stick steering

[Texas_42]

I have a 15' Duracraft with 40 h.p. Johnson on it. It now has steering consol in it and I want to change to stick steering. To me (a novis) it seems like a fairly easy job. Could one or more of you guys with boat knowledge give my some me some of your thoughts........thank y ou....wayne

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: stick steering

I think it IS a fairly easy conversion. A friend of mine did that on his boat & I liked it a lot. He moved the helm to the very front of the boat as the boat needed more weight up front. It was a very handy set-up to fish out of as you were already in your fishing seat and only needed to reach down and deploy the trolling motor to start fishing.<br /><br />I will say that the size of your boat/motor combo is about at the upper limit of what the dealers around here will install stick steering on.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: stick steering

Stick steering will work fine. However, consider that our 30 hp johnson was originally set up this way and we went towards installing a steering wheel system! Being so close to the motor, we found the fumes and noise off the two stroke to be annoying for fishing with the stick steer. <br /><br />We also have a two stroke Evinrude 15 hp which is much more pleasant to use for stick steering. Almost silent and very little odor at trolling speeds compared to the 30 hp.<br /><br />I would just install the stick and try it out before dismantling your present system...and then decide.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: stick steering

Good idea Cobra! Those engines are REAL noisy when you are near them. It's always nice to be able to go back easily. Personally, I wouldn't want a 40 HP on a stick anyway...

 

[roscoe]

Re: stick steering

He is talking about stick steering in the front of the boat, not a tiller handle.<br /><br />Stick steering install kits are available, shouldn't be too hard once you get all the parts.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: stick steering

oooppps. Another Brain cell must have gone south...

 

[roscoe]

Re: stick steering

been there, done that. too many 2-stroke fumes.

 

[JB]

Re: stick steering

I had a stick steered 15' Fisher Bass Boat many years ago. <br /><br />With 25hp it was manageable but bow heavy with only me aboard. On plane it was dreadfully sensitive, even at 15-18mph.<br /><br />Running one that would go fast strikes me as like riding a unicycle compared to a bike. You hit a wake or an obstacle that throws the helmsman out of balance and you are instantly out of control. A wheel is something you can hold onto to keep your balance. Can't do that with a stick.<br /><br />I wouldn't want another stick steered boat unless it was a square stern canoe with about 5hp on it.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: stick steering

Bow mounted steering? YUK!

 

[Texas_42]

Re: stick steering

Thanks for all the pros & cons of changing out steering system. I have owned

 

[Texas_42]

Re: stick steering

Sorry abt. that..........big fingers & small buttons make double posts. Steering will be in front of boat via cable and has worked great in a couple of boats I owned in the past. Just wanted to make sure no one had changed from consol to stick steering on this type of boat......thanks again for your replyls...............

 

[JB]

Re: stick steering

No need to double post, Tex.<br /><br />Click on the edit icon in your post and you can edit or add to it.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[aspeck]

Re: stick steering

Had stick steering with a 40hp merc. We won't go into the merc, just suffice it to say I also had a 25 merc we kept trading off - that way one would always work. Stick steering was a blast! Yes, it is sensitive, but ...<br /><br />Got tired of the engine problems and bought a 55hp Johnson. Too much torque for the steering - no fun when it breaks at WOT! I am a slow learner, so I fixed the steering and did it again! Changed the stick steering to a steering wheel mounted sideways (like a wheel chair wheel) beside my front seat. All the bennies of stick, with the strenght of a steering wheel - and it was also quite a conversation piece at the marina!