How to Measure the Throttle Cable for a Boat

When you need to know how long your boat's throttle cable is, you don't need to take it to the dealer to get the correct size; you can measure it for yourself and keep that money in your pocket. You will need to go to the boat, size the situation up and visualize how the cable gets from the speed control handle back to the rear of the boat and to the carburetor. After that, it only involves making the measurement for real.

• 1

  Measure from the speed control to the gunwale (the top of the side of the boat) with a measuring tape. The cable goes underneath the gunwale. If you're boat has a freestanding center console, measure from the control down to the deck, then over to the side, then up to the bottom of the gunwale.

• 2

  Measure from the point under the gunwale that's directly across from the speed control, along the gunwale to the transom, the "back wall" of the boat where your outboard is mounted.

• 3

  Measure from the point where the transom and gunwale meet, to your engine's throttle.