Kicker steering on 228 Seafarer?

Chinookie

Chinookie

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Nov 11, 2024
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Age
66
Location
Seattle WA
Model
Seafarer
Today I mounted a used Yamaha T9.9 extra long shaft kicker onto the kicker bracket that was on the boat when I bought it. When I stepped back and took a look, I suddenly realized that there’s far too much distance between the front of the main 250 hp engine and the front of this kicker. A threaded rod with a ball clasp on each end will not work to tie these two engines together. What are my options for steering? If I locked the kicker in place, and use the main engine as a rudder, I question whether I’ll have enough steering authority. I could sit on the back and steer manually, but then that keeps me from doing what I should be doing. The steering really needs to be done from the helm so that I can work the downrigger’s, etc.
I did not see this problem coming and I’m wondering what the solution is. Anyone found one? Would an L-shaped rod work with a pin on one end and a ball on the other? If someone has fabricated something, I would love a photo. thanks very much fellas.
 
I had the same problem, tried to tie them together and couldn't get it to work. I just steer with the big engine. 95% of the time that works, if I get in a cross wind I have to adjust the kicker to compensate. It's fiddly but the big win is that my autopilot on the big engine means I troll in a straight line.

I did get one of those cheap arm extensions so I don't have to lean so far out of the boat.
 
luckydude said:
I had the same problem, tried to tie them together and couldn't get it to work. I just steer with the big engine. 95% of the time that works, if I get in a cross wind I have to adjust the kicker to compensate. It's fiddly but the big win is that my autopilot on the big engine means I troll in a straight line.

I did get one of those cheap arm extensions so I don't have to lean so far out of the boat.
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Thanks for the reply. When the salmon fishing gets hot here in the sound it can get pretty chaotic and boats get densely packed. I worry if the main as a rudder will let me maneuver quickly. Thinking now of the local Gulfstream 232 with twins that I passed on. Doh!
 
Chinookie said:
Thanks for the reply. When the salmon fishing gets hot here in the sound it can get pretty chaotic and boats get densely packed. I worry if the main as a rudder will let me maneuver quickly. Thinking now of the local Gulfstream 232 with twins that I passed on. Doh!
Click to expand...
That might be an issue. We haven't had a salmon season in the last 2 years but when we did, yeah, there is a fleet. I tend to fish away from the fleet, the salmon tend be at the edges of canyons and we have plenty here. I will fish in the fleet if it is off the charts, then I, or someone I trust, is near the kicker. A 228 isn't that big, it's pretty easy to get to the kicker. You just need to discuss with your crew so you can yell "hard port!" and someone will make that happen.

If you passed up a gulf stream for a 228, um, what were you thinking? A gulf stream is a definite upgrade. There is a guy on here who has had something like 17 different Gradys and he said the 232 was his favorite. Don't get me wrong, I love my 228, but if I could get a 232 down my road, I'd own one.
 
Agreed, the 232 is a very fine boat and this one was nice. I passed on it for two reasons. First and foremost was trailering. I don’t keep my boat at a marina and I haul it through thick Seattle trafficeach time I go fishing. The Gulfstream requires an oversized permit to be legal. That permit is only good for state highways. DOT explained to me that I would have to study the oversized reqts and possibly get permits for each of the streets on the way to the marina. If I didn’t do that, and there was an accident, my insurance company would likely happily walk away from covering me. Yeah, it’s only 9 inches oversized, but it gave me headaches thinking about it.
The second thing is that running a four stroke kicker is so fuel efficient that it makes fishing cheap. I didn’t like the idea of trolling with a single 150hp 2 stroke motor and the other is shut off. It would be stinky and fuel inefficient.
I have to come up with a way to get kicker steering!
 
I had someone fabricate a bar for me for the 226 and it worked with no issues. I’ll see if I can find a pic. As far as a 228 I highly recommend auto pilot! I had a Garmin TR1-gold. That too worked even better!
 
luckydude said:
I had the same problem, tried to tie them together and couldn't get it to work. I just steer with the big engine. 95% of the time that works, if I get in a cross wind I have to adjust the kicker to compensate. It's fiddly but the big win is that my autopilot on the big engine means I troll in a straight line.

I did get one of those cheap arm extensions so I don't have to lean so far out of the boat.
Click to expand...
By the way, I am following your pilot house thread with interest. If I suspend the belief that the Grady is the most thought out well designed fishing boat ever, and stand back, the design has a ridiculous number of obstructions that impede visibility and offer less than desirable element protection because the windshield doesn’t come up high enough. What you are doing is pretty cool.
 
Chinookie said:
By the way, I am following your pilot house thread with interest. If I suspend the belief that the Grady is the most thought out well designed fishing boat ever, and stand back, the design has a ridiculous number of obstructions that impede visibility and offer less than desirable element protection because the windshield doesn’t come up high enough. What you are doing is pretty cool.
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Thanks. I'm pretty happy with it, my main goals were visibility and 3 sided protection and it achieves those. At a pretty steep cost, so I sort of understand why Grady doesn't do these. Though I bet that hardtop adds $15K to the price of the boat, this would be about $10K more than that. If they had offered my pilot house for $10K more I would have absolutely ponied up the money.
 
Here is what I did a removable L shape threaded rod works well very responsive in making turns. If you can, post a picture of your setup. In reference to the pilot house. I fish with Luckydude and yep the visibility in his pilot house is amazing.
 

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Don Davis said:
I went with the Seastar kicker cable tie bar setup on my 228, perfect solution.

SeaStar Kicker Cable Tie Bar - Outboard Steering - SeaStar Solutions® Marine Catalog DOMETIC® Marine (p. 65)

www.marineengine.com www.marineengine.com
Click to expand...

So pushing my 250 around with sea star is not the easiest. I tried loosening the bolt that makes it sticky and that turned out to be a mistake, then it was too easy to move the big engine and currents would move it around and the auto pilot goes into something called shadow drive, it thinks you want to take over steering the boat so it disables autopilot for a bit.

What I'm wonder is if using seastar to move both engines requires more force at the steering wheel.

Thanks, it looks great.
 
Chinookie said:
Today I mounted a used Yamaha T9.9 extra long shaft kicker onto the kicker bracket that was on the boat when I bought it. When I stepped back and took a look, I suddenly realized that there’s far too much distance between the front of the main 250 hp engine and the front of this kicker. A threaded rod with a ball clasp on each end will not work to tie these two engines together. What are my options for steering? If I locked the kicker in place, and use the main engine as a rudder, I question whether I’ll have enough steering authority. I could sit on the back and steer manually, but then that keeps me from doing what I should be doing. The steering really needs to be done from the helm so that I can work the downrigger’s, etc.
I did not see this problem coming and I’m wondering what the solution is. Anyone found one? Would an L-shaped rod work with a pin on one end and a ball on the other? If someone has fabricated something, I would love a photo. thanks very much fellas.
Click to expand...
I have a liquid tie bar on my boat, it ties the system together with a simple turn of a small valve, works great and is very fast to engage disengaged. This is the third boat I’ve had with it, very happy
 
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