DaveParry
New member
Okay, this is going to be a daft question to many and for that I apologise. I've been sailing yachts and dinghies for years, but I know precious little about outboards. I've now bought my first little cabin cruiser to take the kids fishing, pop round to the beach round the corner and all that.
I first bought a boat without an engine off EBay, and I now have an engine without a boat. The problems have arisen in trying to marry the two up (rigging the engine I believe it is called?).
The control lines for throttle and gears are fine but the remote steering has thrown me. The boat came with a wheel and remote lines already connected. I have mounted the outboard on the transom and connected them up. However, the travel on the installed steering is quite a bit less than would be required for lock to lock movement of the outboard. I can probably get +45deg to -20deg. I also can not seem to centre it without siting the engine off centre, which doesn't seem like a good idea.
Do I have to buy a new remote steering system with more travel? Clearly it worked for the previous owner?
Also, the engine has two screws to clamp it on to the transom, but it is a 40HP Mariner and weighs about 80kg - does that sound enough? There are no other mounting holes on the boat (a 17' Seamaster), but there are holes on the engine mounting bracket. Should an engine of that size be more securely mounted than that, or am I being over-cautious? Should I drill through the transom plate and bolt through?
Thanks for looking after a lost yachtie who's strayed in to the motor boat forum for the first time...
I first bought a boat without an engine off EBay, and I now have an engine without a boat. The problems have arisen in trying to marry the two up (rigging the engine I believe it is called?).
The control lines for throttle and gears are fine but the remote steering has thrown me. The boat came with a wheel and remote lines already connected. I have mounted the outboard on the transom and connected them up. However, the travel on the installed steering is quite a bit less than would be required for lock to lock movement of the outboard. I can probably get +45deg to -20deg. I also can not seem to centre it without siting the engine off centre, which doesn't seem like a good idea.
Do I have to buy a new remote steering system with more travel? Clearly it worked for the previous owner?
Also, the engine has two screws to clamp it on to the transom, but it is a 40HP Mariner and weighs about 80kg - does that sound enough? There are no other mounting holes on the boat (a 17' Seamaster), but there are holes on the engine mounting bracket. Should an engine of that size be more securely mounted than that, or am I being over-cautious? Should I drill through the transom plate and bolt through?
Thanks for looking after a lost yachtie who's strayed in to the motor boat forum for the first time...