MacGregorSailors.com

Has anyone used the Custom steering linkage by blue water yachts on a 4 stroke Yamaha 50 Hp.

I am not impressed with the linkage my motor dealer used on my 2010 26m.

Michael

I bought my boat from BWY and it came with the linkage on my Suzi 70.

I love the simplicity of this device. Highly recommend it as I can't imagine any other way of doing it. It just works and takes seconds to connect.

I have the exact same setup as Russ, and second the love for it.

I'd rate it as one of the top quick and dirty mods done to the boat so far...engine weight off the steering while sailing makes it very relaxing and no more hard overs if you let go of the wheel like before. In fact now you can find the wheel's happy spot and I've let it run without touching it for half hours at a time or steer by sail trim.

Word of caution if you get the urge to come into dock without re-connecting...it's worth the 10 seconds to hookup again and not rely on forward motion for rudder control only. Unlike a proper keelboat the engine doesn't wash over the rudders so at slow speed your toast.

JR

Every now and then I wonder why the bot isn't responding as well as I'm used too...then I remember that the engine is't connected, but it only takes 3 seconds to reconnect...still love it.

Install and setup is painless. Steering under sail with the motor disconnected is effortless.

However, one serious drawback is the replacement steering bar significantly reduces your ability to turn to starboard both under power or disconnected under sail. Since I trailer sail and often must dock in a cross current I cannot turn to starboard with the same radius as to port. You have full rudder and motor travel to port as the bar extends from the motor well wall. Turning to starboard is significantly limited due to the pivot ball contacting the motor well wall and preventing the full retraction of the steering bar in to the well wall. I presume this isssue may be limited to the M vs. the X as the X motor well is wider by several inches thus not limited travel to starboard. I plan on replaceing the steering bar and modifying the disconnect shaft so I have full hard over steering travel to both port and starboard. Based on my sailing experience over the weekend I plan on replacing the bar with a longer length, modifying the disconnect bar and possibly relocating the motor lock ball rest from the current factory position.
i am not aware of BWY mfg. two different length steering bars for the M and X. I don't recall there was a model difference when I purchased mine. In all fairness to BWY I need to conatct them to seek a solution.

hello 1st sail

I had this problem also with this steering part and the 26m. BUT: Are you shure that the different steering radius is becouse of the new steering part?

I bended the new steering arm a little up so that there cannot be contact to the boat by the ball. And so I can go to the maximum to both sides I guess.

Please think about and tell us your experiance.

Kurz,
I missed your post. The steering bar with ball fitting hits the transom wall before the rudders are hard over when turning to starboard. The OEM bar allows for full hard over rudder to both port and starboard. This is with the motor disconnected.

Is it really worth worrying about? It's just a back up on the throttle and them one more umff forward...done.? Not a big deal. Could be worse...you could be powering a bay diver and that extra back up could cost you five bucks !

Thanks for the feedback everyone.
I installed the custom steering kit today and am very pleased so far.
The quick release works very smooth both on the steering arm and on the idle bracket.
I also gained full defection of the motor to both port and starboard.
I was 20-25% short in one direction before the upgrade.
I found the parts to be a lot better quality than what my Engine dealer used prior.
If you are planning on using a Yamaha 50 hp high torque 4 stroke I highly recommend you use this modification during motor installation.
Flyboy26m

Has anyone installed the custom steering linkage by Blue Water Yachts on a with a 4 stroke Honda 50 Hp.

All these boats with the BWY custom steering kit. I got one for my birthday for my , but haven't installed it yet. But at least it's a Honda BF50, so I can report back on that end of the linkage at least, once I git 'er done.

frede wrote:Has anyone installed the custom steering linkage by Blue Water Yachts on a with a 4 stroke Honda 50 Hp.

I'm sure it's the same for most engines. BTW, it should have been standard equipment from the factory in my opinion.

Here's Jim King demonstrating it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToUB-ox3GDs

I can't imagine my boat without it.

My boat came with the quick disconnect linkage, but it doesn't have the mount for fixing the engine straight. I don't see it as a sepparate item on the BWY website. Does anyone know if they will sell it sepparate?

Jeff