Steering/rudder indicator

[Frontier]

My boat has a basic indicator in the middle of the wheel that sort of shows which way the legs are facing. A bit basic but handy.

Well I can tell you it was very interesting for a few minutes last Sunday in Gosport when I reversed off the outer breakwater only to find it had broken. Was doing the usual stuff trying the turn the boat on the spot with one engine ahead and one in reverse. But of course the legs were pointing a different way to that being indicated. It was windy so though it was a gust at first, desperately turning the wheel to avoid hitting another boat I noticed I was fully to Starboard but the indicator was not. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

anyone know where you can get such a thing and do they have a name. I tried searching on the web, but it helps to know what things are called.

Thanks

D

 

[Talbot]

Think this is what you are looking for:

 

[Frontier]

That's the exact thing!

Thanks Talbot /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

D

 

[RogerRat]

It's something else to go wrong though. I had the same problem and found the simple fix.

Turn the wheel lock to lock one handed and count revolutions. Half that is centre of course.

Practice it three times and you'll be close enough to centre and confident that you don't need to replace the indicator.

This only works for outdrives though. See how you get on, you might be surprised.

 

[kimhollamby]

http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/102235

One of quite a few places to buy a replacement by the look of things.

But also agree counting the turns lock to lock is a handy technique and one that I use.

 

[PCUK]

Or you could make up a simple light indicator that shows when the wheel is amidships using a reed switch from Maplins. Total cost about £2!

 

[boatone]

Lock to Lock is definitely the way to go and its FREE!!

It works very well on my hydrulically steered Pedro.

I did in fact have one of those simple little indicator devices but it was useless on my dual steering positions because the wheels were always out of synch.

 

[PCUK]

Simple light indicator works anywhere you put a light!

 

[boatone]

Only if its less than two turns lock to lock !

 

[Carpediem]

Last time it happened to me I tried the count the revolutions til lock thing... unfortunately I hadnt realised that the entire steering system had failed. Very amusing indeed and the resulting damage was "interesting". The whole matter is a bit sub judice .. but only at the moment.

 

[Frontier]

Thanks Roger,

One extra problem I have is the wheel is not on straight to begin with, and I would like to know roughly which way the legs are turned just by looking at it. Say after you have been away from the boat for a while. Also my smallest plays wit it when we are moored, so I would have to do the full lock thing every time.

Its what I did as soon as I realised what the indicator was not working.

Thanks

D

 

[Frontier]

Thanks PCUK, This sounds interesting, Maybe I should look at the leg end of the steering and make a device to swing an electronic meter

 

[Frontier]

Thanks Kim, think I will fit another one of these and then investigate adding something better. Must put the wheel straight too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[muckypup]

I'll second the opinions here, in that it's my most important gauge on the helm - especially where restricted. Ours didn't work when we bought Harlequin but turned out to be simply not connected.

The chap from the local sailing school who taught me how to work my boat told me to centre the helm and *only* use the engines when in the marina. Good advice which worked well at the time.

Since then I have experimented and while the advice was good for a beginner, I now know how my own boat will handle (she will respond to rudder direction as low as 1knt) and I use the helm much more as well as the trottles. Knowing where the rudders are pointing in all this mix is a godsend. The rudder indicator is No.1 gauge in restricted space.

Steve

 

[harvey]

I'm only a raggie ..... but why not simply do lock-to-lock and then wrap some self annealing tape at the top of the wheel to show midships? On my last boat with wheel steering I had exactly that, which I upgraded to a bit of whipping waxed twine so that I could feel it at night. It always worked even if the battery was flat!!
John

 

[Frontier]

Thanks Steve,

Yep you simply dont have time to do and end to end check to see where center is,

Mostly I will be using the engines to turn, but to do it you really need to know they are amidships. You can do clever things with them point in a certain direction, but you need to know which? I Have legs by the way.

Regards

D

 

[Frontier]

Thanks John,

The problem is it does a few turns from end to end so it could be at the top centre but still almost at one end.

Of course If I checked before letting go of the lines that might be a a bit more sensible


Regards

D