Auxiliary Outboard steering.?

Question

Just got myself a Bayliner 192 which will be used for inland waterways and tidal work.

The mercruiser 135 fuel consumption is a little too salty for my taste at inland waterway speeds (4mph) as well as the engine having to be kept at just above idle revs for long periods, which is not a good idea.

The solution will be to fit a swim step or transom mounted 8 - 10hp outboard as a back up at sea, and for economical propulsion on the canals and rivers, only using the main engine at times when accurate manouvreing is required.

Question: will the outdrive leg have enough control authority to steer the boat from the helm, acting as a rudder when on auxiliary power?

As stated the main engine would be used for situations requiring accurate manouvres, but would it be enough to steer a course following a meandering river? Power control will be fly by shout to the missus to increase or decrease power to the outboard.

Answer 1

Control is the problem not good in close quarters>>

Answer 2

get your self a Morse single lever control and two cables,other than that you can buy a rudder plate for the out drive if you cant make one.it's fitted to the cavitation plate,you could also put a smaller prop on the main engine drive,how about a electric outboard,

Answer 3

no, it won't answwer to the outdrive as a rudder very well at all

I have seen a set up that let you mount an offset transom mounted outboard and run a bar fro the top of your outdrive to the outboard so that whem you turn your wheel, the outdrive turns and this turns the outboard as well. The only draw back is that the throttle for the outboard would still be controlled at the outboard unless you wanted to go to the trouble of setting up a second set of control cables for it, or the other options is the extender bar for the outboard, this attaches to the existing throttle  on the outboard and gives it more reach so you could operate it further forward, but it would be in the way more than likely.