extension handle for Morse throttle lever?

[SailBobSquarePants]

My Morse throttle lever is located very low and forward in the cockpit, and is too sensitive to use my calf on to adjust when maneuvering, especially into a berth.

It results in me having to duck down to adjust it...but with the high coachroof of my boat that means that I cannot actually see where the boat is when adjusting the throttle. I end up looking like I am bobbing for apples as I enter a berth...head goes up/down/up/down as I make adjustments to the throttle and then rise to helm, then duck to adjust again, then up...etc.

I know that it is a small lever because you really don't want to be tripping over it .

But I was wondering - has anyone ever tried using an extension on their morse lever, perhaps as simple as a cut piece of plastic pipe that could be inserted over the lever to give it perhaps two feet of rise? I might even be tempted to reduce the size of the knob on the end of the lever even to get a better fit...

 

[penfold]

My Morse throttle lever is located very low and forward in the cockpit, and is too sensitive to use my calf on to adjust when maneuvering, especially into a berth.

It results in me having to duck down to adjust it...but with the high coachroof of my boat that means that I cannot actually see where the boat is when adjusting the throttle. I end up looking like I am bobbing for apples as I enter a berth...head goes up/down/up/down as I make adjustments to the throttle and then rise to helm, then duck to adjust again, then up...etc.

You and every other helmsman without a wheel and a pedestal mount lever!

But I was wondering - has anyone ever tried using an extension on their morse lever, perhaps as simple as a cut piece of plastic pipe that could be inserted over the lever to give it perhaps two feet of rise? I might even be tempted to reduce the size of the knob on the end of the lever even to get a better fit...

There's no reason you shouldn't do as you describe, just make sure you don't limit the travel of the lever too much and prevent the use of full emergency stop power!

 

[alexrunic]

I've just got used to using my foot, it surprising how accurately you can operate your throttle.

 

[rob2]

Fit a folding prop and then you'll need big increments of throttle to make a difference!

 

[SailBobSquarePants]

Fit a folding prop and then you'll need big increments of throttle to make a difference!

HAH! That's actually a fine, fine idea...believe me, my boat is slow, and the extra half to full knot in speed would be a bit improvement anyway.

It's just further down on the list of expensive upgrades than, say, replacing the front GRP hatch with a Lewmar, new sails, putting in a heater, putting in a calorifier, and a few others.

I love my boat, but the list of desirable upgrades could easily bring her cost to double what I paid for her - and she is 44 years old. I've probably sunk at least 45% of what I paid for her into upgrades in the past 14 months...

Sigh. I expect I'll at least have to get the new hatch, because I can't get the parts to fix the old one...goodbye £500! [/rant off]

 

[rob2]

I spent yesterday at the Boat Show and the "desirable replacement" syndrome got a bit depressing. I soon tired of asking about non-standard bits and hearing the tooth sucking from even those salesman who don't blanch at asking the standard prices.

Mind you, these shows make me feel old. I don't like the latest designs of boat which are twitchy to the extreme and have such high topsides that when I asked what would happen if you fell off, the answer was "Drown - you'd never climb back up ." And the width of the average transom makes me think of Big Mamma (not an attrative image!).

On the plus side, it makes you feel much warmer about your own boat.

I was thinking of a dual purpose sleeve for the Morse lever, with a knob on top. In harbour, it could reside over the ensign staff with the ensignfurled inside, so I don't wake up cuddling a wet flag anymore!

Rob.

 

[rjandhl]

We knew a very short lady who owned and skippered a 28ft yacht, she came up with a solution very similar to the one suggested by yourself..........
She had a length of plastic waste pipe, the sort that you would find under your kitchen / bathroom sinks, one end fitted snuggly over the morse lever and the other end finished off with the knurled knob from end of an old wooden rolling pin. The extension was quickly fitted for close handling situations which required her to stand on the cockpit seat. It seemed to work well for her and was easily removed if a taller person took the helm.

 

[SailBobSquarePants]

We knew a very short lady who owned and skippered a 28ft yacht, she came up with a solution very similar to the one suggested by yourself..........
She had a length of plastic waste pipe, the sort that you would find under your kitchen / bathroom sinks, one end fitted snuggly over the morse lever and the other end finished off with the knurled knob from end of an old wooden rolling pin. The extension was quickly fitted for close handling situations which required her to stand on the cockpit seat. It seemed to work well for her and was easily removed if a taller person took the helm.

PERFECT - nice to see that I am not insane!

Now, I am 5' 10"...but I think I'll try it anyway. I've sailed a bunch of J-30s that I always managed to throttle with my calf or foot, but for some reason I just can't get comfortable with the layout and touchiness of this boat's throttle.

I wonder if I could productise this...maybe fit a quick release to a standard morse lever, with a nicely finished chrome post and a knob on top?

 

[rob2]

I wonder if I could productise this...maybe fit a quick release to a standard morse lever, with a nicely finished chrome post and a knob on top?

I guess you could, but it would lose the most attractive feature - drop a piece of drainpipe over the side and you can replace it for pennies in any highstreet!

Rob.