RePowering 26X...advice on steering, re-enforcement

[PaulsPaddle]

Hi All,

I just purchased a Mac26X, moving up from a Mac19. (which is for sale soon....Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Going to re-power with a Suzuki 90. Just read a civilized thread where people were helpful and not hung up on the 90hp being 40 over recommended, hopefully this stays the same.

Just a fyi...I'm 53 and have owned a variety of motor and sailboats for 30 years.

1. I've taken this boat out once and the steering was what I would consider to be pretty loose. Fair amount of play and the range was pretty good one way but not so great the other. There is a threaded quick release rod from middle of connecting pole between rudders which seems weak.

Advice on a good steering set up? Pics are appreciated!

2. Transom re-enforcement ideas.

Thanks in advance.

[rsvpasap]

If the steering is very loose, chances are high your steering cable has stretched. This is a common problem. You can contact Blue Water Yachts in Seattle for a replacement cable for all boat models and steering setups. http://www.bwyachts.com/

In my experience on my 2002 26x, the steering will turn 20 degrees in one direction, 30 degrees in the other.

[PaulsPaddle]

Thanks, I'll look into changing out the steering cable.

[Starscream]

Hi All,

I just purchased a Mac26X, moving up from a Mac19. (which is for sale soon....Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Going to re-power with a Suzuki 90. Just read a civilized thread where people were helpful and not hung up on the 90hp being 40 over recommended, hopefully this stays the same.

Just a fyi...I'm 53 and have owned a variety of motor and sailboats for 30 years.

1. I've taken this boat out once and the steering was what I would consider to be pretty loose. Fair amount of play and the range was pretty good one way but not so great the other. There is a threaded quick release rod from middle of connecting pole between rudders which seems weak.

Advice on a good steering set up? Pics are appreciated!

2. Transom re-enforcement ideas.

Thanks in advance.

Just finished my DF90 install, and posted a couple of photos on that thread. In my opinion, and the opinion of the Suzuki dealer, the transom is plenty strong for a 90HP. After 10 years of operating an Etec90, there are zero signs of cracking or fatigue other than gelcoat spidering. Our Etec 90 was mounted on two slim wedges directly on the plastic transom filler piece, placing a ton of force over a small contact area, but this didn't cause any problems. Our new motor isn't on wedges; I now don't think they're needed but at the time that we installed the Etec, installing wedges was the forum's popular opinion of best practice. We removed the plastic filler piece and replaced it with two aluminum pieces (the transom has a bow that makes it difficult to put a single aluminum filler piece. we left a small space between the two filler pieces to account for the transom bowing, and then places a full aluminum plate over top of everything, and bent over the top edge of the transom.

For us, steering is still stock from 2002. It has what feels like a tiny amount of free play, but the rudders and motors actually turn even in the free-play zone. I only noticed that the free-play zone has a steering effect when I had a competition with our autopilot to hold the tightest course. (I can win that competition, but the amount of concentration it takes is exhausting).