Typhoon Outboard Motor Question

[ty3]

How do you Ty owners control the direction when leaving and entering a marina slip? My OB is an old Merc 4.5 hp and I have wondered if an extension on the motor handle might make docking her easier? Seems I'm pretty far back on the transom in order to get to the motor handle which then makes access to the tiller pretty difficult.

Appreciate any guidance you can provide, thanks.

Ty3

[robwm]

I have the same issue with my CD22. Juggling the outboard stick and the tiller while reaching backwards or trying to find a good sitting spot with the backstay and the mainsheet tackle is in the way makes things difficult when navigating into/out of the marina's sometimes narrow slip. Looking forward to some brilliant solutions in the responses you get ...

Robert

[mgphl52]

I would suggest getting a god canoe paddle. Don't try to motor all the way into the slip. Just get close and coast and/or paddle into the slip. With a Typhoon this is a cake walk! I used to do the same with my CD25, except I sailed into the marina, dropped the head sail, un-cleated the mainsail and took the halyard to the cockpit. Once I thought I could coast to the slip, I'd drop the main. If I missed judged, the trusty canoe paddle got me there.

[PortTack]

Perhaps there are issues with this method that I haven't discovered yet, but I just leave my outboard locked in one position, and steer with the tiller like normal... most outboard either have a tiller lock or some screw/other way to increase the turning tension.

[s2sailorlis]

Sometimes I find securing the tiller athwart and steering with the motor on my CD22 works best in tight spots. I have to back into my slip between 2 other boats as our marina uses Froghooks to secure to my transom. At slow speed, and judiciously giving the throttle a kick here/there in forward or reverse seems to work for me.

[MHBsailor]

That's one of the reasons why I have a Typhoon Senior - where the outboard is mounted in the lazarette compartment. When I need to maneuver in tight areas (e.g., crowded mooring field) i loosen the friction lever on the outboard and move both the sailboat tiller and the outboard tiller in tandem which makes a big difference in reducing the turning radius. When I am done maneuvering, a quick twist and the friction lever keeps the outboard pointed straight again.

[ty3]

Thanks for your responses. Locking the OB motor in place and just steering w tiller seems to make the most sense.

Really appreciate the feedback!

Ty3

[wikakaru]

How do you Ty owners control the direction when leaving and entering a marina slip? My OB is an old Merc 4.5 hp and I have wondered if an extension on the motor handle might make docking her easier? Seems I'm pretty far back on the transom in order to get to the motor handle which then makes access to the tiller pretty difficult.

When I need to maneuver my Typhoon in tight quarters I sit on the aft deck, like so:

IMG_4322.JPG

It is easy to swing the outboard around to turn any way I want, and I can easily reach the throttle and shifter. I can spin the boat in its own length this way. It's way more maneuverable than just steering with the boat's rudder.

If I have to motor any kind of distance, then I sit on a couple of throw cushions at the aft end of the port seat and steer with the boat's tiller and rudder like so:

IMG_0301.JPG

Smooth sailing,

Jim