Ride Guide steering cable

[Markp80m]

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Redoing a 1981 Exciter OB. Has dual rank-n-pinion steering. There are some older posts on here, but wanted to get up to date resources. My dash helm is all good, cleaned up nice. Bushings good, etc. Want to reuse for originality, and it bolts back in without drilling, cutting. Racks are good too. One cable is good, one bad. Would like to find one NOS if possible. Been watching e-bay. Any other good sources, dealers, owners?
Mine measures 12' for the black plastic casing. But it is stamped 14' 6". If you add the 12' + 30" (for R-n-P) you get 14' 6". So am I looking for a 12", or 15', or, as mine is stamped, 14' 6". No one makes half foot lengths. So I'm a little confused.

Plan B; has anyone done the old steering helm swap to the newer style Teleflex helm? How much customizing is there. A friend gave me a rotary, but will have to alter the dash mounting hole. If I do, I'm committed. I can't go back. Original has a smaller bezel.

Also, adding a 6" set back jack plate. Will the stock cable layout (deck hole) work with the motor back 6", plus raised up? Does anyone have pictures of your set up like this? Being an older boat, EVERYTHING comes out thru that one hole, just right of the motor.

 

[jumbofordman]

I've swapped a new Teleflex tilt helm with dual rack into an 81 Eluder and a 86 Enchanter, it wasn't very difficult at all. That being said, I think I'll go hydraulic if I do another steering swap. I have a few old ride glide cables laying around, I can see if one is the length you need. I'm getting ready to clear out some parts this weekend anyway so I have room to fit my 69 Mustang up under my shelter.

As to the hole in the back of the boat for the steering cable, when I added a second cable to my Predictor I cut a hole in the back of the boat so it would have a better angle and bind the cable less; it was making a funky s-bend trying to use the stock hole. I did the same with my Eluder. On my Enchanter, there was more room in the well for the cables, plus the well is wider, so I was able to use the stock hole.

 

[Markp80m]

Good, thanks. Did some reading up in Scream and Fly, and found that the 14' 6" Ride Guide cables where used in a lot of Checkmate, Baja, and Hydrostream boats. So hoping to find some old ones swapped out, like you did. I know that length works. And I think the original cable routing went right into the right gunnel / transom corner, then straight out to engine. So by moving motor back on jack plate, I can angle them slightly through that corner, and deck hole.

Also found a post in Scream and Fly that swaps out new cables in an old Ride Guide rack helm. (Ride Guides still seem popular, many people looking for cables). I don't have any cables laying around, so have no comparisons. But wondered why no one had tried this. Seems you can, with a little rework on the mounting collar. This may be plan B.

 

[NoNotMe]

Ride guide cables are NLA. There is a firm in Illinois that makes custom cables to fit--any length.

 

[NoNotMe]

never mind--just called them about my cable--no go

 

[Markp80m]

The Scream and Fly post uses new, available, Uflex M86 cables. Believe they are the same as Morse / Teleflex.