Steering / Motor Linkage

[Skim61]

So, I'm positive this Linkage from steering to outboard is NOT from factory. Has anyone seen anything like this before? It works OK, but seems a bit complicated compared to the BWY quick link steering Linkage.

[Jimmyt]

Never seen anything like it. Would like to see some pics from different angles and the rest of the linkage so I could understand the scope of the mod. Appears the PO was trying to beef up the linkage, so there's a story in there...

Are the rudder brackets and lower rudder post "bearings" modified also?

That's a huge amount of fabrication. I'd love to know the story behind it.

Thanks for posting.

If I understand your photo, here is the stock setup... and yes, I did get the motor control cables out of the steering linkage path.

[Skim61]

I'd also like to know the story behind this! Doesn't seem warranted, and the steering is exactly as expected for a Mac, heavy with motor attached.

The rest of the linkage is unchanged. You can see in the 2nd picture where the "contraption" bolts to the port rudder arm, which moves the sliding bracket back and forth in a slot pushing the motor bar back and forth.

I wonder if I just unhooked it, and slide the BWY J-arm in there, first would it fit, and second would the steering be different. Looking at your pic of stock steering arm, the J-arm bolts on top, where the contraption bolts to the bottom, so there may be enough room for it to work.

[Jimmyt]

Possibly. I can't tell whether he opened up the hole in the fiberglass where the link tube goes through. The stock linkage depends on the fiberglass to act as a sliding bushing to keep the linkage in position through the stroke. So the tube link actuallswings slightly during the stroke in the stock setup. It looks like he is trying to keep the tube moving in a straight line along the slotted path and using a sliding bearing to allow the rudder arm link to follow the arc of the rudder arm. Very interesting.

If the hole in the fiberglass isn't snug, you could get a bit of slop in the stock steering setup. Not tight, mind you. Just a small gap around the tube. You could fab a bushing if needed, should the hole be too big.

Can you post a pic of the motor end showing how the stuff in the motor well looks?

[Skim61]

Here's a pic of motor end. It's a solid SS rod with the quick connect ball, and connector to motor.

There aren't any mods to the rudder slot. The piece that's epoxied to the vertical stringer is cut around it, so no changes to the stringer.

I'm thinking maybe the original motor rod broke, and this was the way they engineered a "stronger" mod for repair.

[Jimmyt]

Here's a pic of motor end. It's a solid SS rod with the quick connect ball, and connector to motor.

There aren't any mods to the rudder slot. The piece that's epoxied to the vertical stringer is cut around it, so no changes to the stringer.

I'm thinking maybe the original motor rod broke, and this was the way they engineered a "stronger" mod for repair.

Either my glasses are real dirty, or you forgot to attach the pic.

[Skim61]

Oops! Here u go...

[Jimmyt]

Thanks! Well, I got nothin'. (Translation: I have no clue why someone would do such a thing.)

You are likely correct that a failure made the PO try to design a stronger linkage. The J-tube could fail if the motor steering is stuck or super stiff, or if there's a big, tilted outboard flopping around on it while sailing really rough waters, maybe.

It doesn't appear that they were using the BWYachts quick disconnect setup. (See pic of mine below). On yours, the fixed end is missing and the quick disconnect rod is too short to center the motor with the stock fixed end location (as best I can tell from the photo).

[Skim61]

I failed to mention that I added the quick connect. The rod that came with the kit was too long, so I just took the ends off. My mistake to not have scoured the BWY website to find I could buy just the ends, which I have seen listed since. So I bought the kit and have left over the long rod and the J arm.

As for the bracket to hold the motor rod when disconnected from rudders, I just haven't installed yet as I'm making a cover for the motor well.

So many projects, and living on island time.

Today is gelcoat fix day, then a nap so I can go see Goddess Pele dancing under Venus again tonite.

[Jimmyt]

You win! Great pic!

[Be Free]

Any chance there might have been an autopilot attached to it at one time? Any extra wiring or linkages that might have connected to one?

[Skim61]

LOL, JimmyT, didn't know I was in any competition.

Be Free, there's nothing to note. No extra holes, or missing parts. The rest of the linkage, and steering is the same.

This reminds me, I need to tighten that bracket at the steering cable end.

[Skim61]

Be Free, after closer inspection here are a few more pics. This metal bracket thing is fairly well engineered, and doesn't look like a DIY or local shop did it, IDK. There is one bolt (marked with pointer) that is loose and hangs down about an inch as if something may have been attached. Sorry the first pic is upside down.

[Be Free]

I've never seen the stock "M" steering so I don't know exactly how it works, but that still looks (to me) like a modification to attach a tiller pilot to the existing steering linkage.

[Skim61]

I'm not sure where the control unit of an autopilot would've been placed to be connected, there are no screw holes anywhere I can see around it.

I'm installing an EV100 this weekend and think I'm gonna disconnect the contraption and install the J arm I got from BWY. Maybe there will be a difference in ease of steering. I guess I'll just leave it there as a redundant steering system.