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

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
Drafter
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2016 1:45 am

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

Postby Drafter » Thu Feb 02, 2017 11:55 am

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?

goldstem
Posts: 64
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:57 pm

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

Postby goldstem » Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:02 pm

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.

Jefecinco
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Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:35 pm
Location: Gulf Shores, AL

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

Postby Jefecinco » Thu Feb 02, 2017 6:49 pm

A modern good quality steering cable for use on a Sport 13 does not need a loop to steer well.
Butch

Drafter
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2016 1:45 am

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

Postby Drafter » Fri Feb 03, 2017 10:28 am

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.

jimh
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Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
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Re: 13-Footer: Remote Control Cable: Loop or No Loop

Postby jimh » Fri Feb 03, 2017 12:47 pm

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

Jefecinco
Posts: 1592
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:35 pm
Location: Gulf Shores, AL

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

Postby Jefecinco » Fri Feb 03, 2017 7:14 pm

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?
Butch

padrefigure
Posts: 91
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2015 9:26 pm
Location: Texas, Hill Country

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

Postby padrefigure » Mon Feb 06, 2017 8:44 am

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.