Remote control for outboard

[sparkie]

Thinking of fitting remote controls for gear and throttle to my Tohatsu 6hp outboard, never used them before so don't know what I need, or the different systems available, eg single/twin lever, type of cable etc etc. Is there any information, sketches/photos etc available which might help me? I know I'll probably need some special bits for the engine, but would prefer to know a little bit before I start talking to dealers. Can't find any small engines so fitted in my harbour, all big ones which don't help a lot.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Check with a dealer if that engine CAN be fityed with remotes, it's a small one so the manufacturer may never have intended it to have remotes. If there are no fittings for them under the cowl you may have to have them made, and getting it right will be tricky.

 

[sparkie]

Yes I've checked with Tohatsu and got a half-hearted positive reply, referring me to my local dealer. I just need to know what I'm talking about before I approach them as otherwise it's easy to spend loads of cash and still not get what you really want in my experience.

 

[markstirling]

I did the same thing on my 9.8 engine. The guys at Extreme Marine (Southampton Tohatsu dealer) were helpful and efficient. I now have a Tohatsu own-brand control lever which works very nicely. The only downside is I dont think it was cheap /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[sparkie]

Hi Mark, is the Tohatsu control one or two levers, and did you fit the bits yourself or get them to do it??

Thanks

Sparkie

 

[markstirling]

Its a single lever system with a lift-up button to move between forward and reverse. There's a seperate lever to operate the throttle without engaging the gears so you can warm-up the engine. Extreme Marine removed the twist controls for me as they were servicing the unit, but IIRC that involves little more than removing a cable and bolting-on a replacement bracket. I installed the remote myself and it was very straightforward, tho I've left the cables exposed (ie not fed behind / inside the superstructure) so I can still use the lifting bracket.

Mark

 

[sparkie]

Thanks for that Mark, v.interesting. I was wondering how one went about warming-up the engine with just the one lever.

Peter