quote FrankR:
After years of dealing with the cable length question, I have concluded that the best way is lay a cable in the boat and see how it fits. Next best way is lay something else in the boat, be it rope, heavy wire like a piece of Romex, or whatever you have. Right now, I can’t remember if OMC cables are measured trunion to trunnion or end to end, not including the wire that sticks out. I’m thinking it is trunnion to trunion. Trunnion is the knob thingy that attaches the cable housing to the control and motor.
Agreed. An old cable is best because it gives a sense of what happens at the corners. Other items that work are a drain cleaning snake or an electricians fish tape.
On the boat I’m rigging now, when the motor is fully tilted, the cable is bent excessively where it comes out of the motor because the splash pan is pretty high. Not sure how common this is.
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