This was the first year sailing an older 1987 H23. The first few times out, I had an experienced sailer with me who basically said that he would recommend that when under OB motor power that I use the "massive" H23 rudder and tiller to control my direction and basically just fix the OB in one position. I often see ads for rudder/OB rod attachments to instead use the boat's tiller to adjust the OB direction. What do most of you do? I have a 9.9 / 4 stroke Mariner if that makes a difference. Most of the summer, using the rudder alone seemed to work perfectly. I did however, have difficulty one day backing into a slip. Perhaps using the engine tiller atthat time would have made a difference.
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Frank / MD / H260
Motor Rudder Control
I need all the control I can get while docking. This winter I make a home made connection from the rudder to the motor. A couple days planning and an easy afternoons worth of work. Maybe you can do the same...
I need all the control I can get while docking. This winter I make a home made connection from the rudder to the motor. A couple days planning and an easy afternoons worth of work. Maybe you can do the same...
motor rudder
ON our h23 if I am motoring across the lake I leave ob in one position and just use rudder, when docking at times I use both not sure I would want them hooked together although I know lots of people do , I just got used to doing it one way, good Luck MIke
ON our h23 if I am motoring across the lake I leave ob in one position and just use rudder, when docking at times I use both not sure I would want them hooked together although I know lots of people do , I just got used to doing it one way, good Luck MIke
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Ward
I'm with Mike
I use both when maneuvering in tight quarters and don't have a rod connecting them. Sitting on the port side, It seems very easy to handle both the moter and rudder. When going full speed ahead, I just use the rudder. Good sailing Ward
I use both when maneuvering in tight quarters and don't have a rod connecting them. Sitting on the port side, It seems very easy to handle both the moter and rudder. When going full speed ahead, I just use the rudder. Good sailing Ward
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mike
my 2 cents
You've gotta have momentum or the rudder is useless. On the other hand, the motor can move the stern while still in close quarters. I've used both but never felt the need to have them hooked together. My Honda 5 horse will occasionally move when the set screw vibrates loose while using the tiller. I would be interested in seeing a pic of the hookup to connect the two. sailordog@hotmail.com
You've gotta have momentum or the rudder is useless. On the other hand, the motor can move the stern while still in close quarters. I've used both but never felt the need to have them hooked together. My Honda 5 horse will occasionally move when the set screw vibrates loose while using the tiller. I would be interested in seeing a pic of the hookup to connect the two. sailordog@hotmail.com
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Frank
Give it a try
I have an easily removable aluminum rod that can connect the outboard to the rudder for improved steering. You will be able to turn on a dime even in reverse and you never have to worry about hitting the prop with the rudder. I used rod and bent it in a vice at home. It was easy.
I have an easily removable aluminum rod that can connect the outboard to the rudder for improved steering. You will be able to turn on a dime even in reverse and you never have to worry about hitting the prop with the rudder. I used rod and bent it in a vice at home. It was easy.
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Ray Bowles
Maybe 3 times a year do we ever need tighter
turning radius than that supplied by the rudder on our 95 H26. On those occasions I simply sit on the starboard side and turn the Honda 9.9 manually. Those times have all been when backing out of a slip from a standing start. Hardly worth the cost or effort to bend over and get greasy to hook/unhook a rod. Ray S/V Speedy
turning radius than that supplied by the rudder on our 95 H26. On those occasions I simply sit on the starboard side and turn the Honda 9.9 manually. Those times have all been when backing out of a slip from a standing start. Hardly worth the cost or effort to bend over and get greasy to hook/unhook a rod. Ray S/V Speedy
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Frank
Need it many times a year
While waiting in line to pull out of the ramp there are often many motor boats. If you cannot hold your position in line you will lose it. They do not care if you are having trouble with the wind or the current. So I find the rod very handy to have. I guess it depends on how crowded you launch ramp is. If I only needed it to get in and out of slips I would never hook it up either.
While waiting in line to pull out of the ramp there are often many motor boats. If you cannot hold your position in line you will lose it. They do not care if you are having trouble with the wind or the current. So I find the rod very handy to have. I guess it depends on how crowded you launch ramp is. If I only needed it to get in and out of slips I would never hook it up either.
