suntansailor
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2017
- Messages
- 69
- Location
- Sint Maarten DWI
- Vessel Name
- Au Naturel
- Vessel Make
- 2000 Mainship 390 Trawler
Completed a "simple" project in the yard of installing rudder indicator gauges at inside helm, and up on the flybridge...lots of fun getting the sender lines to the respective gauges (especially the Flybridge), but got it done.
I used a 1/2 starboard piece at rudder shaft for swivel, a stiff cabinet spring as the connector tie rod. The trawler had an existing defective Raritan rudder indicator that I took off.
Now much easier to back up when docking as I can tell immediately when the rudder is "dead" center. Parts prices were very inexpensive on Amazon $85; used KUS gauges, and KUS dual station sender. For the Flybridge wire, I used 16ga as the run was over 20 feet so signal did not drop. For the inside helm gauge just used 18ga.
While under taking this project, I installed a compact GPS speedometer at the upper helm, to keep track of speed and distance, to compare with my hand held GPS.
Next big project will be to attack the leaking swim platform that has my boat listing almost 4-5 degrees to port. Previous owner did not take advantage of the factory warranty "fix", so will have to do it myself, taking platform top off, pulling water soaked foam all out, reglassing interior, installing equalizer tubes between the compartments, and a manual bilge pump in center compartment just in case my glass work does not do the job. I think the water intrusion issue is with the seal of the platform top to the stern hull. Will see...
I used a 1/2 starboard piece at rudder shaft for swivel, a stiff cabinet spring as the connector tie rod. The trawler had an existing defective Raritan rudder indicator that I took off.
Now much easier to back up when docking as I can tell immediately when the rudder is "dead" center. Parts prices were very inexpensive on Amazon $85; used KUS gauges, and KUS dual station sender. For the Flybridge wire, I used 16ga as the run was over 20 feet so signal did not drop. For the inside helm gauge just used 18ga.
While under taking this project, I installed a compact GPS speedometer at the upper helm, to keep track of speed and distance, to compare with my hand held GPS.
Next big project will be to attack the leaking swim platform that has my boat listing almost 4-5 degrees to port. Previous owner did not take advantage of the factory warranty "fix", so will have to do it myself, taking platform top off, pulling water soaked foam all out, reglassing interior, installing equalizer tubes between the compartments, and a manual bilge pump in center compartment just in case my glass work does not do the job. I think the water intrusion issue is with the seal of the platform top to the stern hull. Will see...
