Some time ago in the Practical Projects section (see below) there was an item on adding a rudder to an outboard motor fitted with a centrifugal clutch to overcome the lack of steering at low revs. The item suggested fixing a sheet of aluminium onto the shaft using a couple of clamping bands around it.

I have modified this idea for my 2.3hp Honda by forming a curved end to the sheet so that it fits round the shaft and also cutting and bending a lug to allow it to be fastened on using the anode bolts.  As the sheet aluminium was from my scrap pile, there was no cost.

Jim Miller

The original idea:

I have a 2hp Honda outboard which runs well mounted on my Walker Bay 10 tender, but I find that the centrifugal clutch makes the outfit very difficult to control at slow speeds. To steer with the thrust of the prop I need too many revs – and at low revs the clutch often disengages the power.
So I solved the problem with a simple rudder which was attached to the lower leg of the outboard engine. I first made a profile from cardboard matching the profile of the leg, and included a cut-out for the fin, which is important when securing the rudder. I then transferred the shape on to a piece of 2mm thick aluminium plate, cut round the outline and smoothed the edges with a file.
The bracket is no more than a piece of alloy strip bent around the leg and backed with a length of split hose, which offers a positive grip between the two metal surfaces.
The cut-out around the fin secures the rudder from any upward movement as there is a slight taper on the leg.
One stainless bolt holds the whole thing together very firmly and it’s easy to remove when servicing the lower parts of the outboard engine. The tender now steers with very little movement of the tiller and can be manoeuvred even when moving at slow speeds.

David Roberts