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Kinda piggybacking on your post here for anyone else interested in steering options...

I just replaced the steering setup in our 1970 17' whaler with a side console,
the cable housing had cracked and bent,
and the box was getting sloppy.

It took a while to study the options online,
and ended up getting a 14' planetary style rotary unit by Pretech off eBay.
It's a competitor to Teleflex made in S. Korea,
(not sure where Teleflex is made!)
and it's a great quality unit regardless of the cheap cost (109 + 15 shipping)

The rotary box is the most compact unit compared to the reduction gear and rack and pinion style.
It is very tight compared to the worn out original.
The catch is the cable housing is silver not black,
although it would match Yamaha control cables.
The main drawback to planetary is supposedly the multiple gears could wear out quicker,
but for a c-note the cost per year should be minimal.

The installation took maybe 30 minutes,
although I rushed it and put it in reverse...
I copied the rotary box cable insert which used the lower hole,
opposite of the rotary style.
It took another 10 minutes to change it on the water!
Doh!!
Very sketchy feeling!
Make sure to check even if you think you are right!

Anyway here's more detail if anyone is interested...
http://perichbrothers.blogspot.com/2016/07/whaler-resto-pt-xix-just-add.html

TP