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Author Topic:   Nauset Steering Cable

KCarlsen posted 03-06-2000 10:04 PM ET (US)
I have been restoring my 1969 Nauset for about two years. I am having a new console and swing back seat built by Excelsoir Bay Wood Company. I didn't like the Nauset style pew seat so I guess I now own a Sakonnet. In any event, my question is, what length steering cable and control cables fit on this hull? The cable that came with the boat was an 18ft but had the last two feet cut off when the previous owner removed the engine in a hurry (repo). Using a garden hose as a templet, my best guess is 16ft. I will have the steering wheel centered in the console and the engine is a 50hp Murcury 4 stroke. Also, I will be adding a Morse MT3 shifter to the top right side of the console. What do the experts recommend for cable lengths for the steering and the controls? Lastly, Congrats to James Hebert for assembling this fine web site. I am both jealous and excited. I wanted to do the same and started to when I ran across this site while surfing for whaler information. Its nice to have pictures, history, documentation and a forum all on one site that has speed to boot. Keep up the good work!! Kurt
lhg posted 03-06-2000 11:46 PM ET (US)
Kurt: I used to have a Whaler like you have, and there is even a picture of it in the 16' Whaler section of this site, so if you don't mind my asking, what are they charging you for the new mahogany console, and also for the Sakonnet Reversible Pilot Seat?
Also, the 1970 catalog that I have shows the steering cable length as 15'. I would imagine that the engine control cable length may need to be 16'. Perhaps somebody else reading this can confirm these dimensions,or you could also call customer service at the factory. I would recommend that you use Mercury's single lever control, since it has the trim button in the handle. The original Morse controls offered on Whalers in 1969 did not integrate power trim, since it wasn't in wide use at the time. Good luck with your project.
jimh posted 03-07-2000 01:51 AM ET (US)
I am interested to know about the MT-3 Shifter. I was thinking of upgrading to something like this on my 1976 Merc 500. How hard it is to adapt to an outboard?
Do you have to roll-your-own cables and adaptors, or are these available?
--jim
kingfish posted 03-07-2000 09:42 AM ET (US)
I have seen the Morse MT-3 binnacle mount on a lot of BW CC's; like Larry said though, it does not have trim/tilt capacity. Where such was needed, it was done with a seperate trim/tilt switch. I had a Montauk with this setup; must be it is readily adaptable to an outboard, though I don't know the procedure.
I changed out the Mercury controls ('89 100hp Merc) on my last Montauk to a Morse SL-3 binnacle mount, and was *absolutely* happy with the results. The SL-3 has a trim/tilt thumb control right on the single lever, hooked right up with existing cables, covered the original cut-out in the console, is listed in West Marine, and when I had some trouble a year or so later with the neutral lock-out switch, Morse overnighted me two new switches for free. If you have need for trim/tilt and are not committed to the classic appearance of the MT-3, I'd take a hard look at the SL-3. I liked the simple appearance of the unit and couldn't have been happier with how it went in and worked.
Kingfish
bigz posted 03-07-2000 10:42 AM ET (US)
Jim, the MT-3 is a top mount binnacle control for use with single or twin engines depending on the model. If you want a side mount(also available in top mount binnacle styles) you could use the Morse SL-3 and you can get this one with just Trim or both Trim and Tilt incorporated and of course just plain vanilla speed and shift with a single lever ---
Merc and OMC both make some pretty nice controls guess it would boil down to price more than anything since they are all decent --- the MT-3 is just shift/speed and you do pay for the chrome plated brass housing where as the SL-3 is some type of plastic composition ---Regards Thomas
lhg posted 03-07-2000 01:32 PM ET (US)
Jim: In response to your question on the classic Morse MT-3 control, you can find info on it in the current West Marine catalog on page 280, for a price of $282, along with the proper cables & adaptors for your engine. But it will be a costly upgrade. Whaler has used & offered this control for years on boats 16' and up. But in spite of its classic appeal & beauty, and excellent mechanical action, it's going to be more difficult to use and install on a Sport 15,
