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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

New Engine Control Box-Install Mess

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CateP
Navigator

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USA
108 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/07/2009 : 12:56:08

We just had a remote control box installed for our electric start Tohatsu outboard on the starboard side of the cockpit. The guy who installed it had a bunch of extra cable running from the box to the motor and coiled it up inside our cockpit. It looks messy and I'm afraid someone is going to trip on it. Does anyone have any suggestion about what to do with the extra cable?

Should I drill a hole in the starboard seat and run the cable through the inside of the boat to the motor? If I drill that hole, how can I keep water from getting into the aft area inside? (there are two cables that are about 1/4 inch in diameter)

Thanks in advance for replies.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2009 : 13:18:09

Is the whole thing surface mounted? Most of the pictures I've seen have the cables running inside under the cockpit seat, and through rubber bushings and holes in the stern to the motor. Can the cables be shortened?

Edited by - dmpilc on 08/07/2009 13:18:52

CateP
Navigator

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USA
108 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2009 : 13:30:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Is the whole thing surface mounted? Most of the pictures I've seen have the cables running inside under the cockpit seat, and through rubber bushings and holes in the stern to the motor. Can the cables be shortened?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I wish I had pictures, but I'm not near my boat. The control box is surface mounted and the two control cables are running out the back toward the stern. When I called the install guy he said the cables could be shortened, but I still want them inside under the cockpit seat. I think I may have found a solution.

I'm going to drill a hole in the starboard cockpit seat that is big enough for the cables to go in, feed the cables through, and cover the hole with this a "clamshell vent."
http://tinyurl.com/nkhrhl

The cables come out of the "vent" and the hole should be protected from water intrusion.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2009 : 14:38:14

Powerboat equipment on a sailboat is seldom a good idea. 6000 Catalina 25s built without remote controls. Why do you think they are a good idea on your boat?

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Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2009 : 16:23:23

I have a Yamaha and installed a remote tiller in the cockpit. It is simply two cables that run back to the engine and the original tiller is moved to the end of the long cables and attached to the side of the bench in the cockpit. The Yamaha has a tiller shift, so I can shift and control the throttle and even kill the engine while seated in the cockpit. I like not having to climb back to the motor to change the engine speed and getting around in a tight space or trying to find reverse in a hurry is also much easier.

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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2009 : 05:13:03

Cate

Okay, I think the problem is the guy who installed it used cables he had in-stock. You can buy cables in different lengths to fit your need. I would go back to him and ask that he provide the correct length cables.

I looked on page 425 of 2009 West marine catalog and they sell Teleflex cables from 6' to 40'.

I think the guy wasn't doing right by you.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2009 : 06:21:05

Cate, others have installed similar equipment on their boats with success. It also is very similar to what sailboats with diesel in-boards use for their controls. On our dock there is a Catalina 27 and a Seaward 25 that both have similar controls right in the same spot you are talking about and within easy reach of the tiller. Whatever helps you to enjoy sailing is the right thing for you. The cleanest install would have the cables out of the way of the cockpit. I agree with Chris that you need shorter cables and the guy should supply them.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 08/08/2009 06:47:46

Rich P
1st Mate

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USA
77 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2009 : 09:09:48

I would think something like this http://www.teleflexmarine.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi?site=enginecontrols&type=us&product=1074 would be ideal to keep the cables tucked away instead of a surface mount control box.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2009 : 17:11:06

Here is a thread from another forum. It is for Islander 27s but there is a Catalina 27 person in the thread as well and they seem helpful. It is a recent thread. You may want to contact one of these folks or make a post there.

[url="http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=645245"]sailboatowners[/url]

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Jmurfy
Navigator

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USA
176 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2009 : 21:28:34

I disagree with Pastmember. I have a Yamaha remote control w/ the cables run inside the boat along the wall and exit at the transom. It is a nice feature to have the contols uncluding the key and an emergency shut off in an easily accessible location.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2009 : 08:57:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 ...It also is very similar to what sailboats with diesel in-boards use for their controls...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yup, and about the third time I kicked it out of gear or up to full throttle, I started wishing it was somewhere else (like on the transom).

Cate, the clamshell has to be vertical to keep the weather out... That might be a lot of twists and turns for those cables. If you mounted the control on the transom, you might be able to work a better routing, and the whole thing would be much less obtrusive to captain and crew.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/11/2009 09:05:05

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2009 : 10:43:45

We have our remote in about the spot you are considering. It works OK, but as Dave points out, the sheets get caught on it, folks step on it, and it can be an ankle grabber.

Having said that, I like having th ethrottle, and forward/reverse in the cockpit. In a perfect workld, it would be recessed into a box cutout in the seat, but that just isn't in the cards for our boat. I am sure I could engineer it if it was enough of an issue that I wanted to take the time.

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