Changing engine controls

[SFS]

My H31 has a relatively new Yanmar 3YM20. I have separate throttle and gear controls on the two sides of the pedestal in front of the wheel. In the limited time I have owned the boat, I have had to remind myself several times that reverse cannot be accomplished by moving the throttle back any further than idle. This is clearly a holdover from my powerboating days.

How difficult would it be to change over to a single control? I am speaking of a control where forward gear is everything forward of vertical, neutral is vertical, and reverse is everything aft of vertical. Throttle settings increasing with distance from vertical. In my engine operation manual, this is actually the setup pictured, so the PO obviously decided to remain with the setup from the original engine when she replaced it.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

My 34 has the same dual lever set-up and I love it as it allows "bumping" up the fuel setting in neutrral without having to fool with the little knob on the single lever type of control. Furthermore when idling while manoeuvering in tight quarters, I can go forward or reverse without worrying about goosing it up. My take on your situation is that it will be far cheaper to get used to your actual controls than replacing with a single lever style which unless you also change the pedestal will also have to be installed on the coaming, where it will be away from the steeing wheel. Quoting Stu here: "your boat, your call". Good luck with your decision.

 

[SFS]

I think I'll leave it alone. Your reply helped tremendously, and it shouldn't take me long to adapt to these controls. There are other more important uses of dollars and boat availability right now.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

It may take a while to get used to making sure you are in idle when shifting gears forward & reverse. Very hard on transmission when you have the throttle up and shifting in gear. As annoying as it is to Sue, I am constantly compelled to tell her to make sure she is in idle when shifting gears. A few hard knocks and I have become skittish for sure. I've asked her "in the car, do you have your foot on the throttle when you shift into forward?". I find that it is not that intuitive, and after 10 years with dual levers, I still am uncomfortable and have to think before I act.

 

[alexco38]

http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=9081&type=0&channel=1

No need to change the pedestal. 2 levels control = stick shift (for cars), 1 level = automatic.

personal choice.