Rudder angle indicator

[SIBERNUT]

Was a big help on my last single engine MT 40' . Lot has changed, but i still want one. Not big bucks, but some little chinese toy will do. Anyone got one they like for 2 stations under $100 ?

 

[SteveK]

Dam u sibernut, I can get one for under $60
I was not even shopping today!
Just goggle Boat rudder indicator

 

[Nick F]

I installed this one last season. Looks OK. There is a bit of a delay in the electronics inside the indicator that bothered me at first, but I have got used to it now.

I actuated it from the helm shaft at the upper station to avoid running wires all the way to the stern.

 

[SteveK]

I actuated it from the helm shaft at the upper station to avoid running wires all the way to the stern.

I forget what the upper looks like on my GB36.
Can you snap a picture of the control end.
I now have hydraulic and probably would have to go the rudder.

 

[Nick F]

I forget what the upper looks like on my GB36.
Can you snap a picture of the control end.
I now have hydraulic and probably would have to go the rudder.

Yes, if you have hydraulic you will have to locate the sensor at the rudder.

 

[SIBERNUT]

Thats the gauge im looking at, but id get confused with it reading backwards. I want the 85mm & prefer white, looks like 60 something w 2 gauges. Hydraulic, gotta go to rudder. Senders say good for dual gauges , how's that work?
Cripes, i could boogie rig a gas gauge to do this. But FUGLY.....



...

 

[HeadedToTexas]

Was a big help on my last single engine MT 40' . Lot has changed, but i still want one. Not big bucks, but some little chinese toy will do. Anyone got one they like for 2 stations under $100 ?

The KUS rudder indicator I installed this season was more like $60 (I see some on eBay for $43). I got tired of my old Simrad AP16 failing to start and leaving me guessing about the rudder. Still have to run the wires though.

Now that everything is much more reliable after my electronics upgrade, I'd be tempted to use a N2K rudder angle indicator. The Veratron version is 85mm. It's a dedicated analog gauge, but it uses the main autopilot rudder indicator and would not have required a second indicator or the additional wires KUS needed. Not true redundancy, of course.

 

[SIBERNUT]

Very small print $203
For that price id take out the emergency plug and put a pole w flag right on the rudder top
But tks!

 

[HeadedToTexas]

I know what you mean, and my KUS indicator does everything I expected plus provide redundancy, but $203 seems pretty competitive in the break out another thousand world of boating.

 

[rgano]

Luckily, my Furuno AP has an integrated rudder angle indicator.

 

[SIBERNUT]

KUS (Rupse) makes good stuff. But i bought one off ebay for $18. The real laugh is other sellers have exactly the same thing labeled VDO or Volvo for well over 100.
Caveat Emptor

 

[HeadedToTexas]

The real laugh is other sellers have exactly the same thing labeled VDO or Volvo for well over 100.
Caveat Emptor

Ha! I hadn't made that connection. Like so many things made in China today, there are versions available with subtly different labelling at a fraction of the cost.

 

[Capt Ray]

Our Raymarine autopilot (AP) system includes a rudder indicator.
I consider it essential.

The AP system was the first improvement we made to this boat when we bought her in 2020. Not cheap, but good! I can't believe the previous two owners did not have AP installed (including the rudder indicator feature). I presume they did not do as much cruising as we do!
((2000 Mainship 390)) Shellerina.com

 

[HeadedToTexas]

Rudder indication is an important part of autopilot systems. Our old Simrad AP16 system had them too, but they only indicate rudder angle when they work. I put in the KUS sensor and gauges when the autopilot became too unreliable. The new Garmin system also displays rudder angle, but with the KUS physical gauges, I rarely use the virtual display on the MFDs.

 

[Marco Flamingo]

This is the style I bought. It puts the rudder where it makes sense to me. Kind of weird that this indicator reads 40 degrees when indicating 90 degrees. Mine doesn't show that. My rudder needle only swings through 90 degrees total.

Probably cheapest to buy one with the sender unit included.

 

[SIBERNUT]

Yeah , like i bought. First, maybe your rudder only swings 90 total. If that is not the case and you have an adjustable sender arm, move the arm so that the attachment point to. The rudder is closer to the sender pivot. That should give it more "sweep" . Are you running 2 stations off it or one ?

 

[Marco Flamingo]

One station. My auto pilot at the lower helm has rudder indicator.

I would guess that most rudders only swing through 90 degrees. My point was that one showing a 180 degree swing would show the rudder in a stall position when hard over. I just find that odd, but I suppose I'd get used to it even though the picture isn't representative.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

Yep, mine is the same exaggerated swing. I'm good with that as it's a relative thing.

 

[SIBERNUT]

Like i said, adjust the arm on the sender shorter.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

What do you use for the linkage between the rudder arm and the sensor arm?

 

[SIBERNUT]

Plenty of things from the RC sites. Arms with ball joint ends, etc. When my stuff gets here ill see how much articulation is needed to install non binding. If parallel, a simple carburetor rod could work. The arm on the sender i bought slides in the pivot point. Amount of arc the sender goes thru can be adjusted, as can where you mount the end on the rudder arm . Mock up before mount & test, its an adjustable rectangle.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

That's what I have as well. The rudder arm links to the Garmin sensor with a (presumably) Garmin link arm, and my KUS sensor links to the Garmin sensor with my DIY RC arm. Not enough Loctite, I suppose.