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Bob On This
USA
174 Posts |
 Posted - 08/11/2009 : 3:39:39 PM
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Has anyone done, or even seen a need for a rudder position indicator?
I have seen the little stick on ones for the wheel hub, but having two stations with hydraulic steering, these won't work.
Need a position sender (potentiometer) on one rudder tiller and a couple gauges (upper and lower helm).
Maybe I'm over thinking the darn thing. How hard is it to tell the rudder position as you begin to back down?
Thanks
Bob
Diver Down
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TURIZZIANI
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2009 : 4:02:43 PM
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The Helm on my 1974 Montery has one built in, however I find that a ring of tape on top of wheel when on center works real well....I used red electrical tape
Brian |
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Rockmeister
USA
307 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2009 : 07:19:45 AM
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Have REALLY been trying to be good here...
Couldn't do it...  lol
Ummmmmmm...
On my boat, if the rudder is to port, I tend to go to port, to starboard, I tend to go to starboard...
Your boat may be different from mine somehow... 
lol
On a more serious note, mine is cable operated with one helm station.
The wheel has a zero indicator built in, but I have only used it a couple of times, haven't really seen a need for it.
Not sure I understand a need for it?
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
Western Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
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TURIZZIANI
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2009 : 07:43:18 AM
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Mine also turn the same as Rock's..............the only reason I mark mine is I like to know when centered for docking with the twins I don't touch the wheel after bringing centered just use the trans and a touch of throttle if needed...
Brian |
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Bob On This
USA
174 Posts |
 Posted - 08/12/2009 : 11:18:48 AM
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Rock, you are a funny man
and, I have yet to drive the boat, so I'm not sure if right is right??
The real reason is during slow maneuvering, as Brian stated, there is not need to use the rudders, and they have little effect doing dead slow , in forward. Now, going in reverse they have a different effect altogether. So knowing the rudders are straight before going into reverse could be helpful.
Brian, having two helms and hydraulic steering, means if you turn the wheel in the lower station, the upper wheel does not turn, so any indicator on the wheel will not work.
Oh well, I'm not going to worry too much about it if you guys think it unnecessary.
Bob
Diver Down |
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monterey74
USA
51 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2009 : 3:05:33 PM
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I have been looking for a rudder position sensor myself but like Rock am not sure there is a real _need_ for it. I thought about putting the rudder angle data onto my NMEA 2000 network so it could be displayed on my chart plotter.
Quite often I am left guessing how the rudders are positioned when operating at very low speeds and I usually just count the number of turns from full port or full starboard to estimate the center. I know that rudder angle sensors are common on boats with auto-pilot and analog resistive sensors like the VDO 66-440003 can be had for about $65. To digitize the angle data from a resistive sensor there is the Maretron RAA100 but with its price of over $160 (plus the $65 for the actual sensor) it makes me think that I should just go on counting turns on my wheel.. |
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stevenp
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2009 : 11:36:42 PM
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I just straighten everything out while I'm motoring through the marina on my way back to my slip, then I switch to transmission-only before the final approach. As long as you don't touch the wheel after you've straightened out you'll be ok.
Silver Beaches, 1986, 28' Mariner |
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Jimbo Song
236 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2009 : 2:17:52 PM
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Comedians! Why are all Mariner and Voyager owners comedians? 
Like one above, I put a piece of orange tape on the top of my steering wheel. But, even at that I never use it or see the need for it. When underway I only pay attention which way the boat is going and react accordingly. In close quarters I drive it with the gear shifts and throttles and seldom touch the wheel.
I can think of lots of other places to spend that money.
Bob
1987 Carver Voyager 28
"Jimbo Song"
Palm Coast, FL |
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Topic |
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Rudder position indicator
