i am in the process of building my second boat. my first boat i sold just after i built it(it was not big enough for the motor i got a good deal on). i am too big and clumsy to stand up in any boat underway(that is not figuring in the drinking factor) on my first boat i installed stick steering. cables and pulleys. only took it out once and it seemed to work well. how come i have never seen it on any surface drive motors? would there be a problem with that type of steering system.

Well the best steering systems use hydrolics to get the smoothest operation
and the most mechanical advantage - or power to turn the motor...

IDK - if you could get enough leverage or range of motion with stick steer
and would worry bout it getting hung up on a tree limb and puttin you
on the bank - just speculating though... Only ever drove one stick steer
and it was on a narrow bass boat with a small outboard in the 25hp range
and it was a bit strange feeling but worked in that rig... Doesn't seem
to me like a workable design for MM applications - except slow moving
like maybe while bowhunting or such in "easy water" but not mud...

It's not a good idea!! Even with regular steering gor a boat ain't good!! You can use a no feedback or hydraulic!! I had a no feedback and it was still hard!! Hydraulics is the best route!!

nothing in the budget for hydraulics plus i don't want a center console. i guess it is what i am used to on my mud boat(14' with a 24hp inboard).. with the stick on the surface drive it had a good range of motion probably better than a tiller handle. it took a little muscle to turn sharp at speeds didn't seem to be that big of a deal.. should have this boat up and running in a few weeks.

Regular teleflex steering will work fine. I have that on my side console boat now. My only concern is the steering wheel. I have heard mine crack more than once. I will b going 2 hydraulic steering wif a metal steering wheel soon.