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1969 13' -Keep the wheel?

Keep the wheel. 94% [29 Votes] Keep the cash and go with a tiller. 6% [2 Votes] Total Votes : 31

Question for 13' Owners and Users
RyanF	#1  Posted on 02/03/09 - 3:53 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 35 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/02/09	Hello. I recently aquired a 1969 13' sport model. It is solid, but could use some TLC. I purchased the boat with the intent of repowering in with a 20 to 30 hp modern engine. It came with a 1969 40 hp Johnson (which I have not been able to really test -winter in Colorado). The steering cables and control cables look to be origional and are pretty near shot and need to be replaced even if the old engine is kept. I plan to spruce the old girl up this winter; varnish the wood, paint the interior (some spider cracking), spruce up the outside gel coat, etc. Not planning a full origional restoration. The more I think about the project, the more I wonder if wheel steering really make sense for this small of a boat. As you know, remote steering adds significant cost to repower. It seems that the origional cable steering is obsolete now days and would be replaced with push/pull steering. Maybe tiller steering makes sense on a 13' boat? There are more short shaft tiller motor options. What do you guys say? Is remote steering worth it on a 13? Thanks, Ryan -Ryan
Joe Kriz	#2  Posted on 02/03/09 - 4:07 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	I much preferred the wheel on my 13' as opposed to tiller steering.
Mr Whaler	#3  Posted on 02/03/09 - 4:17 PM
Member Posts: 61 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/21/08	I think you will appreciate the wheel more. But the benefit of tiller steering is the fact that you have a little less to bang your knees on. Wheel is definetley worth it in the long run. Rob 1969 13' - 2001 Tohatsu 40hp More Boats than Brains
Joe Kriz	#4  Posted on 02/03/09 - 4:21 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	Rob, Don't forget to vote in the poll at the top of this page. Unless you don't want to vote of course...
Mr Whaler	#5  Posted on 02/03/09 - 4:25 PM
Member Posts: 61 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/21/08	Oh, thanks Joe, I didn't catch that. Rob 1969 13' - 2001 Tohatsu 40hp More Boats than Brains
chrepp	#6  Posted on 02/03/09 - 4:34 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 80 Comments: 4 Joined: 06/02/08	I have had tiller and wheel steering. I like the wheel steering because I don't have to twist my back to steer. If you think that your cables are about shot, you may want to invest in a teleflex wheel setup if you go with wheel steering.
CES	#7  Posted on 02/03/09 - 5:52 PM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	Steering wheel is so much easier to use. Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker
ioptfm	#8  Posted on 02/03/09 - 6:35 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1533 Comments: 3 Joined: 10/28/06	Look at this personal page and you'll get an idea of the 13 with no wheel! http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...r_id=12226 Tom 1979 Sport 15'
breakwaterboatworks	#9  Posted on 02/03/09 - 7:35 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 18 Comments: 10 Joined: 07/12/07	Keep the wheel. I just voted and it's 100% for the wheel. It's just better Eric
RyanF	#10  Posted on 02/04/09 - 7:46 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 35 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/02/09	Okay, the wheel will stay. Thanks for your input. -Ryan
Yiddil	#11  Posted on 02/04/09 - 10:09 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 181 Comments: 2 Joined: 04/29/05	I have a seahorse 35 HP 1981 on my 13 (1964 ) that has both))))
MW	#12  Posted on 02/04/09 - 1:52 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1827 Comments: 10 Joined: 01/08/06	Tiller is less Maint. but, wheel is better, the 13 is a "Hot Rod Row Boat", so ya need a wheel.
kamie	#13  Posted on 02/04/09 - 1:57 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	Not sure this matters but originally Tiller models were limited to 25HP. Go for the wheel
theo	#14  Posted on 02/04/09 - 2:22 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 252 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/26/08	Cable steering is pretty simple - a length of cable, a handfull of pulleys, and a corkscrew on the steering shaft. Maybe you can just fix it instead of upgrading to modern steering. Just a thought.