Mac 25 Helm Steering Modification
- Thread starter Jersey16
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its a nice job and kind of inventive... you get points for that.
but a tiller pilot would have been a much better choice in any and all conditions, it would have been an easier install and made your life on the boat more enjoyable when ever and where ever you wanted to go.... so you lose lotsa points for that
and now a tiller pilot wont work without more modifications and the reinstallation of a short tiller.... and I would hate to be the one having to set at that wheel for any length of time, as I know I would get a crook in my neck setting sideways for awhile.
with the tiller, I put a throwable cushion against the stern of the settee to lay against, and with legs up and comfortable, I could go for as long as I wanted, or until I had to tack...
but a tiller pilot would have been a much better choice in any and all conditions, it would have been an easier install and made your life on the boat more enjoyable when ever and where ever you wanted to go.... so you lose lotsa points for that
and now a tiller pilot wont work without more modifications and the reinstallation of a short tiller.... and I would hate to be the one having to set at that wheel for any length of time, as I know I would get a crook in my neck setting sideways for awhile.
with the tiller, I put a throwable cushion against the stern of the settee to lay against, and with legs up and comfortable, I could go for as long as I wanted, or until I had to tack
...I constructed this so that the helm could be used either with just the motor, or connected to the rudder with a single connector to the motor. But this was mostly a family motor cruiser so when I did actually sail I still used the tiller. I used a caribener as a quick disconnect. I usually sat sideways anyway to speak with my passengers. I loved this set up. Notice the white connection rod between the motor and the rudder post.
Attachments
In other words, I never got underway without the tiller attached but angled up like a jackstaff, just in case...lol
Nice modification. By the way, where did you get the material for the interior cushions. Very Nautical. I am in the process of getting ready to make new cushions for Freedom. Old ones are 40 years old and need replacing. Did you make them yourself?
Thanks, I'll try to find it. This is from memory;
Traded my Mercury tiller 8hp for the Mercury tracker 9.9 set up for steering and throttle controls. Even swap.
12 ft teleflex steering system on ebay, $100
Merc Throttle/ignition with cables on ebay, $125
3 Hayward pool fittings. I think 3 inch. About $10ea. I used them as thru hull fittings. They worked great, and if ever wanted to remove the entire system I could just screw a cap in because the insides are threaded. I used one in the cockpit for the throttle, one starboard side transom for the steering cable/fuel line and one port side transom for throttle/battery cables.
Having a 5 year old son didn't hurt. He thought it was cool to crawl inside the bilge to fish the cables for me. Lol...
Traded my Mercury tiller 8hp for the Mercury tracker 9.9 set up for steering and throttle controls. Even swap.
12 ft teleflex steering system on ebay, $100
Merc Throttle/ignition with cables on ebay, $125
3 Hayward pool fittings. I think 3 inch. About $10ea. I used them as thru hull fittings. They worked great, and if ever wanted to remove the entire system I could just screw a cap in because the insides are threaded. I used one in the cockpit for the throttle, one starboard side transom for the steering cable/fuel line and one port side transom for throttle/battery cables.
Having a 5 year old son didn't hurt. He thought it was cool to crawl inside the bilge to fish the cables for me. Lol...
I put an L bracket inside the rudder bracket. Then I put an eye bolt in the right rear corner of the engine, there was already a hole there. Then I made a wooden connector between the two out of wood. I would replace it with a piece of stainless though. I broke the first one.
Raymarine tiller pilot has enough force to overcome the helm. Mount with small lever arm outside of stern to outboard or rudder. Did similar on 26x in the past.
its a nice job and kind of inventive... you get points for that.
but a tiller pilot would have been a much better choice in any and all conditions, it would have been an easier install and made your life on the boat more enjoyable when ever and where ever you wanted to go.... so you lose lotsa points for that
and now a tiller pilot wont work without more modifications and the reinstallation of a short tiller.... and I would hate to be the one having to set at that wheel for any length of time, as I know I would get a crook in my neck setting sideways for awhile.
with the tiller, I put a throwable cushion against the stern of the settee to lay against, and with legs up and comfortable, I could go for as long as I wanted, or until I had to tack