I could picture them but could not for the life of me think of what they would be called. I finally stumbled across something that I think I remembered being on my dad's boat many years ago.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#extension-springs/=3xm3kd

Edit: The direct link isn't working but I'm thinking they are the "safety drawbar extension springs."

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

Right on Ken G, got the same thing to stop my screen door from bending its hinges.

Marine rated ?

 

[53skipper]

Re: Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/steering/01/index.htm

 

[joe1267]

Re: Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

Guys, thanks for the info. Looks like they will work just fine. The springs look as good if not better than the originals on my '68 Mohawk. Hopefully I will get the 59 in the water before it gets too cold...

Joe

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

Yep, pretty sure the cable system that was in my Starcraft when I got it was tensioned by screen door springs. They worked fine.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

Old Boston Whalers used those. Look on Continous Wave, the website for whaler restoration.

A mechanic advised me against using a cable system b/c if it fails, your motor will typically lurch to one side without warning and throw you out, flip the boat, etc. But I was restoring my old whaler so I used cables anyway. However, what he said made sense.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

Your mechanic is completely correct. Flipping the boat can actually be a good outcome. A worse outcome is that the boat just keeps spinning in tight high speed circles over the people that were thrown out, (yes, it has happened).
So, ....... with these 'traditional' cable steering systems it is important to make sure that ALL the turning point and endpoint hardware (basically all parts that can see tension) are through bolted and NOT just screwed in place.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

here is the correct replacement stuff, pulleys, springs etc.
http://www.iboats.com/Boat_Steering...5349240--**********.467712096--view_id.217127

 

[joe1267]

Re: Where to get spring tensioners for my vintage cable pulley steering?

TD, thanks for the link. Now I know what to call the springs. Looks like it is going to be another nice weekend for boating on Lake Onderdonk.