|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Tiller Assist Options
I've been researching available options for a tiller assist solution for my Merc 75. I can find only two options:
UFLEX Zero Torque - this used to be Titan system owned by Mercury and sold to UFLEX. I've seen this one at a boat show and it looks fantastic and would be perfect for my needs. The problem is it's pricey and doing it myself would be a PITA. From what I've learned, I'd have to remove the tiller handle and send that in to the UFLEX people. They'd fit the kit into the handle. I would need to buy new throttle and shift cables because the existing cables would be too short after the retrofit. The guy I spoke to said reinstalling the handle and unit isn't too difficult. All in, I'd be at around $1350 for the kit, $100 for shipping, maybe another $100 for the cables. Tiller Assist - This kit sells for $1350 and looks simple to install. No retrofitting into the handle. The only problem with this kit is the foot pedal you press to lock the motor in place. Let off to steer, press to lock. Whereas the UFLEX unit is all built into the handle - press/pull to steer, relax to lock. I know a lot of people love the UFLEX/Titan unit, but has anyone installed one of these themselves? I'm pretty handy with a wrench, but I'd be a bit nervous removing the handle and mailing it in then reassembling the whole works with new T/S cables and all. How about the Tiller Assist unit - can anyone speak to using this kit and using the foot pedal to engage the lock. It just seems kind of kludgey. I appreciate your opinions.
__________________
Lund Impact 1875 Merc 150 |
Sponsored Links | ||
Advertisement | ||
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Have you talked to John about the Tiller Assist? I think he has another option other then foot control but he would be the one to answer that.
Fishinfreak (Aaron) from this site and In-Depth has one he uses with his E-Tech. He likes it. Send him a message. I'm 90% sure I'll try one on my Skeeter / 115 hp Yamaha this summer.
__________________
Is life without laughter worth living? |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
I haven't yet spoken with John. Their Facebook page shows a push button option mounted into the end of the handle. It only shows it for Yamaha. I don't see any mention of it on their website. I have a call in to John.
__________________
Lund Impact 1875 Merc 150 |
Sponsored Links | ||
Advertisement | ||
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
You can search the world over and not find a nicer guy.
__________________
Is life without laughter worth living? |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Tiller assist is a great option!
Call John and he will answer all your concerns! He has other options than the floor button!
|
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Just thought I'd post an update after speaking with John. I had seen a pic on their FB showing a Yamaha with a push button at the end of the tiller handle, also there's a Youtube vid showing a trigger-type mechanism you activate with your finger with your hand on the throttle. Either of those options looked good to me. However, the only available option is the foot pedal. John explained that he tried to use both of the options mentioned on the throttle, but it just gets too cumbersome to control the throttle, trim, and TA with one hand.
I did see another Youtube vid that shows the foot pedal mounted to the port side of the boat. That's a little different than I was picturing in my head. I imagined a cord with a button at the end that would be loose somewhere on the floor. Now that I see how he had it mounted on the Backtroller Avid on the vid, it makes a little more sense and I think it'd be intuitive. Probably not as nice as simply pushing or pulling the handle, but good enough. I think one of these just might be in my future. My tiller is only a 75, so it's not too bad for torque. I don't have any issue with getting up to plane or cruising WOT when the water's calm. The only issue I have is battling waves, especially cross waves. I was battling 3 footers heading home across LS last year and had to stop twice to give my arm a break and finally had to have someone else take the helm.
__________________
Lund Impact 1875 Merc 150 |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
I've got the Tiller Assist from John. I was a bit skeptical of the push button as well, but after using it one time, I was totally sold. It's so easy. I've got it on the sidewall of my boat. I can run the boat very simply, even in the big waves, and I do run in the big stuff.
I would definitely recommend it, and you can't find a better dude than John Thelen to take care of you. Here's a review of my first experiences with it from 2 falls ago: https://www.walleyecentral.com/forums...d.php?t=583497 Let me know if you've got questions.
__________________
Aaron Cavanaugh Rogers, MN |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
I put the uflex system on a buddies boat last spring, pretty easy to do, took less than 2 hours and by far is the best on the market hands down. To hold your foot on a button to lock the steering in mo opinion would be a pain in the ***, If you have merc its a no brainer to go uflex, the uflex acts exactly like the power steering by mercury, very very smooth, no buttons to hold, push just steer the thing.
Last edited by hoytshooter; 03-08-2018 at 08:11 AM. Reason: needed to add more info |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Years ago, when the Titan was first introduced - maybe even a little pre-intro - Titan came to the WC get-together on Winnie. They offered to install the Titan system on the boats of anyone that wanted to try it out on their boat for the weekend. I watched them install a couple of them that day - it was not a hard process to pick up on after watching it. Most challenging would be the small subtle adjustments on the hydraulic micro-valves in the tiller handle. A very small adjustment on the screw would change it from complete lock-up to just leaking a little fluid through the micro-valve. But it was not "hard" at all. I was confident I could install one myself after I watched them do it one afternoon.
They didn't take any of the demo units off the boats that tried them that day. They all purchased the unit at the discounted rate setup for the WC get-together. The people I knew that bought that day, were all extremely happy. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
This is a hard story to shorten, so bear with me. I believe I was at the WC GTG that Burr mentioned, and shortly thereafter started a relationship with the Mertens team, as I had one of the first production Big Tiller handles that Mercury sold to the public.
The "original" Titan system, as was sold for Yamaha's, Evinrude's and Suzuki's, placed the actuator between the tiller handle and the outboard, and used the entire length of the tiller handle as a fulcrum. Mertens first developed the Titan for BT using the same concept as the Mercury power-steering system, in that ONLY the twist-grip pivoted, so the actuator was placed inside the BT handle. After using the rear-actuator systems, I immediate hated the internal actuator, pivoting twist grip Titan system, and told them so. I felt it was so much easier to pivot the entire handle, rather than just my wrist. So, a few weeks later, a rear-actuator system for the BT handle was created, which I used for the next 3-4 years, on a 75hp Optimax. Fast-forward to 2015 or so, Mertens sells Titan to Uflex, which decided to return to the internal actuator, pivoting twist-grip design. If you're uncomfortable with the installation, maybe take a trip to see Frank Gailoretto (spl?) at Rock River Marine in Edgerton WI, he is the master of installing these, and has been working with Mertens well before I arrived on the scene. HRG
__________________
"I've got a car with a trailer hitch, and a pocket full of money. Do you want to sell that boat today, or not?" My Mentor, Bill Michalek, circa 1975 |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|