Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Outboard mount and rudder-motor link
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

sebastko
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
4 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/11/2022 :  19:54:55  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi,
There is very little room to maneuver with the outboard motor on my 1996 C250 - I can turn left (tiller right), but cannot turn right much (the outboard's tiller is blocked by the fuel tank compartment). I can of course steer with just the rudder, but I believe that would be much more efficient with the inboard motor (such that prop wash goes through the rudder) - with the outboard motor, I need some momentum for the rudder to be effective, i.e., there is a delay. (Please correct me if my understanding is wrong about any of this!)

I bumped into this photo of a C250 on the Internet (the pic is NOT MINE):



Looks like they installed the outboard on a bracket aft from transom (I assume something like https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/capri-22/hull-deck/stern/motor-mounts/outboard-motor-mount-four-spring/ ?), added remote controls and connected the outboard with the rudder via some kind of connector -- in their ad (https://sailingtexas.com/201601/scatalina250171.html) they called it "Custom Steering Linkage so Tiller, Rudder and Engine move as one". It seems like such setup could solve my problems and make me more agile in the docking situations :) Has anyone here experiment with such setup? Where could I find a part to link the rudder with the motor? Any downsides to such setup that you can think of?

Catalina 250WB

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2269 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2022 :  20:17:13  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I installed a hard link between the rudder and outboard. For my motor, there was no need for a bracket, and having the motor directly on the transom eliminated any need for remote throttle/shift control. Having the motor's tiller in the up position enabled greater range of motion, though you will have to verify whether your own outboard has the right dimensions for this to work.

Here are some links to past posts where I described what I did:

https://www.sailnet.com/threads/outboard-rudder-question-noob-alert.344444/#post-2051748140

https://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32179&SearchTerms=link

https://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31739&SearchTerms=link

https://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=20807&whichpage=3

Rick S., Swarthmore, PA
PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)
Go to Top of Page

sebastko
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
4 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2022 :  09:34:09  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
This is great - will read your earlier posts carefully and will probably try to build something similar. Thank you! :)

Catalina 250WB
Go to Top of Page

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2022 :  18:45:59  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Search our archive for “soft link” for a different approach. (Search -- C-250 forum — include archives — Subject). Arlyn Stewart is the inventor, maybe earlier than our archive covers. If you want more, select “Entire message”.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/12/2022 18:59:48
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.