[Rhodes22-list] outboard shifter lever extension

[Graham Stewart]

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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