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Kevin
OB tiller versus rudder tiller
Joel: After some experimentation, I use the OB tiller when in reverse and the rudder tiller in forward. The rudder needs about 2 knots of water flow to be effective, a little too fast for reversing. When in reverse the OB can be used like a thruster (like on the big boats) by using the OB tiller.
Joel: After some experimentation, I use the OB tiller when in reverse and the rudder tiller in forward. The rudder needs about 2 knots of water flow to be effective, a little too fast for reversing. When in reverse the OB can be used like a thruster (like on the big boats) by using the OB tiller.
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Joel
Thanks all.
I'll give the OB Tiller a try next season. As I mentioned, I only had trouble controlling the boat once when I was under power (actually twice but the second time was much scarier). The one time was when I was trying to back the sailboat into my slip at the marina. I normally have my sailboat on a mooring and my powerboat in the slip but the powerboat had already been hauled for the season. I had used the slip earlier in the year for the sailboat and had no trouble at all backing in but this day was different. I tried several times to backin and just when things looked good, the wind and current would push me past my slip and towards another boat. I eventually just aimed for another slip further down in the pier since they had openeings down there also. Next time, I'll try to use the OB tiller when doing this maneuver. The scarier time time I mentioned was one of the times that I was sailing the boat alone. I had letthe OB warm up for close to 10 minutes while I prepped for leaving the mooring. I had the OB in neutral, went up to the bow to release the mooring, walked the mooring line back to the stern, everything looked clear, so I popped the engine into forward, started moving and released the mooring line. About 5 seconds later, the engine stalled. Of course, now the boat's momentum isstraight toward a numbe rof other boats. I try a few times to restart the engine and it won't turnover. I can barley pull the starter cord. I run up to the bow to fend off one of the boats I was approaching. I stop the boat but am now trying to decide what to do. Alone on the boat, OB not running, sails down, current moving and me holding onto another boat. At that point, I remember that since the engine stalled while I was in forward gear that the engine is probably still in forward and maybe that's why I couldn't pull the starter cord. I decide topush off the other boat (the current was pushing me towards a sandy beach -- no swimmers) and runbackand retry starting. I figure the worst that will happen if it doesn't start is I'll end up on the beach. Luckily, once I put the OB back into neutral, it started up immediately. I debated for a few minutes just returning to the mooring but went out alone anyway. Ended up being one of the best sailing days I can remember last season.
I'll give the OB Tiller a try next season. As I mentioned, I only had trouble controlling the boat once when I was under power (actually twice but the second time was much scarier). The one time was when I was trying to back the sailboat into my slip at the marina. I normally have my sailboat on a mooring and my powerboat in the slip but the powerboat had already been hauled for the season. I had used the slip earlier in the year for the sailboat and had no trouble at all backing in but this day was different. I tried several times to backin and just when things looked good, the wind and current would push me past my slip and towards another boat. I eventually just aimed for another slip further down in the pier since they had openeings down there also. Next time, I'll try to use the OB tiller when doing this maneuver. The scarier time time I mentioned was one of the times that I was sailing the boat alone. I had letthe OB warm up for close to 10 minutes while I prepped for leaving the mooring. I had the OB in neutral, went up to the bow to release the mooring, walked the mooring line back to the stern, everything looked clear, so I popped the engine into forward, started moving and released the mooring line. About 5 seconds later, the engine stalled. Of course, now the boat's momentum isstraight toward a numbe rof other boats. I try a few times to restart the engine and it won't turnover. I can barley pull the starter cord. I run up to the bow to fend off one of the boats I was approaching. I stop the boat but am now trying to decide what to do. Alone on the boat, OB not running, sails down, current moving and me holding onto another boat. At that point, I remember that since the engine stalled while I was in forward gear that the engine is probably still in forward and maybe that's why I couldn't pull the starter cord. I decide topush off the other boat (the current was pushing me towards a sandy beach -- no swimmers) and runbackand retry starting. I figure the worst that will happen if it doesn't start is I'll end up on the beach. Luckily, once I put the OB back into neutral, it started up immediately. I debated for a few minutes just returning to the mooring but went out alone anyway. Ended up being one of the best sailing days I can remember last season.
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