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13-Footer: Remote Control Cable: Loop or No Loop

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 11:55 am
by Drafter
Hello everyone. In the process of restoring my [1969--please use four-digits for year] 13 STANDARD to a SUPER SPORT, I do not have original [remote control mechanical] cables.

20170122_152752.jpg
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Everything that I have read on the forum state that most people are using 8-foot-long throttle and shift cables. Most--if not all--of the pictures that I have seen of other 13-foot boats appear to [use 8-foot cables] which just work their way to the transom and into the motor as shown in [the red line in] the diagram below:

Standard Routing.jpg
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Teleflex and others suggest a loop in front of the motor holding to about an 8-inch-radius (called a service loop) in order to have a straight path into the motor. See the red line in the drawing below:

Looped Cable.jpg
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It takes a shade over 4-feet to accommodate this loop.

I would like to know other's thoughts on [the use of a loop in the remote control cables to an outboard engine]. I've attached a few [diagrams] of each routing.

Should I buy an 8-foot set of cable or an 11 to 12-foot set of cables?

Re: 13' control cable length loop or no loop?

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:02 pm
by goldstem
I believe the loop is preferable, and have rigged all my 13, 15 and 16-foot Boston Whaler boats that way. The cable won't bind and restrict steering, especially when you turn right and the cable wants to go left.

Re: 13' control cable length loop or no loop?

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 6:49 pm
by Jefecinco
A modern good quality steering cable for use on a Sport 13 does not need a loop to steer well.

Re: 13' control cable length loop or no loop?

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 10:28 am
by Drafter
Thanks. The steering cable would attach to the tilt tube. The throttle and shift cables enter the motor from the front while they're coming to the motor from the side. The loop creates a straight path into the front of the motor compared to a sharp 90-degree bend.

Re: 13-Footer: Remote Control Cable: Loop or No Loop

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 12:47 pm
by jimh
The two options for cable routing have the following total bends:

--first option, direct to engine has two opposing bends; the angle of each bend will be no more than 90-degrees but can be less than 90-degrees;

--second option, a loop, has four 90-degree bends in same direction

Re: 13-Footer: Remote Control Cable: Loop or No Loop

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 7:14 pm
by Jefecinco
The tilt tube on our engines are parallel with the transom. Therefore the steering cable enters the tilt tube from the starboard side of the engine. I've not yet seen a tilt tube that faces fore and aft. I'm fairly certain the picture of the engine on the boat has a side facing tilt tube?

Re: 13-Footer: Remote Control Cable: Loop or No Loop

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 8:44 am
by padrefigure
I believe the OP is asking about the throttle and shift cable, not the steering cable. With these, I find that including the loop prevents the binding. But it also creates a loop that catches fishing lines, dock lines, and other entanglements in the splashwell of the boat.