Can you use your autopilot to lock the rudder?

Kelpie

Kelpie

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Thought this would be a simple question but I've been unable to find an answer in the manual.
I have a Raymarine direct drive autopilot. Is there a way of setting it up so that it can lock the rudder in a fixed position? I've been lashing the wheel to achieve the same thing but it's a bit of a pain, and you are left with a little play in the system, which on a bumpy night translates into noise as the autopilot ram slides in and out. Seeing as it's right underneath our berth it's not ideal!
 
I’m not aware of a way to tell the system to do that.

If you’re determined to try it, you could add a switch that applies 12v to just the clutch input, which will connect the ram to the gearbox; I don’t know how easily the gearbox backdrives, if at all. Might be best to wire the switch so that it disconnects the clutch from the pilot as well as connecting power, just in case the pilot doesn’t like having 12v fed back up its output.

Pete
 
No clutch at the wheel, I'm afraid.
It's a rod steering system and even with the wheel tightly lashed, which itself is pretty hard to do, there is just enough play left in the system to allow some movement and noise in the AP ram.

There is a bit in the manual about 'jog steering' which sounds promising, but I could be misunderstanding it.
 
What PRV said.
I got that from Raymarine themselves. Reason being I had an FP Pajot (of the osmosis fame) where the outdrive was behind the rudder! When manourvering and applying lots of reverse to pivot, the wheel used to kick something rotten.
 
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Tomahawk said:
What PRV said.
I got that from Raymarine themselves.
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That's interesting - I did wonder whether it was ok mechanically to have the rudder clutched in and pushing against a non-running gearbox and motor. I thought it probably was, but you're confirming that Raymarine agree?

Pete
 
The autopilot on my last boat was pretty crummy and dragged on the wheel most of the time. I'm sure the new owner of the boat would be pleased to sell it to you unless he has fixed it.

Or better still, you could use the brake that is fitted to most steering pedestals? They usually screw in and brake on the chain or are concentric with the wheel and screw out to jam the wheel. Is this an option to you?
 
scruff said:
Have you tried lashing the wheel to hard over / full extent of the ram? That my have less play than straight ahead
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I haven't tried lashing it at full lock, but did find it made a lot less noise centred vs somewhat off to the side.

guernseyman said:
Have you tried turning the auto pilot off?
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It was off at the time. The noise was overnight whilst trying to sleep...

langstonelayabout said:
Or better still, you could use the brake that is fitted to most steering pedestals? They usually screw in and brake on the chain or are concentric with the wheel and screw out to jam the wheel. Is this an option to you?
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No brake on my setup, and it's a rod linkage rather than chain/cable.



The night that the noise made itself apparent, we were moored on a buoy when the wind swung through the night to an exposed direction. There was a steep shore just behind us so although the wind wasn't all that strong, and I had no fears about the safety of the boat, the reflected waves were very confused and the motion caused the rudder to move side to side a bit. This wasn't a big deal, but the (disengaged) AP ram was moving in and out a little bit, and being right underneath our berth the noise didn't improve our night's sleep at all!


I was really hoping to use the AP as a rudder lock for two reasons- one is to cut the noise if we find ourselves in a similar situation, and secondly as we are fitting a Hydrovane we will need a way of locking the rudder, and ideally not just centralised.

With tillerpilots you can just set the ram to the right length, and then switch off. I was hoping that a more advanced AP would allow me to do something similar.

I'm still curious about the 'jog steer' function- can anybody shed any light on what this does?
 
Kelpie said:
I'm still curious about the 'jog steer' function- can anybody shed any light on what this does?
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As a general term, it lets you move the rudder directly with some kind of knob, buttons, or joystick commanding the autopilot ram, but not “piloting” as such (ie it doesn’t follow a heading etc, only moves according to your command). I’m not familiar with this function on Raymarine pilot systems, though that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

They used to offer a Seatalk joystick that I think could be used in this mode, but as far as I know it was discontinued without replacement some years ago.

Possibly the pilot head aimed at motorboats, with the rotary knob, can do it? It’s typically more of a motorboat function.

Selecting jog mode and then not steering would presumably hold the rudder in place and do what you need - but all it would be doing is energising the clutch and not the motor, which you can do with a simple switch and a bit of wire as I suggested back up the thread.

Pete
 
The AP head I have does have the jog steering function, however I haven't had a chance to try it out as I only started looking into this the other day after we had finished our cruise.

It sounds promising, although it would be nice not to have to expend any amps running the AP when using the Hydrovane, and indeed when moored up overnight. But as an easy and instant solution, it could be good.
 
I would have expected it to hold the rudder locked with the AP in its standby mode as this would as said just hold without any heading adjustment.
 
Daverw said:
I would have expected it to hold the rudder locked with the AP in its standby mode as this would as said just hold without any heading adjustment.
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Standby mode is what you use when you take over steering manually, so no it doesn't lock the rudder.
 
Sorry I forgot it also releases the clutch, on the tiller ram it would hold the tiller. Breaking into the clutch wiring as suggested may be an option
 
Any way of clamping a section of rod linkage? You would have to remember that you had done it though!
Donald
 
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