Engine steering quick connect/disconect

[Alex]

Gentlemen, for better steering performance under the sail engine linkage must be disconect, so, how do what ?
Mac 26X

[Trouts Dream]

Diconnect the rod coming from the engine at the point it attaches to the 1" round rod. My PO had installed a quick connect (pull back sleeve) onto a small ball at that point so its pretty quick to take off and put on.
Some say this link to the engine should be anchored to keep the engine from flopping around if your going to sail hard in big seas. On our X, I don't anchor this point, and just let the engine lay over to one side. Usually I raise the engine when its disconnected.
If the weather is heavy winds, I leave the engine connected in case I need to use in a hurry and last thing I need to be doing is leaning over the backend with the boat rolling back and forth.

[Hamin' X]

Blue Water Yatchs has a parts kit for the 26X called Custom Steering. Many members here report great satisfaction with it.

~Rich

[bscott]

Search the Mod section under Sailing, Engine Stabilizer, Graham Carr. I used this with slight modification on my and it works perfectly. In an emergency I can lower my engine and steer the boat just with my rudders down with no problem but it only takes less than a minute to reconnect the engine to the steering.

bscott

[Alex]

Guys, Thank you very much I got it !!

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=554

bscott, personal thanks

[Retcoastie]

On my the starboard rudder pivot bolt was installed with the threads up. When I disconnected before, I put on the autopilot, I dropped the engine steering rod over those threads and that locked the motor in position

[Scott]

[Kelly Hanson East]

entlemen, for better steering performance under the sail engine linkage must be disconect,

Is this really necessary (albeit from a confessed non-performanace sailor). If you are moving your wheel so much that the engine weight is making you tired Im guessing your sails arent balanced well and you have too much weather/lee helm..

[2BonC]

Scott,
I don´t understand the first picture, do You disconnect the rod at the engine ? How do You lock it than?
In general I aggree with KHE, it´s not really necessary but I think it´s less a matter of strength required than a matter of feeling for the resistance of the rudder.
Rainer

[Scott]

My wife is our helms man (woman), She loved the disconnect!! Said it made the steering much easier and responsive.

Im so manly manly I barely noticed the diff.

[Kelly Hanson East]

I forgot to add this - on an you can sail motor down with little ill effect, and the motor is barely noticeable on the steering load,

On an you do want to tip the motor up, maybe then the motor weight is significant on the steering load

[Scott]

I don´t understand the first picture, do You disconnect the rod at the engine ? How do You lock it than?

The top picture is of the entire assembly before installation. It is a SS eye bolt with a SS bolt, 2 washers and a lock nut. The ing nut is what holds the steering arm. The second pic is the post install. disconnect steering rod at the end away from motor and swing to the disconnect and use the wing nut to hold it.

Do a search. Lotso threads on this and one with a detailed description of my mod

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... disconnect

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... disconnect