I have a Volvo penta powered boat with engine driven power steering with a seastar hydraulic ram and helms aqtuating the system. Currently it is installed without a rudder follower and the pilot doesn’t steer well, lots of zig-zags due to the power steering actuator has a 1/4” play in order to open the valves in the power steering cylinder. Will a rudder follower allow the system to work with the deadband setting?
Navpilot 300 with engine driven power steering
- Thread starter Jaws1234
- Start date
Your boat sounds like one of the first inboard/outboard installs I did with a Navpilot 300. Duel helm and the volvo recommended the small pump (8 cu in) due to the in place power steering. What pump did you use? What is the hard over to hard over time with the pump?
Deadband is not a good thing. If there is deadband higher than 1.3 degrees, the boat may not be controlled correctly by the pilot. Adding a rudder reference (RRU) might help a little but it doesn't fix the deadband issue, If the deadband is excessive, it will continue to have problems steering a straight course. It might help to set the rudder deadband manually in the settings but it can only cover up for so much steering slop.
Deadband is not a good thing. If there is deadband higher than 1.3 degrees, the boat may not be controlled correctly by the pilot. Adding a rudder reference (RRU) might help a little but it doesn't fix the deadband issue, If the deadband is excessive, it will continue to have problems steering a straight course. It might help to set the rudder deadband manually in the settings but it can only cover up for so much steering slop.
We installed the octopus 1000cc/min pump. I installed the rudder follower today and did the dockside setup out of the water and it passed with the dead and at 1.3 degrees, I believe. What is the solution with the engine driven system ( the Volvo actuator has to move 1/4” either direction before the linkage moves). I’ve installed over 100 pilots over they years and this one is new to me and our customer is getting perturbed
I guess the bottom line is you have to fix the 1/4 lag/slop in the steering system on both sides. If you got it to 1.3 deadband it shouldn't be to bad but must setup the pilot and run it on the water for a full 5 mins so the self learning system can get a feel for the hull and your steering system.
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