F15ESHC Need help with conversion from tiller to console & remote

[Dashunde]

Hi all, I picked up a nice little 2004 Lowe MV1462 with a F15ESHC
Its in like-new condition, not sure its past 10 hours yet. The price was right and I think its worth converting to console steering & remote throttle for better balance and visibility. A console will be more comfortable for long cruises.

I'm 230lb, plus engine, fuel and required electric start battery... as-is its real heavy in the rear and requires 2 sandbags in the bow to handle well at all.

It will mostly be a little cruiser for myself, wife & kid on local rivers and smaller calm lakes.
I want the wife and I on the center bench and the little one in the bow. I will add a deck across the 2nd and 3rd bench with storage inbetween and move the battery ahead of the 3rd bench, leaving only engine and fuel at the very rear.
My hopes are that the console, helm, throttle, seats and decking/carpet will weigh around the same as those two sandbags that I'll be able to get rid of with my butt planted on the 2nd bench.

I dont mind spending some money on this particular boat - It fits nicely in my garage - but I do want to avoid wasting money, trial and error, returns, delays and frustration.
So I'm turning to you pro's to help sort out exactly what I need to buy for Yamaha-specific parts start to finish, and make recommendations on a helm and cable set-up.

So far I think I need a 66M-48501-00-00 kit for throttle, choke and shifting, along with a 703 remote, but I'm not sure which 703?

I'm good with my hands and can easily handle putting it all together, but I'm clueless on parts picking for this project.
Thanks so much for all specifics you can provide.

[99yam40]

I am not able to help with all the parts you will need, but that boat does not look like it will be easy to mount a side or center console with steering and controls.

Might look at how other boats are set up before getting in too deep in money spent

[Dashunde]

I'm thinking about using this one from Lowe. I'll make some calls to get a better idea on its fit in my v-hull, but at least its brown and from the same company.
Worst case... I have a Hobart mig with an aluminum feed reel and can make my own console from scratch if I have to.

I'm also considering fabricating a minimalist console out of 3" or 4" square extruded aluminum, or hunting down a small side-mounted console like the one in the attached photo.

Right now the console specifics is my easiest problem, lots of options and I might wait on it until I have all of the corect conversion parts on hand, then fit/select/fabricate the console from there.

[99yam40]

with the 3 seats it does not look like much room for a console, but the pics could be deceiving.

[Dashunde]

Plenty of room for it, I'm just over 6' and my feet dont touch the front bench with my back lined up with the back of the 2nd bench.

Any of you guys know what I need for throttle, cables and conversion parts?
I think I want to skip the choke solenoid, it doesn't appear to be sold as a kit?

I'm ok with lifting the free throttle on the remote, then going back to connect fuel, connect battery, pull choke and press starter button.. it seems to like a little half-choke for the first 20 seconds anyway.
I just want to have fwd/rev and kill switch/dead-man at the remote.

[boscoe99]

Plenty of room for it, I'm just over 6' and my feet dont touch the front bench with my back lined up with the back of the 2nd bench.

Any of you guys know what I need for throttle, cables and conversion parts?
I think I want to skip the choke solenoid, it doesn't appear to be sold as a kit?

I'm ok with lifting the free throttle on the remote, then going back to connect fuel, connect battery, pull choke and press starter button.. it seems to like a little half-choke for the first 20 seconds anyway.
I just want to have fwd/rev and kill switch/dead-man at the remote.

Ask your local Yamaha dealer to let you see a copy of his 2004 outboard rigging guide. It has what you need in there. Mechanical and electrical stuff.

[Dashunde]

Ask your local Yamaha dealer to let you see a copy of his 2004 outboard rigging guide. It has what you need in there. Mechanical and electrical stuff.

Is that rigging guide going to tell me what parts I'd need to convert a tiller over to remote, or just how to rig the right engine for the right application from the start?

I've been looking over the marineengine details for the 2004 F15PLHC and F15PLRC.
It appears there are several kits/assemblies available for the conversion.

[boscoe99]

It will give you a list of the parts that are needed and tells you what needs to be done to make the conversion.

Remove the tiller handle, add some mechanical stuff for the remote control cables, add some electrical stuff, etc.

Now keep in mind it is Yamaha's way of showing someone how to make a conversion from tiller steered to remove steered. Not the best. It is what it is and all that there is.

[bajakeith]

Trust me on this !!

Forget about it...I get a call about one a month on this issue,, and its not worth it.. buy the right boat/motor/trailer for your needs and go BOATING !!

[Dashunde]

If I fished it would be perfect and I'd put up with the lousy visibility, poor weight distribution, and uncomfortable tiller while getting from spot to spot.
But I dont fish, dont even own a rod...

We cruise and goof around, and have much larger I/O's & Seadoo's at a lake 2.5 hours away.

This little Lowe is for use on the smaller rivers and lakes around St Louis. Quick afternoon trips without packing and a long drive.

It was ony $2500, genuinely like new, AND it easily fits in my 3rd car stall without moving anything around to get it out.

I'd be hard pressed to duplicate this boats attributes, in this condition, with a steering wheel, for the $3500 I figure I'll have in it by the time I'm done getting it the way I want for cruising comfort, visibility, balance and improved handling.

[boscoe99]

One more thing about driving from a remote console as to opposed to tiller steering is the noise reduction. There is nothing like having a screaming outboard motor at God only knows how many decibels blasting in your left ear (if you are right handed) to kill your hearing. What??? Huh??? did you say.

Noise was fun as a kid. Guns, outboard motors, cars with nothing but header pipes, airplanes, cherry bombs/M80's, you name it. It has all caught up to me now. Was all that fun worth it? In retrospect, no.

People will sympathize with someone that is visually or physically impaired. With hearing loss you get treated like you are the village idiot.

[Dashunde]

This F15 is fairly quiet compared to a 2-stroke, but your right, the further away the better.

The calls I've made to local dealers have been fruitless, they're not interested in helping.
I suppose I understand why... most people won't make the conversion after they spend time coming up with a parts list, won't buy the parts from the dealer even if they do the conversion, and are really unlikely to use the dealer shop.

Anyone here have access to the 2004 rigging guide and able to snap a few clear photos (or scan) the pages I'd need?

[boscoe99]

Send me your email address again. I lost it the first time.

[Dashunde]

PM Sent Boscoe.
Thanks again.

[boscoe99]

Email sent to you.