[Rhodes22-list] outboard shifter lever extension

[Bob Garrant]

Graham
Great pictures. Thanks very much
I hope to push off for first time this season some time this week. Maryland
restricted recreational boating just before I could launch my boat. Now I
have to tidy up a few items before I head out.
Hope you have a great season and thanks again
Bob

On Sun, May 31, 2020 at 9:57 AM Graham Stewart <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca> wrote:

> Bob:
>
> Here are some photos of the shift extension and throttle extensions that I
> use. Please excuse the mess as my motor is still in the garage. The
> throttle extension is a purchased item. With these items in place I can sit
> or stand facing forward while being able to steer, control speed and shift
> gears. Another piece of dowel in the handle end makes the tube air tight so
> that it floats - just in case you absentmindedly throw the damned thing
> overboard - as I have done twice now.
>
> The tube is 3/4" inside diameter schedule 40 PVC plastic conduit. I made
> the hinge first out of an old broom stick that was 7/8" diameter and then
> pushed the hinge into the tubes after heating the tube with a heat gun. It
> makes a very tight fit but still needs a brad nail to secure the tube to
> the dowel.
>
> I painted the hinge grey so that it would look less like a chunk of
> broomstick stuck into the end of a plastic tube.
>
> Graham Stewart
> Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> Kingston Ontario
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf
> Of Bob Garrant
> Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2020 10:40 PM
> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] outboard shifter lever extension
>
> I would definitely like to see a picture please. I’m planning to extend my
> shifter so I would like to have different options to consider.
> Thanks
> Bob Garrant
>  S/v Sail la Vie 2000
> Kent Island, MD
>
> On Sat, May 30, 2020 at 10:17 PM Graham Stewart <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca>
> wrote:
>
> > I expect that different motors might require different shifter extension
> > styles. I made one using PVC plastic conduit. The inside diameter of the
> > conduit fit perfectly over the shifter on the motor. I put a piece about
> 8"
> > over the shifter and then attached it to a 24" piece with a hinge I made
> > using dowel driven into the two parts and then joined with a half lap
> join
> > with a bolt through the center.
> >
> > This arrangement has one feature that is both a pro and a con depending
> on
> > your viewpoint. Because the shifter simply drops over the motors shift
> > lever
> > it does not need to be attached. This makes it easy to remove by simply
> > lifting it up. The fact that it sits over the lever means that it can
> > rotate
> > and that becomes important in my case as otherwise when I make a sharp
> turn
> > the shifter will hit the stern rail thereby restricting maneuverability.
> > Being able to remove the unit is handy when I raise the motor and in
> other
> > situations where the extension can get in your way. Because it is a tube
> it
> > floats if you cap the handle end. The con is that it can come off by
> > shifting forward too vigorously. That happened only once and now I know
> to
> > be less enthusiastic about shifting.
> >
> > I love being able to bring my boat into dock without the indignity of
> > having
> > to hang over the stern rail and peer between my legs to see where I am
> > going. I am just too old for that.
> >
> > It works perfectly for my purposes and cost nothing.
> >
> > I don't have a picture on hand but would be happy to take one if anyone
> > would like to see it.
> >
> >
> > Graham Stewart
> > Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> > Kingston Ontario
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On
> Behalf
> > Of
> > Jesse Shumaker
> > Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2020 5:21 PM
> > To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] outboard shifter lever extension
> >
> > Fortunately, I have a slip this year so it is a lot easier to get on the
> > water.  I've found that maneuvering into a slip requires more precision
> > than
> > coming up to the T-dock which was I was used to last year.  On the T-dock
> > you could often find a place to come up into the wind.  As I mentioned
> in a
> > prior post, my wife is also learning how to skipper as well.  Reaching
> back
> > down to shift between forward / neutral / reverse required turning a
> round
> > to locate and reach the gear shift lever on the outboard.  Some brief
> > searching on "da list" showed that others have found this a challenge.
> > Adding cockpit controls for the outboard is not cheap, so my work around
> > was
> > to add an extension to the shift lever.  I used a 1/2" x 1" piece cut to
> > length.  I can't recall the exact length but if any one else wants to do
> > this they should probably measure on their boat anyway based on their
> > outboard to make sure the lever stays under stern rail when raising the
> > motor.  I attached it with a couple of stainless steel hose clamps.  I
> > painted the lever and added some white electric tape as a handle.  A
> > simple,
> > cheap (and less than elegant) but functional solution.
> >
> > I wouldn't be surprised if others have already done this, but I'm just
> > sharing in case others might find this helpful.  Now I don't have to turn
> > around and bend down to operate the shifter lever.
> >
> > <http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/file/t907/SLE01.jpg>
> > <http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/file/t907/SLE02.jpg>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/
> >
> >
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