Converting from dual to single engine control

Whatfiero1 · Dec 13, 2019

Although single may seem simple and appealing duel is more dependable and a simple design especially for an older motor

Stu Jackson · Dec 13, 2019

Here's a discussion we had on ur C34 forum about singlehanding:

I would love to have a single lever morse control: I chartered a Jeanneau 35 (only reason- a C34 wasn't available) for a day with morse lever (single control for throttle and gearshift), Yanmar and saildrive. It made me look like a real expert docking into a slip with a foot to spare... Has anyone ever thought of modifying our controls to a single lever? Is it doable? Or maybe everyone loves our setup just as it is?

Tony

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Actually Tony I prefer the dual levers. Coming down the fairway I set the rpms to 1000, cycle between F, N, R as needed. If additional thrust is needed apply a burst of throttle then back to 1000. With very little practice you can get very close to 1000 by ear not needing to look at the tach.

Sometimes current/wind will require a higher speed to get into the slip. The nice thing about the pre set spring line is that it will snug you against the finger pier as it stops forward movement, preventing smashing the bow into the dock

I've used the single lever on dockmate's Hunter with a conventional prop and dual single levers on saildrives on a chartered cat and felt like they were much more work. In my limited experience, once the shift mechanism get a worn, it is very hard to find N. Idle reverse, N, idle forward, all seem to be in the same position/detent. On the chartered cat, I physically had to pull the levers out to the neutral fast idle position to ensure the drives were disengaged.

Ken J

sail sfbay · Dec 13, 2019

I have not converted from dual to single control on a sailboat. However, I did that on a 56 foot Sprindrift Motoryacht.

Check this link out: Single Lever Engine Controls

Mikem · Dec 13, 2019

Derek said:
Hi all
Not sure if this has been covered or not. I have a Catalina 28MKII (which I love) but I do hate the dual controls so the magic question is has anyone converted to single control .

Cheers

Converted my daughter’s Catalina 30 to single lever. Since it has a tiller this makes control simple. Can even control it with your foot. I’ve had four sailboats, three with dual levers. My current boat a 2003, Hunter 466 is single lever. Worked flawlessly for 16 years. Would never go back to dual levers. But as with many items this could be a Ford Chevy issue.

ontherocks83 · Dec 14, 2019

Believe it or not on my old Catalina 30, I really ended up liking the dual controls that were down by your feet. Essentially I became very comfortable docking "Captain Morgan style", leaving my hands completely free for steering. The dual controls mounted on my pedestal now are going to throw me for a loop, but then again we had the last boat for 25 years so habits are hard to break. The big question though is what am I supposed to do with my left foot when docking now?

Tally Ho · Dec 14, 2019

My Hunter 280 had the single control. My O’Day 322 has dual controls.

The single was ok, but I prefer the dual controls.

Greg

Tally Ho · Dec 14, 2019

I guess I should add that if you really want the single control, you need a place to mount it, and new cables. All of the “magic” is in the control, and how it uses levers to control the 2 cables while allowing you to just move one lever. There is usually a way to “disengage” the transmission cable so you can rev up the motor independent of putting the tranny in gear.

Greg

RoyS · Dec 14, 2019

I am also considering that conversion for this Spring's project. My history with dual lever controls is tainted by the fact that my previous boat had the forward/reverse lever backwards and my current boat has the throttle backwards. I am old and sometimes I forget. Not pretty.

Tally Ho · Dec 14, 2019

RoyS said:
I am also considering that conversion for this Spring's project. My history with dual lever controls is tainted by the fact that my previous boat had the forward/reverse lever backwards and my current boat has the throttle backwards. I am old and sometimes I forget. Not pretty.

I have to look down at the sticker on my transmission shifter once in a while just to make sure I remember which way is REVERSE. I haven’t plowed into the dock yet ;-)

Greg

sail sfbay · Dec 14, 2019

Lots of threads on this subject on this site and cruisersforum like the ones below:

Converting Dual Lever to Single Lever Control

I am just about to take delivery of a 1993 Hunter 42 Passage Centre Cockpit. It has dual engine controls at the Edson pedestal. It's a very cack-handed operation. You have to try and steer, put your left hand through the spokes to move the gear control from neutral to forward or reverse and put...

forums.sailboatowners.com

Replacing Dual Lever Control with Single Lever Control ? - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

How difficult? Costs? Possible on an Endeavour 35 of 1984? Anybody did the conversion? happy with the results? Thank you for sharing the experience with me Alec

www.cruisersforum.com

Suggest talking to Edson on what is needed to make this conversion to a side-mount single-lever engine control.

Capt jgw · Dec 14, 2019

When the original two lever control on my 1969 Columbia 36 broke I replaced it with a single lever Morse control. I like it a lot better. I ran into a snag though when I later repowered the boat with a used engine. The newer motor does not have a separate stop control, you shut it down by pulling the throttle lever all the way back. Well, you can't do that with a single lever control. To make it work I had to build a rather elaborate spring loaded slide mechanism that allowed the stop cable to pull the whole throttle cable back at the engine to shut it down. It works, but it is not elegant. If you have a separate stop lever on the engine, there should be no problem converting to a single control. It may even use the same cables.

jnorten · Dec 14, 2019

+1 Stu's idea of setting the engine to 1000 RPM is good.

+1 also for using just one spring line to dock--it works well.

I do basically the same with my dual control Universal 5411--set throttle to idle forward and use only the transmission lever and F-N-R to control speed. My levers have been moved to the pedestal by a PO.

Once I am within a couple minutes of the slip, it's idle forward. I never thought about it, but at that point it's like single lever control. I will almost always use a burst of power or two while docking--ideally only at the end to stop forward momentum.

A few times I have indeed added power while tranny engaged in the WRONG direction. This is exasperated by the fact that my throttle is backward from the usual--the PO's conversion didn't modify the linkages for it to make sense. Thankfully no ill consequences resulted.

thinwater · Dec 14, 2019

I've had both. A vote for single. With twin engines (last boat) it's a no-brainer (4 levers would be a cluster).

I really don't like the idea of shifting with the engine reved at all. Of course, you can still do that if you shift too fast from WOT.