Vetus hydraulic steering, locking the system

[[70521]]

Hello All

I have a Vetus hydraulic steering system on board and wonder if anybody knows of a way to "lock" the system so that there is no movement of the rudder.

Thanks

 

[guyd]

Add a valve like the bypass ball valve but inline.

Or a rope.....

 

[rogerthebodger]

Hello All

I have a Vetus hydraulic steering system on board and wonder if anybody knows of a way to "lock" the system so that there is no movement of the rudder.

Thanks

A bypass valve will prevent the steering wheel moving the rudder. You should have one anyway to that the rudder can be controlled by an emergency tiller.

 

[[70521]]

Add a valve like the bypass ball valve but inline.

Or a rope.....

Thanks guyd, I'll try the bypass and see how long she stays on course.

 

[[70521]]

A bypass valve will prevent the steering wheel moving the rudder. You should have one anyway to that the rudder can be controlled by an emergency tiller.

Very true and the tiller is tested at least once a season, the big question is how long will she hold a course especially with a Hydrovane steering.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Very true and the tiller is tested at least once a season, the big question is how long will she hold a course especially with a Hydrovane steering.

Thats an interesting question.

I have a twin hydraulic steering with bypass valve.

Due to the pilot operated check valves the rudder will hold it position until the elther wheel is operated. Water flow will not move the rudder. If the bypass valve is open the rudder could move, the amount will depend on the water flow loading and the friction/hydraulic resistance in the system.

If I am correct the hydrovane has its own rudder to steer the boat so the main rudder should be set to balance the boat so the hydrovane does little work.

I have a monitor that drives its own rudder no the main rudder an if the monitor was setup to drive the main rudder through the wheel the system would slowly change course due to hydraulic creep.

I do not open my bypass valve when the monitor is steering I use the main rudder to balance the boat so the monitor does not have to have major inputs to keep its cause.

It needs a little trial and error but onec set up the boat looks after its self.

 

[prv]

Thanks guyd, I'll try the bypass and see how long she stays on course.

A bypass valve will do the opposite of locking the steering

Guyd just meant using the same type of valve.

Pete

 

[rogerthebodger]

A bypass valve will do the opposite of locking the steering

Guyd just meant using the same type of valve.

Pete

Depends on how you interpret the term "locking the system"

Opening the bypass valve will prevent the wheel operating the rudder so prevent some one steering the boat but will allow the rudder to move with water flow.

I looked at this as locking as in locking the steering as the steering lock in a car.

We just interpreted Sandy question differently.

 

[[70521]]

A bypass valve will do the opposite of locking the steering

Guyd just meant using the same type of valve.

Pete

Depends on how you interpret the term "locking the system"

Opening the bypass valve will prevent the wheel operating the rudder so prevent some one steering the boat but will allow the rudder to move with water flow.

I looked at this as locking as in locking the steering as the steering lock in a car.

We just interpreted Sandy question differently.

By locking I mean that the wheel cannot turn the rudder. Thus the rudder is locked in position and the wheel is free to move as happens when I am testing the emergency tiller. As happened when leaving my berth the other day! Either the pixies have been playing or I have a very naughty crew member, I was able to control the boat with forward and reverse gear on the engine. Thankfully, the emergency tiller was at hand and ready for action; no boats were damaged in this exercise. Lots of comments were made about brown trousers and cycle clips among those on-board

For long passages I could make up a fitting to lock the ram, perhaps something I need to work on.