Motor steering 26D

[bobflshmn]

Well after 2 months of making the boat water ready finally took her out to Mission Bay one day and Oceanside the other. Overall very pleased with the boat and handling thanks to all that helped with questions.

Now new question. When maneuvering under power at good speed tiller steering works great with the motor fixed straight. At lower speeds around the docks it was necessary to steer with both motor and tiller. The problem is I can only swing the motor in one direction. With the handle folded down it hits the side of the motor well on the port side. With the handle up I have no torque to turn the motor. What do others do? Has anyone linked the motor to the rudder as an option?

[vkmaynard]

Partially lift the handle.

Make sure the motor mounted is far to the starboard side of the well.

Not a good system. I am going to help my friend install a Suzuki 10 HP with electric start, remote throttle and cable steering hooked to the tiller.

Victor

[Interim]

unless the pivot lock is down, I would think the outboard should move easily enough. Or perhaps it needs a bid of grease.

--john

[danphilgreen]

I have seen that some have added a mount or plate of some kind to move the motor further aft thus giving it more room to pivot. My 9.9 Merc 2-stroke is mounted directly in the stock position and I can get about 45 degrees either way. It's enough for where I have had to go so far, but it would be nice to be able to get the boat to pivot in it's own length like you can with some outboard rigs. I may see about moving mine further aft. In any case, do think about a hold-off on your cavitation plate to keep from chewing up your rudder. It's a cheap and easy mod and could save you from disastrous rudder damage. Dig around in my photo album for what I did. (I got the idea from others so you will see it elsewhere as well.):

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 1393ca3113

[Sumner]

.... Has anyone linked the motor to the rudder as an option?

Yep, got an extra-long-shaft to move the outboard higher but still have it in the water as far as a long shaft that moves the controls closer. The new mount moves it up and...



.... back a little so that it has a larger turning radius ....



... and made a connector (bottom arrow) that can go between the tiller and the outboard's tiller in a few seconds when needed. More on it here ...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... de-29.html

....and three You-Tube videos here.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UYc2ZH ... re=channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMAPYd5WTg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sWbLBGc1Is

With the connector between the tillers you can turn extremely tight in forward or reverse.

Also on the Bahama trip there was a few times the autopilot couldn't keep up with the conditions of the seas. By connecting the outboard tiller to the rudder tiller with the connector the autopilot then handled the conditions since the outboard was also turning and helping it

I'm not taking the Mac back over but if I would I'd drop the outboard in the well and give up some of the turning ability in exchange for being able to run in rougher seas without as much chance for the outboard to cavitate which it did on some occasions,

Sumner

==========================================================

1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[bobflshmn]

Thanks all. 1st observation is I don't have a long shaft outboard so that is part of the issue. 2nd extending the motor back and linking looks like a great way to go. This would allow me to operate the motor with the throttle in the up position.

[Sumner]

.... I don't have a long shaft outboard ....

Are you saying you don't have an extra-long shaft but do have a long shaft and not a short shaft. I think if you have a short shaft like what would be used on a non-sailboat you might have a hard time keeping it in the water and not cavitating.

Where are you sailing? Lake or Ocean? You might put your location in the info with your name ,

Sumner

1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[bobflshmn]

.... I don't have a long shaft outboard ....

Are you saying you don't have an extra-long shaft but do have a long shaft and not a short shaft. I think if you have a short shaft like what would be used on a non-sailboat you might have a hard time keeping it in the water and not cavitating.

Where are you sailing? Lake or Ocean? You might put your location in the info with your name ,

Sumner

1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

We sail ocean mostly. As for shaft the prop just clears the bottom of the boat. I did not get serious cavitation unless really healed over to starbord. Hope this helps.

[grady]

Rudder to motor conection would be good at times but when I need to maneuver in a tight place I prefer to have the rudder up and just the motor in the water with the centerboard down as much as possible. Even when I am loading the boat on the trailer I leave the centerboard sticking out about 10".

[bobflshmn]

Rudder to motor conection would be good at times but when I need to maneuver in a tight place I prefer to have the rudder up and just the motor in the water with the centerboard down as much as possible. Even when I am loading the boat on the trailer I leave the centerboard sticking out about 10".

I had not thought to try it with the rudder up. I did realize afterwards my daughter had already pulled the dagger up which would explain some of the drifting issues I was having while trying to turn.

[grady]

Rudder to motor conection would be good at times but when I need to maneuver in a tight place I prefer to have the rudder up and just the motor in the water with the centerboard down as much as possible. Even when I am loading the boat on the trailer I leave the centerboard sticking out about 10".

I had not thought to try it with the rudder up. I did realize afterwards my daughter had already pulled the dagger up which would explain some of the drifting issues I was having while trying to turn.

And I am sure you know do not leave you dagger board down any when loading!!! Mine is an S model.

[bobflshmn]

And I am sure you know do not leave you dagger board down any when loading!!! Mine is an S model.

You bet, have a Hobie 18 so not my first time with dagger boards. Thanks for asking though!

[cwright89]

I Have a 26s and have been thinking about a tiller motor connection. I am wondering if anyone has tried using a morse cable to make the linkage.