knot top dead center of steering wheel?

[michaelratinter]

My hydraulic steering is 4.35 turns lock-to-lock. But I have a nice turkshead on the wheel. Helps me count turns and I always center it while the autopilot is on so that, when I torn the autopilot off, the knot is at center rudder.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by michaelratinter

My hydraulic steering is 4.35 turns lock-to-lock. But I have a nice turkshead on the wheel. Helps me count turns and I always center it while the autopilot is on so that, when I torn the autopilot off, the knot is at center rudder.

You might be able to tell me, do you find you get good feedback about sail trim through your hydraulic steering?

[michaelratinter]

I can feel gross imbalance but at 4.35:1 it isn't very sensitive. IMHO, nothing beats a tiller for feeling ssil ttim.

I like the wheel and hydraulic pump autopilot better for passages.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by michaelratinter

I can feel gross imbalance but at 4.35:1 it isn't very sensitive. IMHO, nothing beats a tiller for feeling ssil ttim.

I like the wheel and hydraulic pump autopilot better for passages.

Yes, I wish I could tiller steer my boat but as it is currently designed you’d need a gorilla for a helmsman.

Good to get more info on hydraulic steering from people who actually have it, thank you.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by fish53

When in a slip or anywhere just before getting underway turn your wheel lock to lock and count the turns and center it, it's good practice to make sure the steering works properly before taking lines off. If your already underway just put her in gear she'll tell you, you don't need any string or tape.

This is what I always have done. Never gave a lot of thought to marking it.

As long as you are making way, it's usually fairly obvious if the helm is hard over.

Assuming the wheel is fairly small (12-18" diameter), another alternative is a suicide knob.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

As long as you are making way, it's usually fairly obvious if the helm is hard over.

.

By the time the helm is hard over your sail trim is seriously bad. Like break the rudder bad if left unattended on some boats.

On a mechanical steering system the knot or similar mark will show just a few degrees of helm displacement. Well before you have a serious problem.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by GILow

By the time the helm is hard over your sail trim is seriously bad. Like break the rudder bad if left unattended on some boats.

On a mechanical steering system the knot or similar mark will show just a few degrees of helm displacement. Well before you have a serious problem.

Assuming the system has some feedback, you will have a good feel long before the helm is hard over.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Assuming the system has some feedback, you will have a good feel long before the helm is hard over.

Yes, but only if you are holding the wheel. The whole point of the knot is that you can see the out of trim if the boat is on AP.

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by Fuss

why is this mark needed, i don’t understand. Sailors with hydraulic do not need it so why do you?
or are the hydraulic sailors risking their lives??

Our autopilots disconnect the wheel when operating. This eliminates the danger of the wheel rotating suddenly and trapping arms or fingers.

When we disengage the autopilot then the wheel is reengaged. The wheel could be at any angle. So a top knot would be useless.

Our autopilot can Alamo self center the rudder.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by GILow

I had heard that many hydraulic steering systems don't give much in the way of force feedback?



I don't know if this is just one of those "internet facts" as I've never had a go on a boat with hydraulic steering

Depends on they type of hydraulic steering. I have run some power hydraulics that were as dead as the sticks on a bulldozer, you manipulated a pilot valve that fed hydraulic pressure to one side of the piston or the other and had zero feedback, in fact feedback isn’t possible in a system like that, your only manipulating the pilot valve, the pilot valve moves the rudder or bulldozer blade or helicopter rotor system etc.
My little Center Console with a Mercury Verado 175 had a hydraulic steering that was manual, it felt just like teleflex steering, but you knew it was hydraulic when you turned the wheel to full lock and the wheel could still be moved ever so slowly.
Motor of course stayed against the stops.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Depends on they type of hydraulic steering. I have run some power hydraulics that were as dead as the sticks on a bulldozer, you manipulated a pilot valve that fed hydraulic pressure to one side of the piston or the other and had zero feedback, in fact feedback isn’t possible in a system like that, your only manipulating the pilot valve, the pilot valve moves the rudder or bulldozer blade or helicopter rotor system etc.
.

Yes, the Sydney multihull ferries have that valve and joystick system and you soon learn not to sit at the stern of the boat because the steering is a constant stream of jerks from side to side. Bloody horrible system for the passengers but I assume it works well for the skipper.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by GILow

Yes, the Sydney multihull ferries have that valve and joystick system and you soon learn not to sit at the stern of the boat because the steering is a constant stream of jerks from side to side. Bloody horrible system for the passengers but I assume it works well for the skipper.

Matt, I thought that the constant stream of jerks had to do with the Twilight races???

Jim

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Matt, I thought that the constant stream of jerks had to do with the Twilight races???

Jim