Throttle-Shift Question

[systemek]

Hello all. Just jumped back into the rebuild of my A4, which I have posted on Overhaul but I had a basic question regarding throttle and shift levers..... In our Cal29 we have two controls. One throttle and one gear shift. I have never been a fan of this set up, as I don't see any advantage to it, unless you have an unbalanced engine that needs to be throttled up to keep it from stalling. I enjoy when I charter other boats (always diesel) and I can use a single shift and throttle lever. My question is: how (if possible) to convert from my current controls to a single control? and....is my configuration common among the A4 owners? I haven't actually ever been on other boats with A4's other than my own so I am very curious. Thanks!

[Dave Neptune]

Shifter

Ezra, the A-4 is not a good candidate for a single lever control. They are available albeit a bit tough to find today. The nature of the stiff shift into the detent in forward is just to much preassure for a small short lever and smooth easy operation.
When the engine is running properly there is no need to speed it up when putting into gear.

Dave Neptune

[Mo]

hmmm.

Do you have a tiller or binnacle with wheel for steering? On most of the older Edson / wheel steering binnacles, there is a lever for throttle on one side and the gear-box shifter handle on the other. That's actually not bad for operation.
That said, just last year I saw a guy hit another boat while docking...only damage to pride. He was in tight and hit the throttle when he meant to shift...that boat was tiller steering and the controls were down on his left.

I recall there was one guy that rigged / or wanted to rig, what you are talking about on here about 6 or 8 months ago...will try and find a link to that for ya.

[systemek]

Thanks guys....Mine is tiller with the controls on the left as you mentioned. Highly annoying placement and a liability as noted. I have had many crew hit the throttle with their legs as they pass through the companion way, only to make my heart skip a few beats in antipation of repair at sea, which has been a reality more times than I care to remember.....I would be facinated to see how the aforementioned setup was rigged...thanks again for the info....

[ILikeRust]

I have had many crew hit the throttle with their legs as they pass through the companion way, only to make my heart skip a few beats in antipation of repair at sea

Yup.

Mine is down low, on the starboard side, right in front of the companionway. Last time my wife and I were out, she bumped it two separate times, causing the engine to suddenly drop in revs each time. The first time, I went, "What the!?" and got very concerned for just a second before I quickly realized what it was. The second time, she apologized again and we both chuckled as I reached down and just nudged the throttle back up.

I chastized her about being more careful.

And then a little while later, I did it.

I've been pondering where would be a better place to move the gear shift and throttle lever, but can't come up with anything.

[CalebD]

Engine controls

In my 1967 Tartan 27' there is only a shift lever on the stbd side of the cockpit foot well. Our throttle and choke controls are next to the ignition key and recessed into the forward wall of the foot well. The choke and throttle are not levers but push/pull buttons and can also be affected by people moving about.
I'll have to take a photo of this primitive but fairly effective set up.

[systemek]

I would be very interested in seeing that pic. I had the choke and kill switch on the right per the PO, before I reconfigured it by giving it a greater recess. I had the same problem of crew accidently killing the engine. It was about 50/50 crew to A4 failure....equals 50 percent sunset cruises and 50 percent tool box cruises....on a mission to reduce the latter...thanks!

[CalebD]

Not a perfect set up either but ...

We launched our Tartan 27' into the Hudson River today and I remembered to take a shot of our engine controls in the cockpit.
I will say that our set up is probably pretty primitive compared to many but I find it works out pretty well, even with all the feet in the cockpit.

What are the pull knobs called that attenuate our throttle and choke?

The only lever is the gear shift and all the gauges are nearby in that corner of the cockpit.

Pictures, everybody likes pictures.

What is wrong in these shots?

[systemek]

INTERESTING. Thank you for posting these Caleb! That is a set up that I would definitely prefer over ours. On Tumbleweed, the throttle lever is smaller (not by much) and is centered over the shift lever. These pics make me very curious as to how the linkage below decks is configured to the engine. Thanks again!

your RPM is at 5OO but the engine is off?

P.s great boat

[Mo]

CaledB,

That's a pretty boat. Tartan made a good boat for sure.

[ndutton]

What are the pull knobs called that attenuate our throttle and choke?

Bowden cables.

[CalebD]

No one commented on the dirt still left in my cockpit? Still so much to do.

On the T 27' the A4 sits right below where the controls are. All of the attenuating cables (choke, throttle, shift) have a short run to the controls on the engine below.

Yes, our tachometer reads about 500 rpm when the engine is off. The speedo is non-functional but the other engine gauges seem relatively trustworthy once the engine is running. Fairly primitive.

Bowden cables - thanks for that Neil.

Thanks for the compliment Mo.

[ILikeRust]

No one commented on the dirt still left in my cockpit?

You obviously have never seen my boat.

[CalebD]

You obviously have never seen my boat.

I find this a bit surprising Bill. I was under the perhaps mistaken impression that you might be a bit... er, attentive to details. I know you must have great focus to have done the A4 tear down and rebuild that you did, not to mention restoring an oldish boat. I guess all of that only means that you are not afraid of a little dirt.

[ILikeRust]

The boat as a whole still needs plenty o' work. The fact that she's a 90-minute drive away and that I have lots of other demands on my time (and budget) means that a lot of that work is yet to be done and its questionable when, if ever, it might get done.

I concentrated on the engine since it's such a critical and significant component. I figure now that that's mostly squared away, I can start working on some of the other stuff.

One of the big issues with the exterior is that it is a bit weatherbeaten. A lot of the wood on the deck, and the coaming boards, needs to be replaced. Also, the PO painted the topsides and deck, I don't know how many years ago, but I think it was probably 6 or 7 years ago, and the paint is now failing. It's going to be a huge job to sand down the old paint and re-paint. I'm not worrying about it for now.

But as far as a little dirt in the corners of the cockpit? Oh yeah. We've got that.