Steering Linkage? 26M

The Quiet Mon · Post by **The Quiet Mon** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:10 pm

I have a 26X--- A friend has a 26M and tells me that he can't steer when engine is raise. I never had a problem but figure I'll take a look and see if I can figure out what is binding. He said when engine in in the down position he has no problems-- has to sail with engine down.

Anyone else have a problem like this and if so what was cause and resolution.

Thanks

[mod]ModEdit: Title tweaked; moving to P&T ~fc[/mod]

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:18 pm

disconnect the engine. The weight of the motor trying to flop over makes steering harder. The little stud poking up on the transom is to tie the engine off when disconnected. BWY sells a neat kit for this. Its a quick disconnect.

The Quiet Mon · Post by **The Quiet Mon** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:24 pm

I appreciate the response. You shouldn't need to disconnect engine,-- Mine works fine with engine connected, as does other 26M.

kziadie · Post by **kziadie** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:11 pm

Inspect with the engine raised to see if it was installed in such a way that the powerhead is low enough to hang up on the transom lip. Steering will be difficult with the engine raised, especially if the engine is bigger than a 50 but it should not lock up.

Regardless, aya16's suggestion about the BWY quick disconnect linkage is a good one. If you try it you wont regret it.

Kelly

beene · Post by **beene** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:30 am

I agree 100% with Mike.

I always disconnect the engine when sailing.

Greatly improves feel on the wheel without motor weight flopping about at any size. Even a 25 would flop about messing with the feel of the rudders alone.

JMHO

Don't shoot me OK!

G

tangentair · Post by **tangentair** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:33 am

My 07M does not steer with the motor tilted up far enough to jam against the underside of the transom seat, (I have a Merc 50) but with it most of the way up it is fine - the slight loading on the steering seems to be about the way I learned to drive before power steering. As Bill of Boats4Sail pointed out to me (and I have had reason to appreciate the advice already) if the motor is tied off to that little post and you find that you need it quickly, well, then you better find a way not to need it just as quickly.

kziadie · Post by **kziadie** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:58 am

If I need my engine that quickly I usually would put the engine down but not immediately connect the steering until after the urgent event has passed. At low speed, the rudders will steer the boat albeit not very efficiently (especially the IDA rudders which I have). If the situation is not so urgent as to make it worth while to put up with less efficient steering, then it is not so urgent to be an issue in the first place. I have even managed to turn around in a marina with the engine disconnected (painful but possible). That combined with the BWY quick disconnect gives me the confidence to disconnect the engine under sail.

Kelly

Post by **NiceAft** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:03 pm

I have an 05M with a 50HP Honda. When I sail, I raise the engine, drop the rudders and sail away

I have never disconnected the engine, and have never felt the need.

My Honda does not flop around, or interfere with anything.

If your friend can not steer with the engine up, find out what's wrong. He should not have to disconnect an engine to sail

People can elect to do so, but it is not a requirement for an M.

Ray

Divecoz · Post by **Divecoz** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:08 pm

05 M Merc 50 HP BF have never disconnected the motor . No problem with steering No motor flop as well. Sounds like faulty install. Mine too is from Bill @ Boats 4 sail.

deja_vu · Post by **deja_vu** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:36 am

I'd like to see installs of those with motors that don't flop when all the way raised, so I can know what I did wrong with my Merc 60 BF install. I can't even fathom how you could have no flop.

The motor has a central pivot point. When you tilt the motor all the way up the weight of the motor has to pivot around that point. Once the weight is to one side of centered or the other, it will naturally want to fall all the way to that side. The more the motor is tilted up the more pronounced this will become.

Seems like the laws of physics are work here. The only thing I can think of that could help would be to have some sort of dampening to reduce the perceived weight, but that would be a real pain to do.

kziadie · Post by **kziadie** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:48 am

Mine hardly flops and I believe it is because the pivot joint (dont know the correct term) of the engine is fairly stiff. I dont know if this is something that is adjustable or not but it might be worth checking into for those with severe flopping problems. I still disconnect my engine however, as you can feel the additional load on the steering and I dont think that load can be good for a steering system that is already somewhat fragile. Furthermore, the few times it has flopped I temporarily lost steering control and if I was in crowded waters could be quite dangerous. IMHO, disconnecting the steering with the BWY quick disconnect not only gives you better steering, it is also the lesser of 2 evils as far as safety is concerned.

Kelly

tangentair · Post by **tangentair** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:39 pm

I'd like to see installs of those with motors that don't flop when all the way raised, so I can know what I did wrong with my Merc 60 BF install. I can't even fathom how you could have no flop.

Perhaps because the cowling on my Merc hits the transom seat if I tilt up too far so I do not tilt it fully, just enough to clear the water, I may not have the arm that a fully tilted motor might have.

beene · Post by **beene** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:08 pm

Well...

With my OVERSIZED PIG back there, flop is an UNDERSTATEMENT!

I am quite frequently at 30+ deg in the gusts and just think what a 1600cc 4 cylinder 400 lb ish motor tilted fully up, so that it is now horizontal to the water, will want to do when turned on its side..... it wants to fall down/over kind of like a motorcycles natural position without support..... on the ground laying on its crushed side!

All that weight hits the steering HARD! When you least want that to happen as you are already quite busy dealing with the gust and trying to keep your Admiral from NEVER wanting to go sailing with you again due to the SKIP swearing whilst the ship is going out of control heading up against the Skip's desire to do otherwise...... Not that this has ever happened to me personally....

However, if a 1000cc 260 lb ish motor when turned on its side under the same conditions does not want to act in the same manner.... I stand corrected.

G

Post by **NiceAft** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:47 pm

I can't tell you why because I don't know why, but in the three seasons I have had Nice Aft, I have never had a problem with an engine flopping on me.

It just has not happened

My steering has always been stiff, and maybe that is why

A flopping engine is just not a factor in my sailing experience.

Ray

Post by **kmclemore** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:04 pm

I think you're just bragging, Ray.

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Steering Linkage? 26M

Steering Linkage? 26M