PLEASE HELP - bad back can I adapt my tiller steer boat to steering wheel?

[ontourf]

Hi everyone

I need some advice. While only mid 40s my back is shot from surgery and plain bad luck with a degenerative spine. Last week I fished for 2 half days on school hols and been laid up for a week in pain from the twisting of the tiller control and twisting with bench seats. Not the first time. My boat is only 3.9m and I use it on bay and rivers for chasing whiting, flatties and occasionally jew on lures and bait.
I was wondering firstly, is there a simple option to add a steering wheel in a centre console to my tinny, then maybe simply adding a swivel seat on bench to support my back, and maybe another two on front bench seat for me and/or passengers. OR, with console/wheel, will I or could I need to cut out the floatation bench seats so I have walk around room, or will this seriously effect the stability of the boat, let alone be quite expensive?
I don't want the cost of a new boat, plus I have my extras already well entrenched on my Quintrex I'd allow me to boat and fish on in less pain with the kids? Any ideas please, and good marine welder who could do suitable job in expensively in Bayside area please?

Skip
Ontour Fishing Club

[ric]

you can buy all you need from a place like bias boating. helm, steering cable, binnacle control and cables. you will just need someone to build you a console. I did exactly what you are talking about to a 4.2m quintrex. put the console ontop of the forward seat.here is a link http://www.biasboating.com.au/Mechan...ring_s/202.htm

[ontourf]

Do you mind posting a pic or PMing me to send a pic please Ric? Presume you added a swivel seat behind the console if on top of front seat as too far back to the back benchseat? Does this limit your passenger and front fishing room? Sounds like an option... Regards

Skip

[ric]

Do you mind posting a pic or PMing me to send a pic please Ric? Presume you added a swivel seat behind the console if on top of front seat as too far back to the back benchseat? Does this limit your passenger and front fishing room? Sounds like an option... Regards

Skip

sorry skip, it was a previous boat and I don't really have any pics. I think you will find standing up will be better for your back that trying to sit down during travel. I added the console because the 4 stroke motor was heavy for the boat and I wanted to move the weight forward. Set your seating up for fishing and aim to stand up during travel.
fishing room wasn't effected at all as all the fishing was done towards the rear. the console was just the right height where you could still cast over the top of the wheel easily.

Your effect on stability can be tested by standing on the boat where you wish to mount your console.(provided your console isn't made out of a really heavy gauge ally) remember you can move your fuel tanks around too.

[ontourf]

Great idea Ric, when I ride on brothers big boat I stand and no probs. Can u recommend someone to do the console work? Your idea could be a life saver here mate!

[Crocodile]

Hello ontourf,
I can empathise, I too am a bad back person, do not let it rule your life!
When I had a tiller tinny I used the following,
A Nada chair, http://www.nadachair.com.au/products.html , holds you in the correct posture, works a treat.
Then I fitted a swivel seat on the seat of the tinny
https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_i...AbsolutePage=1
https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_i...AbsolutePage=1
Then I had an inflatable pillow to absorb a lot of the pounding.
How do you get on with tilting the motor?
I made a lever to tilt the motor effortlessly.
If there is a will there is a way!

[ontourf]

Thanks croc. The swivel seats I'm definitely getting for fishing, but the standing console idea appeals, as long as it means a key start? Pull start is not helping either, maybe added extra Ric?

I love your lever idea, but I'm a numbers man not a engineer/mechanic so any tips or off the shelf ideas very welcome on how to do it?


I feel reinvigorated with Ausfish tonight, after a very long break due to d@ckheads like the idiot who accused me of lying over XXXX island fishing pics last year, with administrators too weak to act on him. Looked at his profile and he had 4-5 people who had experienced the same issue with the meathead.
We should support each other in our great sport, and ensure he meatheads have no place on this forum.


Thanks again for your help.

[ric]

Thanks croc. The swivel seats I'm definitely getting for fishing, but the standing console idea appeals, as long as it means a key start? Pull start is not helping either, maybe added extra Ric?

I love your lever idea, but I'm a numbers man not a engineer/mechanic so any tips or off the shelf ideas very welcome on how to do it?


I feel reinvigorated with Ausfish tonight, after a very long break due to d@ckheads like the idiot who accused me of lying over XXXX island fishing pics last year, with administrators too weak to act on him. Looked at his profile and he had 4-5 people who had experienced the same issue with the meathead.
We should support each other in our great sport, and ensure he meatheads have no place on this forum.


Thanks again for your help.

If you have electric start already on the tiller, you can just move the key up to the console. but on a 3.9m I would guess it would be pull start only - probably have a 20hp or so? so no luck there.
I take it you have a wood floor? your console would need feet on the bottom to bolt the console to.

Bottom line is, unless you are prepared to do some of the work yourself, it will cost you more than the benefit. Remember that being a tiller steer, you are already in the best riding position on the boat, it might pay to invest in better tiller seating, rather than the trouble of forward steering etc.

[ontourf]

Yes Ric, 25hp, tiller steer, pull start and wood floor. Twisting around on the tiller is all part of the problem. So some thinking and talking to marine operators on these sorts of options to do. Cheers.

[ric]

Yes Ric, 25hp, tiller steer, pull start and wood floor. Twisting around on the tiller is all part of the problem. So some thinking and talking to marine operators on these sorts of options to do. Cheers.

buy a seat & a swivel base. you can get ones which clamp onto the existing tinny seats.
then take it to an upholster and get a thicker foam put in the base and backing. You will be able to choose the foaming you want in the seat, get something nice and dense. that will be the cheapest and easier option. you can remove the seat during storage too if you store your boat outdoors.

[ontourf]

Cheers, yes padded seats a must. Got some other thinking to do. Replacing pull start, lifting motor, steering not twisting etc. Thanks for the food for thought.

[cobiaman]

Thanks croc. The swivel seats I'm definitely getting for fishing, but the standing console idea appeals, as long as it means a key start? Pull start is not helping either, maybe added extra Ric?

I love your lever idea, but I'm a numbers man not a engineer/mechanic so any tips or off the shelf ideas very welcome on how to do it?


I feel reinvigorated with Ausfish tonight, after a very long break due to d@ckheads like the idiot who accused me of lying over XXXX island fishing pics last year, with administrators too weak to act on him. Looked at his profile and he had 4-5 people who had experienced the same issue with the meathead.
We should support each other in our great sport, and ensure he meatheads have no place on this forum.


Thanks again for your help.

Dont worry about mister, he's a great source of entertainment for most of us!!!!

[marto78]

How about a tiller arm extension, like this:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Helms...les/699658.uts

And you could either stand up or sit on a swivel seat.

[ontourf]

Like that idea too, had in back of my mind. May lead to less twisting. I'll have a chat to boys at Bias and weight up all these options. Cheers Marto78.

[Crocodile]

Hello All,
I think marto is on the money with the tiller extension.
Make one out of PVC tube, it might help you from twisting to reach the tiller.
You may be able to make a simple console/box/holding-onto bar that will allow you to stand up and steer, watch Swamp People on TV, Cousin Cletus (or Festus or whatever) has a tiller steered outboard of about a 100hp! and a hold-onto bar for standing and steering.

Be careful of over-spending on this project, eg. adding electric start is expensive for what you get.
You may be better off to sell your tinny and get an older style fibreglass half cabin.
Not much extra $$$$ but a huge improvement in comfort for yourself and the kids.
Comfort for a bad back is not just about ride, a more stable boat is for more therapeutic than a giggle-headed 3.9m tinny.