adding controls to old motor

[swimmin' for shore]

My 59 sportwin 10 hp-I've been playing with this little aluminum boat. It's become more and more of a toy. The boat was given to me, full of holes and dented half to death. I fixed the holes, beat out the biggest dents, etc, etc...I painted the boat a nice gray and blue, clear coated it until it looks like glass, non-skidded the floor, added seats on spinning pedestals, pole holders, new transom, and my 59 Sportwin. Yesterday, I started playing around with little things to do in my spare time(really, really bored, obviously) and I drilled a hole in the bow, added a thru-hull SS fitting with 5200 to seal, and made a thru-hull anchor. Being in the Navy, I got a laugh out of making it look like my ship. I'm considering adding some very small ss bow rails to the front(Look great on a 12' boat), and the other thing that I was kind of playing with was adding controls for the motor. It's set up for remote steering and controls. Now, where do I find them for cheap...maybe ebay...and what exactly am I looking for? Does anyone have experience with this...or have an old set lying around the garage? As always, thank you in advance. Your insight in the past has been inspirational and probably life-saving.

 

[alden135]

Re: adding controls to old motor

Haze gray and underway.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: adding controls to old motor

Used to be that way, but things haven't been too bad during the last 3 or 4 months. Getting geared up to roar again, though.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: adding controls to old motor

The controls you can find on eBay, no problem, but not usually the steering components.<br /><br />Try local marinas. They've probably got some stuff they pulled from boats sitting in a box on a shelf somewhere. But you've gotta catch them in a friendly mood and follow my motto: "Ask nice and look poor."

 

[andys15]

Re: adding controls to old motor

If you like making things, and with that size engien I bet you could use a regular throttle cable for like a v-4 Johnson. About $35. That's pretty strong. As far as a steering box. Maybe use a go cart steering box. They probably sell them somewhere online.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: adding controls to old motor

Actually, I was looking on eBay, and you can buy a brand-new complete teleflex rack and pinion steering system, with steering wheel and cable (as short as 8') for just $119, on a buy-it-now basis. Can't beat that.<br /><br />Plus there are always old two-handle OMC controls on eBay. The only problem there is cable length. You can get new cables for them, though.<br /><br />The rack and pinion steering is pretty nice, since it hooks up easily and doesn't have the old cable and pulley's disadvantages.<br /><br />You might as well go whole hog on this, if you're going to convert your little aluminum boat to a naval vessel, eh? Be sure and post some photos of your project.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: adding controls to old motor

By the way, for controls, you're looking for something to fit a pre-1978 OMC outboard. It'll have two handles, a short black handled one and a longer red-handled one. They're really common on eBay, and pretty cheap. <br /><br />The only trouble will be coming up with one with cables short enough for your boat. You might have to buy new cables, which I'm sure are still available at Johnnyrude dealers.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: adding controls to old motor

Thanks for the info. I'll start checking ebay. I'll post photos, probably in restoration and building forum. I'll add a note to this thread to note the photos when I figure out how to do it. I didn't take pics from the beginning, sadly, but I got them from the first 2 coats of paint and onward. Do keep the suggestions coming, in the meantime, and thank you all for what you've had to say thus far.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: adding controls to old motor

Throttle/Shift Control <br /> Control w/cables <br /><br />There may be more. This is just the first 2 I saw.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: adding controls to old motor

Thanks BoatBuoy. I actually had looked those up and was planning to bid on one or the other. Now to find a cheap steering system and a very small aluminum dash.