Rudder angle guage. Useful or not?

[pcatterall]

I understand that a rudder angle gauge is an ( expensive ) option to go with our wheel pilot but always though it was too expensive to bother with.
I now see some cheap options ( yes..from China!) which made me think again.

Occasionally while trying to encourage our long keeler to our stern to mooring, my elderly brain gets confused as to just how much rudder we have on! ( the wheel is small with several turns from lock to lock).

Do others find that a rudder angle gauge is useful?

 

[Hoolie]

It is, even though the wheel has its centre-line marked. I can cope well enough without, but some crew members (naming no names) struggle to know where the rudder is pointing

 

[Amphitrite]

I sailed quite a bit on large gaff schooners, and they all had a rudder angle gauge - was essential with approx 40 turns of the wheel from hard port to hard starboard.

 

[Bathdave]

I find mine one of the most useful bits of kit on the boat, especially when reversing or spinning the boat in a confined space

 

[LadyInBed]

My autopilot indicates the rudder angle, it's most useful.

 

[Blue Sunray]

My autopilot indicates the rudder angle, it's most useful.

ditto

 

[Momac]

I find mine one of the most useful bits of kit on the boat, especially when reversing or spinning the boat in a confined space

So do I.
It was an unexpected bonus on my present boat .

 

[NormanS]

My previous boat, with nine turns of the wheel from hard over to hard over, didn't have a rudder indicator, but my present boat, with a mere couple of turns of the wheel, does have one. Now I really know what I was missing for all these years. Very useful when manoeuvering at close quarters.

 

[guernseyman]

I don't much care what direction my rudder is pointing: I'm more interested in which direction the boat is pointing.

 

[Blue Sunray]

I don't much care what direction my rudder is pointing: I'm more interested in which direction the boat is pointing.

However most of us don't need a gauge for that.

 

[Concerto]

On my yacht I have a built in rudder angle indicator - its a tiller!

Strange on all the wheel steered yachts I have sailed on, not one had a rudder indicator.

 

[PCUK]

I had a simple DIY indicator to show when the wheel was centred. A reed switch and magnet connected to a light on the dash. Cost about £2.

 

[Bob_Ranft]

Find the rudder angle on auto pilot very useful to gauge weather helm, both in auto and when hand steering. If angle is hitting 5 degrees or over, we try to balance sails to reduce weather helm. Helps us.

Bob

 

[Neeves]

Find the rudder angle on auto pilot very useful to gauge weather helm, both in auto and when hand steering. If angle is hitting 5 degrees or over, we try to balance sails to reduce weather helm. Helps us.

Bob

+1 - though we try to get the rudder at zero.

Jonathan

 

[BrianH]

My Raymarine wheel pilot has a rudder indicator at the bottom of the head instrument with the fluxgate compass heading - in the image below it shows some degrees to port. It is indeed useful, although I have a tiller too, but when using the wheel, that is normally hinged vertical close to the backstay. The installation of the sensor onto the quadrant was, however, a nightmare, working through a cramped stern locker.

 

[RichardS]

I had a simple DIY indicator to show when the wheel was centred. A reed switch and magnet connected to a light on the dash. Cost about £2.

But how did the reed switch know whether the wheel was 360 degrees out from centre?

Richard

 

[rogerthebodger]

But how did the reed switch know whether the wheel was 360 degrees out from centre?

Richard

Magnet on the rudder tiller are on reed switch mounted to close when tiller arm centered.

I made up a variable resister mounted in a similar way driving a lime of LEDs red to port green to starboard and yellow at the centre point

 

[RichardS]

Magnet on the rudder tiller are on reed switch mounted to close when tiller arm centered.

I thought we were talking about wheels?

However, a reed switch on the rudder quadrant/operating arm would do the trick so that must be the solution.

Richard

 

[laika]

I understand that a rudder angle gauge is an ( expensive ) option to go with our wheel pilot but always though it was too expensive to bother with.
[...]
Do others find that a rudder angle gauge is useful?

I believe the main reason for purchasing your autopilot manufacturer's rudder angle sensor is to improve performance of your autopilot. Mu autopilot works ok without the riddler sensor in calm conditions but I've not done a like for like with/without comparison when the sea state has been tricky.

If I was a better sailor and able to always recall how many turns were on my wheel and instantly map that to rudder angle in my head I'd not need a gauge but like others, I find it very valuable in close-quarters manoeuvring and useful for double checking the "feel" of how much weather helm I have.

 

[pcatterall]

Thanks for all the replies. We are only 4 turns 'lock to lock' but even so going astern I do get 'confused' particularly as the stern does not move at all in the direction it should at the best of times.
Using to help balance the trim will be a big help as well.