hydraulic systems

[andyman2000]

[Crikey]

Nice Andy! I've been off the site for a while and had just now paid proper attention to your post. Sorry. On my installation, I've since dropped the front link bar completely as it's not really needed with the cylinder holding things together. I also found the bar competed with the Baystar over some of the geometry changes and tried to swivel the cylinder on its hinge too much - resulting in back pressure at the helm. Here's my initial install:


I'm 6'2" and tucking my toes under the front bar for sleeping was always a pain.
Even though the unit still swivels a little it appears to add a tiny amount of toe-in during a hard turn (tacking) which, like a car, helps minimize the tracking drag. Like you, I've also moved the linking inward to the next hole. That does reduce the overall rudder turning radius - thus affecting docking pirouetting - but something I've adjusted to. Under sail you're never going to turn them that much because they'd totally stall out.
Almost six turns lock to lock, no play or slop and minimal movement or effort to make course adjustments under canvas. As far as feedback is concerned, I can feel slightly increased pressure if things are not balanced topsides but frankly, letting go of the wheel and having everything stay put is worth the loss. I still want to look into removing the ball check valves in the helm and replacing them with an external on-off system (saw that somewhere in this site) in order to facilitate the incorporation of an auto-pilot motor, like you have done. Time and money I don't have presently.
Can you comment on the battery drain from the hydraulic motor? Your location suggests to me that it would be vulnerable to bilge water and noise transmission through the hull.
Again, nice job!

Ross

[andyman2000]

Can't remember why I didn't get rid of the link bar. I may have to revisit that. But as far as the motor is concerned, there is no water in that area. Plus I can't figure out where else to put it. Does anyone have examples ? I don't want to punch any holes thru the hull.

But as far as play goes, there is zero play in the system.

[Cedarsailor]

I have been thinking about an eventual replacement with a hydraulic system. Years ago, we had a system manufactured by Wagner Engineering. It does not require an electric pump - the movement of the fluid is controlled by a pump that is powered by the turning of the wheel. It was low maintenance and very reliable.

For more information: http://www.wagnerengineering.ca/steering-700-series.htm

dht

[Crikey]

Can't remember why I didn't get rid of the link bar. I may have to revisit that. But as far as the motor is concerned, there is no water in that area. Plus I can't figure out where else to put it. Does anyone have examples ? I don't want to punch any holes thru the hull.
But as far as play goes, there is zero play in the system.

Andy your Heim joints (aircraft) should have a range of thread adjustment available. Spend some extra time in making sure the rudders are at least parallel. A tiny amount of toe-in is desirable. There are so many turns to lock that the absolute centering of the wheel is irrelevant. In hydraulic systems, that drifts slightly over time anyway.

R.

[andyman2000]

Seatrials complete. The autopilot is awesome! You set a course and it holds. With a hydraulic system you don't even hear it. I was pusing 4-5ft swells with a period of 5 seconds with direct head winds of 15mph gusting to 23 and the boat did not miss a beat. No s-curving, nothing. Just held steady. Just to see how much work this system was doing, I put it in standby and the wind and current immediately blew the entire vessel 170 degree's . Obviously this is under power. I had too many kids on the boat at the time to bring up the sails. The winds picked up so fast I couldn't believe it. 30 min before this it was dead calm.

Anyway autopilot took a lot of the stress out. I recommend it to anyone.