Setting Up Rudder Reference on Suzuki DF300BMD

[Bleurain247]

Currently in a boat build process and adding a Navpilot 300 to a Suzuki DF300BMD. This is a new Suzuki fly by wire with the steering system built into the motor. I am wondering if anyone has input on putting this package together and if it is possible to get a rudder reference on it so Point Lock will work. Going off the Furuno matrix I will be installing all the necessary components to take full advantage of Fish Hunter Drive and Sabiki Lock. My understanding is without Rudder Reference Point Lock will not function. Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding something. Thanks

 

[JJ Neutron]

FishHunter Drive delivers features for boats utilizing select Suzuki outboard models driven by the Furuno NavPilot 300 Autopilot. These new features offer enhanced autopilot controls for precision navigation of routes and advanced fishing features for anglers. Get the following features: Speed Control, Route Smoothing, Point Lock, Auto Stop On Arrival, Sabiki Lock.

This video (link below) shows everything you need to set up the connection from your Suzuki Outboard to the NavPilot 300 Autopilot.

 

[Bleurain247]

JJ, thanks for the info. A local marine electronics shop is putting a call into Suzuki for me to help figure this out. Suzuki's internal steering is fairly new. I was searching to see if someone has installed this style of motor and was able to get rudder reference off it somehow. The internal steering is inside the cowling so there is not a ram on the front of the motor to install a FAP-AR-4502 indicator stick.

 

[Johnny Electron]

Hi @Bleurain247
This is very new. Where are you located? I have reached out to our development folks to ask them what we know about this new system. Typical drive by wire systems will provide the RRU information so one wouldn't be fitted normally, but I don't know anything about this new system. We have had a few phone calls about it and the information hasn't been shared with us yet, so we can only refer to Suzuki. You might be one of the first to have this new steering system. Please share whatever you learn and we will do the same.

 

[Johnny Electron]

@Bleurain247
If truly drive by wire, the system wouldn't have a hydraulic pump. Can you confirm if you have a pump? It almost sounds like the rarely used version of the integrated steering where they are just imbed the HYDRAULIC steering cylinder into the motor. If that is what you have, it would require an RRU because it is basically a normal hydraulic steering system with integrated cylinders. To conduct pointlock you must have rudder info and if the system doesn't give it, you must create it yourself. (by adding an RRU)

 

[Bleurain247]

Johnny, thank you. I'm located in the PNW. This will be on a 25' aluminum boat.
To make sure we are on the same page my engine is fly by wire for the controls. I'm not familiar with what drive by wire is but my system will have 1 hydraulic helm and steering wheel. The Nav pilot system will have an electric over hydraulic pump. The kit is part # Furnavpilot300-pg-m. This will include the Octopus 1.6l.
The picture below is a depiction of the new integrated steering system. The left is a standard system, right is Suzuki's integrated system. I will post what information I get back.

 

[Johnny Electron]

That is a hydraulic steering system where the cylinder is integrated into the motor. The kit you are buying has a pump hence it is ran by reversible hydraulic pump not drive-by-wire. Unless Suzuki gives you a way to pull RRU information which I am not aware of, you would need an external RRU if doing PointLock.

 

[Bleurain247]

I was informed of the following: All Suzuki 300 amd and bmd models and most likely 350's come with a rudder reference sensor built in. The sensor information is obtained from a mystery plug that is included under the cowl. I call this a mystery plug because, according to my source, the plug was specifically designed by Suzuki and Optimus Steering System to use with Optimus. Because of its specific design, obtaining information about what type of connector this is has proven extremely difficult. My source believes the plug will most likely be something standard but has yet to see it so can not specify.
My source tells me, sources tell him this new rudder sensor provides the same information that a AR4502 Smart Stick. He is unsure if the connector is the same. He is unboxing 2 300 bmd motors for his boat soon and will let known what he finds under the cowl in relation to the plug and sensor.
Can anyone expand on this information? More specifically on how this may all tie into the Nav Pilot 300 system to provide information for Sabiki and Point Lock? Thanks.

 

[Bleurain247]

I just searched my engine parts on Boats.net. I went through the parts brake down for steering, bracket and all sensors. I did not find a listed sensor for rudder reference. I'm now second guessing the information my source provided me. Looking at Optimus systems my results are showing they have a rudder reference built into the ram. In the video above it appears the Suzuki's used have this style of steering system so an external sensor would not be needed. Obtaining solid information about Suzuki's is extremely conflicting, confusing and frustrating.

 

[Bleurain247]

Further research has led me to believe RRU is not possible while using Suzuki's Intergrated Steering. I have decided to revert back to a Seastar or Uflex hydraulic system. Thanks for all the comments.