Replacing Throttle Controls - Trying to Find a Good Location

Apr 25, 2024
522
Fuji 32 Bellingham
I have a Fuji 32 with a Universal M-35B. The throttle controls are corroded/sticky and located in an inconvenient place. So, I'm thinking of replacing and relocating. It uses a single lever, dual action control.

Currently, the controls are down low on the port side locker (see picture). The cables route under the cockpit, aft, in a wide arc around to starboard, and forward to the engine/transmission (red line/arrow in the picture). I am considering putting the new lever next to the steering shaft (box with red "X"). This makes it much more convenient and would result in a shorter cable run with approximately the same radius curve - maybe a tiny bit less. I would use a top mount control - pushing down for forward, and pulling up for reverse.

I don't love that, but I don't want to mount it on top because the mizzen sheet is right there. I could mount it on the side of the cockpit, but it would only be accessible from that side. Ideal would be a dual control system with a control lever on each side, but a) I don't think I want that much complexity and b) I'm not entirely sure how such a system works.

I haven't entirely ruled out building a more substantial binnacle to replace the existing one, then putting the throttle on that. But, I'm not entirely sure how to make that work well either. There just isn't much space side-to-side so I couldn't put the throttle next to the compass (which may be a bad idea anyway), and a side-mount throttle creates the same problem of only being convenient from one side of the helm.

So, my questions:
  1. Does anyone have experience mounting a throttle control vertically like this, so that down is forward and up is reverse? I'm pretty sure I've never seen it. Wondering if others have. I know that it would physically work, but I'm not sure if it isn't too unusual - if not for me, then for someone else if/when I go to sell her.
  2. Any other ideas for where to relocate the throttle in this fairly tight space?
  3. Any experience/thoughts about a dual system with a control lever on each side of the cockpit?
 

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