Neutral (Straight) Rudder Position no longer Zero Degrees

Sdpaddler50

Sdpaddler50

Member
I have noticed neutral rudder in Standby steering has shifted 1-2 degrees to port over the last couple months. IE, the boat will steer straight (low wind and current) with 1-2 degrees left rudder and its no longer 0 degrees to maintain a straight course

I run the boat (new in 2018 - first owner) every week and longer trips in the Summer so it gets used a lot and I am aware of her nuances.

Do these systems get out of calibration and need to be reset?

I have the manual and will start going through it, just looking for some ideas to troubleshoot at this point.

Nav pilot 711-C
SC30 Sat Compass is Primary, PG700 Back up - not relevant to this, just FYI
Sea star hydraulic cylinder
2018, 46 Ft, Deep Keel, Single Engine Trawler w Barn Door Rudder
 

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If the rudder trim is absolutely 0 degrees to maintain a straight course when hand steering, then mark where the rudder is physically to hold a straight course. Then you redo the Dockside setup Set Center Rudder and the Rudder Sensor Alignment using that mark as the center. It will store that as 0 degrees. Then do the sea trial "Set Center rudder" again to set the rudder trim, if all was aligned properly with the mark it should read 0 degrees in calm seas.
 
Titanic, I was in the water today, looking at the rudder from directly behind it and the rudder angle is at approximately 1-2 degrees right rudder with the AP showing “O” degrees. This matches up to what I initially wrote. Thanks for the info, but can you give me the direct reference from the manual? I cant find that section in my manual. I realize its a basic change, but I have a couple trips coming up so I want to be sure I do it exactly per the book and don't mess things up.
 
The first step is more of an installation aid to get the RRU to rudder arm geometry correct when the rudder is centered, it is RRU Sensor Alignment

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Second is to set the RRU sensor center and port\starboard hard-over points. The key point here is to make sure the rudder is centered to enter the center point, hardover port to enter port degrees, and lastly hardover starboard to enter starboard degrees.

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Next is seatrial set center rudder. Please keep in mind that this sets the position the rudder required to keep the boat tracking straightly. This is RUDDER TRIM and it is not necessarily zero degrees to keep the boat tracking straightly as it is affected by wind, waves, and the hull itself.

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Great, thank you.

I went in to the Dockside Setup (Hold Wrench Key plus 3 pushes on circular push button on 711-C) and can see the RRU Sensor Alignment. When I return to the boat in a couple weeks, I will go through the process.

Regarding the “Sea Trial” noted per Sec 3.10., is that done at the dock? With the variables to keep a straight course being so varied (wind and current), I am confused as to what is happening with this step?
 
Seatrial is performed when underway preferably in calm conditions. Attain the cruising speed at which you will normally engage the autopilot. Hand steer the vessel and hold a nice steady course toward a target. Once established on nice-steady course you Set the Center rudder position in the Seatrial menu. This effectively tells the autopilot where the rudder has to be trimmed to keep the vessel going straightly.
 
Titanic, I did this today and everything appears to be in order now. A brief write up in case others are interested:

First, I physically checked all of the steering gear systems, and everything was sound.

1. Rudder was centered at the dock per the manual directions as noted.

2. Sea Trial setting also done per manual instructions. My boat has a slight crab to starboard when trying to hold a straight course. This is evidenced while in Standby and having to put 1-2 degrees of left rudder on to maintain a straight course. It is also evidenced by the AP having to do the same to maintain a straight course.

The Sea Trial setting was done and the rudder position is now 0-1 degrees to hold a straight course on AP.

Furuno Technical Support via phone and on this Forum are top notch. Our previous boats I inherited Raymarine and Sim rad. This past Spring we charted a Trawler in the PNW for 10 days and 450 NM’s with the newest Gen Garmin electronics. Furuno is a superior product to all of them. Our current boat was as new build and I always knew it would be Furuno if I got to choose. Furuno is the superior choice.
 
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