Outside steer on a non flybridge

Fit outside steer to a non flybridge

Or, in the words of the song Come Outside! Says John Cliff

Being the owner of a non flybridge version of the Moonraker 36, The Elsie Cliff, John felt that fitting an outside steering position, for those hot summer days we haven’t seen much of lately, would make a nice winter project. Last winter John set about the task.

As a flybridge was out of the question, the area I cruise has height restrictions, so the decision was made to fit the second helm position on the port side of the aft deck. I figured that having the helm on the same side as the one in the wheelhouse would make for an easier fit. This turned out to be the case as all the cables passed down through, and alongside, the existing cables in to the engine space In order to do this however one has to take the step cover in the aft cabin shower compartment off, this cover is screwed on to the underside of the step. (The one you step on to the aft deck) Then making a hole through the back of the wheelhouse and a hole through the toilet ceiling down the side of the step the cables can be routed as mentioned in to the engine space. If you plan to do a similar set up you will need two 71 meter 33c cables for the starboard engine, two 41 meter 33c cables for the port engine and a lot of patience. The lever control brackets for the gearbox and throttle I have used the Vetus DS type, you can find them on page 98 in the Vetus catalogue, and for the steering I have used Morse, with the control levers being the model MT3 twin. The steering being the D290 Helm l drive assembly. The steering cable I fitted was 4.5 meters in length, you also need the steering accessories with the cable, i.e. bracket for ram and a 20º trim kit for the steering wheel assembly. This is routed through the same holes you cut for the control cables and is threaded under the floor of the aft cabin shower compartment and up to the steering rack. The ram for the new steering cable can then be bolted directly above the existing one.

Note. Depending on which type of rack you have, a longer bolt will have to be fitted to take the new steering cable, some differ. For the outside helm position I have used stainless steel tube, our editor Dave Beet got this bent to the correct shape for me all at no charge, and for the dash a piece of polished mahogany with stainless steel plate for the wheel base. (see photo)

The whole assembly has been secured using sufficient silicone to both the wheelhouse and aft cabin. At this point and, to keep things as simple as possible with the steering, I decided not to fit a change over lever. True, both wheels turn at the same time but racing inside, when caught in a squall for instance, allows you to move straight to the helm and regain control. As to the gauges, for both engines, I have fitted only the oil pressure and water temps, these are the electronic type so there is absolutely no problem in fitting the sender units as there are ports already there for just such an activity. The water temp ports can be found under the diesel fuel filters and the oil ports are found at the side of the oil cooler. Each gauge requires three

	lengths of different coloured cable to the sender units and the power supply but again, not to complicate things, I have powered the gauges up straight from the batteries. If you do however you must earth the engines because, as both the starter motor and alternator are sheathed, it follows that the engines are not earthed. There’s a good reason for this though Ed. Using 18 gauge cable to power up the instruments I, as mentioned, took a 12 volt + and – from the battery to a fuse box and a common neutral block and the whole thing works fine. As to the cost. Well the whole lot came to £1200, but imagine what the cost would have been had I fitted a flybridge! It all works out very reasonably and what a difference it has made. It really is great steering the boat from outside, and yes there really is a `luverly moon up there` and what’s more I can see it now.
Reproduced with the permission of Morvyn Philips.

www.moonraker.dk / to@moonraker.dk