Cc Conversion

[tuffy]

Hello all.

This one should get some interesting feedback. I'm thinking about converting my 4.55 tiller steer to a centre console. Have had a look at the plastic units available at B**s and they seem to look the goods. Also, when it comes to the steering and forward control units I may have an expensive problem. My motor is a 40hp Honda and it seems like the only fwd control unit is the genuine one which I think costs about $450. Has any body had any experience doing this and any suggestions as to saving $$$ would be helpful.

Also, is there any advantage in going to Hydraulic steering at this size , or am I just being a sook. I don't really want to end up with a heap of steering cable coiled at my feet.

Advice, thoughts and suggestions very welcome.

Cheers,

Russ.

[a boat]

Hi Russ, yes you can get good plastic consoles and we have fitted them in the past and they have worked fine. I think you want to make sure that there is the right connections on your engine to allow you to go from tiller to forward steer. Buying just a control box might not be enough and I think you will be looking at more than $450 in parts for all that is needed, but I could be wrong.

The cheapest steering will be cable, but if the budget allows, a side mount hydraulic steering kit will not cost you much more and with console boats, cable steering with the number of bends that need to happen can be tight to steer and i would go Hyd if my boat.

If you decide to go ahead with changing it might be worth seeing what the changeover price would be to trade-in your engine and buy a forward steer engine from the factory.

PM me if you would like Raider prices on the steering and I can also check with my Honda mates as to the cost of the kit, if they do one.

Cheers,

Huey.

[tuffy]

Thanks, Huey, you the man. I have just learned that a fwd control box for my motor ( mine has the large tiller handle with all the gear in it) is going to set me back about $1k including the gear/throttle cable. It was suggested that a Yammie box can be adapted for about half that. The other thing that was suggested was to buy a generic control box and put the existing trim/tilt switch , starter and warning lights on the console itself. Obviously the Honda box is just plug & play but $600 is a big saving, especially when I'm leaning strongly toward the hyd. steer unit as well. Bit of stuffing around to re-wire the trim/tilt & starter etc, but certainly not impossible. Would definately also like a price on the Hyd unit. PM me with that one.

Re your engine change suggestion, what are you suggesting, a new Yammie 4st or something? My Honda is 2004 model 40hp and done probably about 150 hrs.

Russ

[a boat]

Hi Russ, that sounds like alot of dramas and again I am not positive because of the brands you are talking about but I would be surprised if it went together like you are being told, for a start you would have to cnfirm that the control box works the right way, in that it will be changing gears the right way and the thottle works the correct way.

I sell 4-Strokes, but recommend the Evinrude range due to ticking all the boxes, not just some. I will PM you prices and the wholesale cost of your exiting engine, which you would be better off selling privately because you will get more money.

I will also include the "Raider" price on both the steering and NEW forward steer outboard with SST prop and three year service intervals, which add about $2500 to the cost of other "clean" engines.

Cheers,

Huey.

[tuffy]

Thanks, Huey, I'll look forward to your pricing.

BTW, FYI, yammie do 2 different boxes for appropriate gear change etc.

Russ

[a boat]

Hi Russ, check your PMs. I did not know that about Yamaha, but as mentioned in your PM in my experience things like you are looking to do never go according to plan and the budget always blows out and you have to ask yourself whether it is worth converting your existing engine to foward steer.

Cheers,

Huey.

[Marlin01]

Tuffy,

I love my centre console but admit tiller steers have advantages and disadvantages for certain types of fishing, obviously you have weighed these up.

I would certainly go for the hydraulic steering if you can afford it as since I installed my hydrive system it has been faultless. The consideration for the cost of one of these steering systems must also include ongoing replacement costs for steering boxes and cables (for cable steering obviously) of which I was replacing one of each every two to three years, so if your going to keep the boat for 10yrs you may actually save money.

Another option to consider would be a console mounted binnacle control which are smoother than a standard control box and have their own tilt and trim and also allow for free revving of the engine in neutral.

Again since installing one on my little centre console I have found it faultless and again whilst initial purchase price is a little higher than a standard control box the ease of use more than warrants the expense and I also believe that because of the construction materials used in the binnacle control it will far outlast the cheaper substitutes.

Cheers

Marlin01

[tuffy]

Marlin, thanks for your input. And yes, I am leaning toward the Hydrive which is only about a $400 surcharge over cable. The reason I'm converting is, while there are advantages with tiller such as more room etc, I'm usually on my own in the boat and would prefer a little more up front weight so I don't get as bashed about. Besides, the left arm gets bloody stiff after about 10 hrs thumping around the harbour. The idea of a binnacle style control is interesting - some thing that I will look further into.

Russ