outboard steering

[DeereRun97]

Does anyone know if ANY outboard can be conveted so it can be steered from a center counsel? Or do I have to buy a motor already setup for that?

[Ben]

The steering hookup on just about all outboards is the same at the motor. The steering system on the boat is made to fit the outboard so you can change it to anykind steering you want (except tiller steering, 30 - 40 hp it about the max for that).  You can put just about any motor on just about any boat and the steering will hook up.

If I was going to spend the money for a new steering system, I would go ahead and pay the few bucks more and change to hydraulic steering, You will love it.

[DeereRun97]

Thanks Ben. So, Sounds like I might have to get a new steering system when I get an outboard unless it happens to fit my steering cable. When I,m looking for an outboard, and the ad say's MERCURY, REMOTE, LONG, ELECTRIC. CONTROLS. What does "controls" & "remote" mean?

[Ben]

If the boat has steering on it, it should fit just about any motor, unless your talking about very old or a small motor, sometimes the 9.9s, 15's etc, will hook up different.

Remote means it's gas and shift is controlled away from the motor and has to have steering system hooked to it, it's not a tiller steering motor.

Controls is just telling you it has the control box (controls gear shift, gas and usually has key switch in it) and cables with it.  Sometimes if people just swap out motors for the same make, they don't change the control box so when they sell the old motor, it does not have the controls.  The controls and cables can run several hundred dollars if your boat does not have the ones to fit the motor, Every make Merc, OMC/BRP, Yamaha etc is different and don't interchange, and many times there are old versions and new versions and they don't interchange without possible conversion kits.

Long means it fits a 20" transom

Short would fit a 15" transom

Xlong a 25"

XXLong is 30" (usually used for pushers on sail boats etc.)

Electric means it's an electric start and should have a charging system, I say should have because not all 25hp and less motors have a charging system.   That is if you want to consider  6 - 9 amps a charging system.