I have a Morgan out island 28. I have added an auxiliary 9.9 hp kicker, but would like to build a system to coordinate wheel and rudder movement with the outboard. does anyone have any experience doing this or a basic design of such a system I could adapt. The outboard its too low to do any kind of tiller steering. Thanks for your assistance
Outboard steering
- Thread starter ACGravitt
- Start date
A long time ago, a friend of mine had this problem. She attached a rod from the trailing edge of her rudder to the aft side of her motor. The pictures of her contraption were on a defunct website and she does not visit this website. So I can't tell/show you how she did it.
I've considered similar systems but Ive found that if you can mount the wood mount on your outboard mount further away from the rudder (offset the wood and the motor), you can usually get it far enough away to avoid contact
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,502
The Morgan Out Island 28 shows a shafted prop and an internal engine.
This is a very efficient design for this boat.
Are you considering removing the sails, the boat's primary power source?
This is a very efficient design for this boat.
Are you considering removing the sails, the boat's primary power source?
I'm not understanding the issue. It leaves me with some questions:
- Are you adding this in addition to the boat's inboard engine? Or, is it that it has an inboard engine that doesn't work and you don't want to repair it? Not really germane to the question - just curious.
- Is the issue that, with the engine down, the rudder can rub against it when turned one way?
- You have wheel steering, yes? So, if you made such a coordinated system, the rudder would still move. So, what would the coordinated system do for you? You're not planning on removing the rudder, are you?
Trying to steer a sailboat with no rudder and just an outboard is a nightmare. I tried it once. Never again!
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,502
Looking at the Morgan 28 design plan, an outboard should be able to be secured to the stern of the boat without any interference from the rudder.
The boat's displacement is 7,600 pounds with a 3/4 keel. I would suspect that the 9.9hp outboard would be inadequate to propel the boat at hull speed.
More is happening than the OP has shared.
We broke a bolt holding the upper gugdeon on the 21 foot trailer sailor we used to own. Pulled the rudder and dropped it on the deck. Started the 2 stroke outboard and steered with the outboard for 6 miles. We swapped out steering every so often so that we could breathe air that didn't have exhaust fumes in it. The route was not strictly downwind but about 15 degrees off so the boat kept trying to broach from the wave action. Miserable, Miserable, Miserable. Sundowners that night were used to wash down the aspirin!
I think you could steer the boat with just the existing rudder if it works. The outbound could be left in the center position and just provide thrust. Or have I misunderstood the question (Again)?