Hi Bob.

I installed an ONNO skeg in my North Star as a retro fit. I was determined to get my money's worth, so I used the control box arrangement that came with it, but had to cut a rectangle of ply, cut out a mating slot in it, and glue it to the carbon control box supplied in order to get enough depth for a usable fit for the knob.

The arrangement works fine, and looks ok, but it is almost as easy to just make a more attractive one from scratch.

For the knob I cut a one inch length of some nylon rod. You can get it in different diameters and different colours. I play safe with black. The rod I use is just less than an inch in diameter. I drill a hole for the cable through the middle and another for the grub screw through the perpendicular. I just use a stainless steel screw tapped into the nylon to pinch the cable. Try to find a screw with a decent coarse thread.

The control box is a short length of cedar, about an inch and a half wide, an inch deep, and five inches long. A four inch slot is plenty for the ONNO skeg, as it does not need much throw to fully deploy it.

I use my table saw to cut the inside slot in the box. I pass it through many times, all the while adjusting the blade depth, and then finish it off with sandpaper around a broom handle. If you have a one inch half round router bit it would make life a lot easier. ( I must remember to get one sometime ). Then just grind off the outside corners with a sanding disk.

I turn a plug for the ends, cut it in half, and just glue it in.

It is actually easier to cut enough stock length to make a few at the same time. Easier to pass through the saw or the router, and safer.

I just glue the control box on inside the hull with a small fillet. I don't bother glassing over it, inside or out, No need really.

I have also used kari-Tek control boxes. They work quite well, but have bits that stick out a little on the inside of the boat..

Et