The Basics: How to Rig an Outboard


Installing an outboard (“rigging” in marine industry speak) involves not only bolting the outboard to the transom, but can also include connecting the steering system, wiring harnesses, throttle and shift controls, and instrumentation. 

This issue of the Boaters’ Log is an overview of what goes into rigging a new boat, so even if you don’t tackle the job yourself, you’ll at least know what you’re talking about. 


The Power

The outboard must be the proper horsepower for the boat, based on the manufacturer’s recommendation on the capacity plate, and be the correct shaft length (15, 20, 25, or 30 inches) for the boat’s transom height.

WARNING – Do not install an outboard with more horsepower than stated on the capacity plate on the boat. If the boat doesn’t have a capacity plate, contact the manufacturer to determine the maximum horsepower rating for the vessel.


Placement

An outboard is mounted on the center of the transom, in line with the keel or centerline of the boat, and is usually secured to the transom with four stainless steel bolts. The bolt holes are caulked with marine sealant to prevent water from seeping into the transom’s core.  Very large outboards may require six bolts, while very small outboards may not require any at all, as they are usually clamped to the transom using the screw-style clamps integral to the bracket.

Outboard height – where the propshaft is located in relation to the bottom of the boat – is critical, because if the outboard is too high, the propeller can ingest air from the water’s surface and lose its grip (ventilate). Or, if the outboard is too low, the prop and gearcase will be farther below the boat bottom than necessary, creating excessive drag and resulting in poor performance and handling.

A rule of thumb is to install the outboard so the anticavitation plate (horizontal flat metal part at the top of the gearcase) is even with the bottom of the boat. This setup should work well on most pleasure boats with moderate horsepower engines.



Steerage
There are three types of steering systems currently available: single cable steering for mid-size engines on boats capable of modest speeds, and either dual cable steering or hydraulic steering setups on high horsepower/high speed applications. Hydraulic steering systems are most common in applications 150hp and up.

As the outboard is being installed, the steering cable(s) will probably be fastened to the outboard before it’s bolted to the transom, because on many boats the outboard well opening isn’t wide enough to allow the steering cable(s) to be attached with the engine in place.

However, hydraulic steering components can be usually added after the outboard is attached to the boat (flexible hoses instead of cumbersome cables), simplifying the rigging process immensely.


Wiring

A Yamaha outboard’s wiring system is made of three basic sections: a pair of heavy-gage cables to conduct battery voltage to the engine and charging voltage from the engine to the battery; a main wiring harness (harness=bundle of wires) that connects the outboard to the remote control box and ignition switch; and an instrument harness that sends information from sensors on the outboard and in the boat to the gauges in the dashboard.


Instrumentation

You have a choice from two types of instruments: analog or digital. 

Analog gauges haven’t changed a great deal in decades, requiring that each gauge be hard-wired to its individual sending unit, as well as to a power source. These traditional instruments work pretty well and aren’t particularly expensive. However, since analog gauges need so many dedicated wires and connectors, the opportunity for failure over extended periods of time can be high.

Digital instruments use the outboard’s engine management computer to process information from the various sensors (boat and outboard) and display the outputs almost instantaneously. Wiring these high-tech devices is simply a matter of plugging sensor leads into a central wiring harness –digital really does mean plug-and-play. Given the versatility of integrated microprocessor circuitry, each digital gauge is capable of performing multiple functions, allowing boaters to fine-tune the readouts – showing what is important to them and hiding what isn’t.

Granted, digital gauges cost more up front, but the payoff can more than offset the initial investment.


Remote Controls

With the exception of tiller-steer outboards (where the throttle and shift controls are on the handle), your new Yamaha outboard needs a remote control box – a unit that often incorporates an ignition switch, an engine stop switch, and throttle and shift functions.

In addition to the main wiring harness (from the outboard to the remote control box), the throttle cable and shift cable will need to be attached to the throttle/shift handle near the driver’s seat on one end, and to the throttle and shift linkages on the outboard at the other end.


Pre-Rigging

Routing wires and control cables throughout a boat can be a daunting task, that’s why many manufacturers install the wiring harnesses and cables as the boat is being assembled, a process known as “pre-rigging”. For example, if a builder knows a certain series of boats will be using Yamaha outboards, those boats will be pre-rigged with Yamaha controls, wiring and instruments to speed up the process when it comes time to mount the engine. 


As You Can See …

There is more to rigging a boat than hanging an outboard on the transom; it’s a lot of work that most of us aren’t equipped to do.

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