Motor controls in cockpit

[Windtherapy]

Has anybody added motor controls to the cockpit on a 26' O'day or could be a 23'-30" as well. Just curious where they mounted them and how hard was it. Also curious how hard it would be to add electric start to a 4 stroke 9.9 Honda. Sure would be nice to have both electric start and motor controls in the cockpit instead of leaning over the transom to make any changes.

 

[Chief RA]

I want to see what results from this post as well. I can't dock my 250 for beans as I have to take my eyes off of forward trajectory/progress in order to change RPM or shifting. I have a 9.8 Tohatsu with front controls but that doesn't help much as all it takes is to have to look down during coming alongside and I am then messed up! (tiller steering) Chief

 

[sdstef]

I looked into it for my Oday 25 when my old Honda 10 gave up. Honda sells a kit and you have to get the cables made to order for the exact length you need. It was way expensive, so I got a new Mercury with electric start. Gear shifting and throttle are together on the motor tiller. Very handy, but still not as convenient. The worst thing is that when I sail I have to lean way out and lift the motor from the rear to tilt it up. I would rather have power tilt than the controls at the helm for my money.

 

[Windtherapy]

Yup, agree with you both. I can't fathom trying to bend over the transom and tilt the motor up let alone trying to change from forward, reverse and neutral while docking. That's insane.

 

[Ward H]

First, I think it is critical to have a Extra long shaft OB so the head unit is as high as possible.

After that having an OB with the shifter on the tiller with the throttle makes it much easier to move your hand back and forth while your other hand is on the boat tiller. At first I would turn my head to look at the shifter and get F & R backwards so I lettered the shift positions so I didn't need to think, I just saw it. Guess it is how my mind works.

The OB tiller rests on the stern rub rail so I don't have to lean over to reach it, the throttle or shifter.

When the old OB had issues the marina suggested and we went with a Yamaha T9.9 High Thrust w/ Electric Start and Power Tilt. Best money we spent on the boat. Now the Admiral can lower and start the OB if I can't.

One trick I learned was to never use reverse to stop the boat when entering the slip. I find that is too tricky. I go in slow, at idle and move the shifter back and forth between forward and neutral to keep just enough momentum to slide into the slip. I let the spring line and slip bridle stop the boat. Sometimes I need to goose the throttle to keep forward momentum but almost never to slow down.

Maybe if I had a lot more tricky maneuvering to do I would want the controls in the cockpit but the above works for me.

 

[agprice22]

I just installed a remote throttle on my O'day 272. I opted for the full control binnacle with throttle, shift, key, power tilt, cut-off, and fast idle all in one unit, like a motor boat. I bought the unit to control my 2012 Yamaha 9.9 High Thrust 4 stroke. Wonderful engine. It had a tiller with all controls on the tiller.
The 272 has an aft-placed fuel locker on the starboard side in the cockpit. The fuel locker has a panel as a front with room for hoses to pass under and into the locker, and I imagine for fuel to drain out in case of a spill. I mounted my binnacle on the panel and ran the cables under the panel and theought the rear wall of the locker into the below deck space under the cockpit. Thus, when I am standing at the tiller, the throttle is at my right ankle, in the cockpit footwell.

I cut a 2" hole in the rear wall of the locker and in the transom to accommodate the control cables and the electric cable:


I will attach a picture of the control binnacle tomorrow. Here is the model I used:

I only took a short video of it running! No photos.

In short, for this project:
Control binnacle
Control Cables
Electrical cable
Motor wiring harness

Steps:
Remove control tiller.
Install wiring harness: start, cut-off, tilt...
Install throttle and shift control cables
Install binnacle in boat
Connect cables and electrical harness
Connect battery
Test! (Most fun part!)

This project took 2 hours on the motor side because there is little clearance for any tools. It took another 2 hours on the boat side. I used 1 3/4" electrical box adapters from Lowes as grommets in my 2" holes. I epoxied them in, and they look great. I am able to raise and lower the motor as well as steer it, but since I removed my motor tiller, I tightened the motor to stay locked. I am also able to lift the motor on the (new) motor mount.

Thanks! Andrew

 

[rogjack2]

In '85 I had cockpit controls on my 26 Oday. Dealer installed on Honda 6 hp. Single lever for throttle and shifter. Worked exceptionally well. Lever was located on the wall just behind my left calf as I sat with tiller in right hand. Thus, eyes forward, right hand steering and left hand on shifter/ throttle. Small block and tackle made for easy motor lifting but unnecessary now with a Garellick motor bracket with correct number of springs. My buddy has Tohatsu 9 hp extra long shaft with electric start and cockpit controls . Loves it!! Roger

 

[agprice22]

Here are the other pictures of my remote throttle installation.









The first is the throttle.
The second is where I installed the grommet for the cables to pass through in the back of the fuel locker.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[Ward H]

Andrew,
That is a pretty slick set up. A couple questions.
Did the throttle and shifter cables come with it or were they separate purchase?
Do you push it forward into gear, then the further you push the higher the throttle?
A quick look at Amazon shows a much better price than I would have guessed.

Nice job!

 

[Chief RA]

It just hit me! All we have to do is attach a tiller extender to our shift lever! Being able to readily shift from F to N to R will control the boat forward speed while throttle is set at low RPM's. This would put tiller in one hand with shifter in the other and NO looking down!
I am jazzed! What do you tiller guys think? Chief

 

[Windtherapy]

It just hit me! All we have to do is attach a tiller extender to our shift lever! Being able to readily shift from F to N to R will control the boat forward speed while throttle is set at low RPM's. This would put tiller in one hand with shifter in the other and NO looking down!
I am jazzed! What do you tiller guys think? Chief

Even though I haven;t had the new boat out yet I did purchase a telescopic outboard tiller extension that can extend about 3 feet if needed. It's the shifting that I have to reach down for however that won't be for long. I have to get cockpit control as well as the battery charging hookup that is on the motor....maybe.

 

[Chief RA]

Not the motor extender! The boat tiller extender! Just drill a hole in the motor shifter handle and insert the TILLER ext. handle pin into it. This allows shifting without looking down to find shifter! Chief

 

[agprice22]

Andrew, That is a pretty slick set up. A couple questions. Did the throttle and shifter cables come with it or were they separate purchase? Do you push it forward into gear, then the further you push the higher the throttle? A quick look at Amazon shows a much better price than I would have guessed. Nice job!

Thanks for the compliment! I called my local Yamaha Outboard dealer, and they ordered all the parts for me: Control binnacle, control cables, and wiring harness at the motor side. They gave me a choice of control cable length. 6 ft was the shortest available. I used the 6 ft, and it is pretty much a straight line to the motor with a little bend / slack inside and outside the transom. The cables did not come with the control binnacle.

Yes, I squeeze the lock lever, slide the lever forward into gear and then continue forward to increase throttle. For reverse, I slide the lever back into gear and then continue back to increase throttle.

I just installed it, and the boat gets launched Saturday. I am excited to not have to dive over my transom to start, choke, throttle, or shift my motor.

If you have the same motor, I could show you the part numbers.

Thanks,

Andrew