since the cables and mechanism point down coming out of the control base, the height of your console above the boat floor could be critical in bending the cables back to the engine. In addition you will need separate ignition switch (about $60) and trim control(if you have Power trim) harnesses and panels. I have not seen any Sport 15's with a top mounted control, nor has Whaler ever shown it in a catalog with anything but the typical and less-than-attractive side mount combo controls offered by the engine manufacturers. They have shown a Currituck/Sport 17 with this control, however, but the console has a wider side section to Starboard to bring the control within easy reach of a seated pilot, and the console is also higher above the boat floor. If you do decide to do this, I'm sure it would make for one of your interesting narratives in your "Boat Maintenance" section on Continuouswave.com
KCarlsen posted 03-07-2000 03:14 PM ET (US)
Wow, Looks like we have quite the knowledge base here. I hope I have answered all the reply questions in this note. I am using the MT3 because it is classic, well made and looks like it belongs on the 1969 console. I found it on sale for $219. The cables I am supplying to it are made for murcury so I do not need any adapter kits. As for trim/tilt, I have designed my own electrical schematic that will use the Murcury wiring harness. I will install a momentary toggle switch to handle trim/tilt. I want only chrome or wood in this boat so my choice of products is limited. The console and swing back seat are costing me $1600 for the pair. They are customized slightly so that I can hide the fuel tank under the console and twin batties in the seat. I have been promised furniture quality and having had many long conversations with the craftsmen, I am confident the end result will be worth every penny. I expect them to be completed in April. But back to the original question? What length cable do I use for steering and controls on an original 1969 16'7 with the original style console?? Help... Thanks, Kurt
Zack posted 04-26-2000 12:15 PM ET (US)
I have just replace my on the 66 Nauset. The ones that were on the boat were 16ft but too long so I replaced them with 14ft and they work fine. Good luck with the project. Zack
KCarlsen posted 04-26-2000 02:42 PM ET (US)
Zack, You replaced the steering or the control cables with 14ft? I purchased a 16ft for the steering and measured 15ft for the controls because my shifter will be located on the top of the console. I will have the controls come straight out the engine and into the tunnel and the stering will be the standard side mount from the tube tilt. How did you run your 14 footers?? Thanks Kurt
Zack posted 04-26-2000 03:05 PM ET (US)
Kurt, I replaced the control cables. The Shifter is located on the console, righthand part, down the tunnel and to the motor. Motor is Merc 115. I was have a shifting to reverse problem with the longer cables. I disconected from the engine and let them hang out to measure. They were 2 ft too long, hense the 14th cables. All works well now, no shifting problems. Zack

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Author	Topic: Nauset Steering Cable
KCarlsen	posted 03-06-2000 10:04 PM ET (US) I have been restoring my 1969 Nauset for about two years. I am having a new console and swing back seat built by Excelsoir Bay Wood Company. I didn't like the Nauset style pew seat so I guess I now own a Sakonnet. In any event, my question is, what length steering cable and control cables fit on this hull? The cable that came with the boat was an 18ft but had the last two feet cut off when the previous owner removed the engine in a hurry (repo). Using a garden hose as a templet, my best guess is 16ft. I will have the steering wheel centered in the console and the engine is a 50hp Murcury 4 stroke. Also, I will be adding a Morse MT3 shifter to the top right side of the console. What do the experts recommend for cable lengths for the steering and the controls? Lastly, Congrats to James Hebert for assembling this fine web site. I am both jealous and excited. I wanted to do the same and started to when I ran across this site while surfing for whaler information. Its nice to have pictures, history, documentation and a forum all on one site that has speed to boot. Keep up the good work!! Kurt
lhg	posted 03-06-2000 11:46 PM ET (US) Kurt: I used to have a Whaler like you have, and there is even a picture of it in the 16' Whaler section of this site, so if you don't mind my asking, what are they charging you for the new mahogany console, and also for the Sakonnet Reversible Pilot Seat? Also, the 1970 catalog that I have shows the steering cable length as 15'. I would imagine that the engine control cable length may need to be 16'. Perhaps somebody else reading this can confirm these dimensions,or you could also call customer service at the factory. I would recommend that you use Mercury's single lever control, since it has the trim button in the handle. The original Morse controls offered on Whalers in 1969 did not integrate power trim, since it wasn't in wide use at the time. Good luck with your project.
