PCUK
Well-Known Member
3 reed switches, a small magnet and 3 leds on the dash. Cost about tuppence and shows rudder position, central, port and starboard. (If you're a fan of Goodness, Gracious, Me, then a small aubergine will also be useful)
DIY electronic rudder indicator?
- Thread starter NUTMEG
- Start date
prv
Well-Known Member
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Might be workable with the turks head as a simple system.
Hydraulic is a bit different, as creep would make the turks head wander off centre.
prv
Well-Known Member
Not with six turns lock to lock, I don't think.
The OP's original idea of a tank sender was pretty good, a cast-off Raymarine sender would be slightly better if available (but certainly not worth buying), any old variable resistor would do with a bit of fettling, but at the end of the day Alpha's cheapo Chinese off-the-shelf is the easiest option. With all those possibilities (and more) for a continuous system, why put up with a three-position one?
Pete
TonyBuckley
Well-Known Member
.DownWest
Well-Known Member
My first thought was a simple indicator off the rudder head where the emergency tiller would be fitted at deck level. So a glance astern would clarify the angle. You do have an emergency tiller position? Esp with that rack and pinion system??
NUTMEG
Well-Known Member
Thought of that one. Trouble is the rudder stock is directly under the aft cockpit seat. An indicator there could be a bit uncomfortable!
Yes Rhoda Rose has an emergency tiller but the aft cockpit locker lid must be open to use it.
Is the steering system I have inherited unreliable? Sort of got that impression by your post. Any excuse to worry about the boat!
Yes Rhoda Rose has an emergency tiller but the aft cockpit locker lid must be open to use it.
Is the steering system I have inherited unreliable? Sort of got that impression by your post. Any excuse to worry about the boat!
paul-essex
Well-Known Member
You could use a cable one inner and outer and mark the background behind the end of the inner
prv
Well-Known Member
Not especially. It's more commonly found on smaller outboard-powered boats and the business end by the engine can rust and seize up. Should be reasonably safe from that inside your stern locker.
Pete
NUTMEG
Well-Known Member
Phew. Thanks.
NOHOH
Well-Known Member
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Just that it is not a common system on sailing boats, so I sort of might have implied that it was under specked... No real reason, so apologise for honing your nerves. At least at 6 turns L to L, it can't be very stressed.
NUTMEG
Well-Known Member
Looked at these thanks. The steering wheel is mounted vertically and when sitting at the helm position the hub is down by your knees so not easy to see. My visual impairment is such that I need things placed so I can get really close to see them clearly. Anyway, I think I would knock it off getting in and out!
I have a cheapo Chinese indicator winging its way even as we speak, 2" readout that I can mount on the dash.
Thanks anyway.
DougOut
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, this has been incredibly useful and suddenly ideas are flowing. I'd love a helm indicator up on the dashboard close to my line of sight. Unfortunately there's no room to add an extra gauge without completely reengineering the dashboard. ATM a Tridata takes pride of place. Obviously speed and depth are essential but I've never really worried about sea temperature, does anyone?
All of the data I need is available over the SeaTalk network so my plan (not sure if it's cunning or not!) is to use a spare Raspberry Pi with a NMEA-2000 daughter board to display any info I need onto a water proof, daylight viewing touchscreen. If I could be certain that the RayMarine I70S could display the helm indicator I'd go that route. I asked at the Boat Show and was told Yes but he couldn't display it.
Still I quite fancy messing about with the coding of my own display.
Regards
Doug
All of the data I need is available over the SeaTalk network so my plan (not sure if it's cunning or not!) is to use a spare Raspberry Pi with a NMEA-2000 daughter board to display any info I need onto a water proof, daylight viewing touchscreen. If I could be certain that the RayMarine I70S could display the helm indicator I'd go that route. I asked at the Boat Show and was told Yes but he couldn't display it.
Still I quite fancy messing about with the coding of my own display.
Regards
Doug
wonkywinch
Well-Known Member
I thought you weren't supposed to resurrect old threads until they were at least 10 years old. Computers and the internet have been invented since this thread started 
Refueler
Well-Known Member
If it is just Centre - midships rudder pos'n you want .. then what about a simple contact and small LED indicator light ?
On rudder stock - a small magnet on a short arm .... a relay fixed ahead of stock ... magnet passes over relay - light comes on ...
Nothing fancy ...
On rudder stock - a small magnet on a short arm .... a relay fixed ahead of stock ... magnet passes over relay - light comes on ...
Nothing fancy ...
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Or, since being port or stb, might be an issue, a couple more simple sensors to indicate which side of centre the helm is. Maybe two or three leds each way?
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Not hard to knock up ...
Daverw
Well-Known Member
Our rudder sensor shows on our p70s autohelm display,