jimh	posted 03-07-2000 01:51 AM ET (US) I am interested to know about the MT-3 Shifter. I was thinking of upgrading to something like this on my 1976 Merc 500. How hard it is to adapt to an outboard? Do you have to roll-your-own cables and adaptors, or are these available? --jim
kingfish	posted 03-07-2000 09:42 AM ET (US) I have seen the Morse MT-3 binnacle mount on a lot of BW CC's; like Larry said though, it does not have trim/tilt capacity. Where such was needed, it was done with a seperate trim/tilt switch. I had a Montauk with this setup; must be it is readily adaptable to an outboard, though I don't know the procedure. I changed out the Mercury controls ('89 100hp Merc) on my last Montauk to a Morse SL-3 binnacle mount, and was absolutely happy with the results. The SL-3 has a trim/tilt thumb control right on the single lever, hooked right up with existing cables, covered the original cut-out in the console, is listed in West Marine, and when I had some trouble a year or so later with the neutral lock-out switch, Morse overnighted me two new switches for free. If you have need for trim/tilt and are not committed to the classic appearance of the MT-3, I'd take a hard look at the SL-3. I liked the simple appearance of the unit and couldn't have been happier with how it went in and worked. Kingfish
bigz	posted 03-07-2000 10:42 AM ET (US) Jim, the MT-3 is a top mount binnacle control for use with single or twin engines depending on the model. If you want a side mount(also available in top mount binnacle styles) you could use the Morse SL-3 and you can get this one with just Trim or both Trim and Tilt incorporated and of course just plain vanilla speed and shift with a single lever --- Merc and OMC both make some pretty nice controls guess it would boil down to price more than anything since they are all decent --- the MT-3 is just shift/speed and you do pay for the chrome plated brass housing where as the SL-3 is some type of plastic composition ---Regards Thomas
lhg	posted 03-07-2000 01:32 PM ET (US) Jim: In response to your question on the classic Morse MT-3 control, you can find info on it in the current West Marine catalog on page 280, for a price of $282, along with the proper cables & adaptors for your engine. But it will be a costly upgrade. Whaler has used & offered this control for years on boats 16' and up. But in spite of its classic appeal & beauty, and excellent mechanical action, it's going to be more difficult to use and install on a Sport 15, since the cables and mechanism point down coming out of the control base, the height of your console above the boat floor could be critical in bending the cables back to the engine. In addition you will need separate ignition switch (about $60) and trim control(if you have Power trim) harnesses and panels. I have not seen any Sport 15's with a top mounted control, nor has Whaler ever shown it in a catalog with anything but the typical and less-than-attractive side mount combo controls offered by the engine manufacturers. They have shown a Currituck/Sport 17 with this control, however, but the console has a wider side section to Starboard to bring the control within easy reach of a seated pilot, and the console is also higher above the boat floor. If you do decide to do this, I'm sure it would make for one of your interesting narratives in your "Boat Maintenance" section on Continuouswave.com
KCarlsen	posted 03-07-2000 03:14 PM ET (US) Wow, Looks like we have quite the knowledge base here. I hope I have answered all the reply questions in this note. I am using the MT3 because it is classic, well made and looks like it belongs on the 1969 console. I found it on sale for $219. The cables I am supplying to it are made for murcury so I do not need any adapter kits. As for trim/tilt, I have designed my own electrical schematic that will use the Murcury wiring harness. I will install a momentary toggle switch to handle trim/tilt. I want only chrome or wood in this boat so my choice of products is limited. The console and swing back seat are costing me $1600 for the pair. They are customized slightly so that I can hide the fuel tank under the console and twin batties in the seat. I have been promised furniture quality and having had many long conversations with the craftsmen, I am confident the end result will be worth every penny. I expect them to be completed in April. But back to the original question? What length cable do I use for steering and controls on an original 1969 16'7 with the original style console?? Help... Thanks, Kurt
Zack	posted 04-26-2000 12:15 PM ET (US) I have just replace my on the 66 Nauset. The ones that were on the boat were 16ft but too long so I replaced them with 14ft and they work fine. Good luck with the project. Zack
KCarlsen	posted 04-26-2000 02:42 PM ET (US) Zack, You replaced the steering or the control cables with 14ft? I purchased a 16ft for the steering and measured 15ft for the controls because my shifter will be located on the top of the console. I will have the controls come straight out the engine and into the tunnel and the stering will be the standard side mount from the tube tilt. How did you run your 14 footers?? Thanks Kurt
Zack	posted 04-26-2000 03:05 PM ET (US) Kurt, I replaced the control cables. The Shifter is located on the console, righthand part, down the tunnel and to the motor. Motor is Merc 115. I was have a shifting to reverse problem with the longer cables. I disconected from the engine and let them hang out to measure. They were 2 ft too long, hense the 14th cables. All works well now, no shifting problems. Zack
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