I have a Hunter 1990 30T and am trying to install a Raymarine S1 Wheel Autopilot, which has a Rudder Position Device. The rudder post is completly enclosed in a fiberglass "tube" through the stern lockers and there is no place to install the Rudder Position transponder. Any ideas?
Installing a Rudder Position Device
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Tiller or Wheel steering?
Tiller or wheel steered? If the former you will need to rig something like the Autohelm tiller steerers use; ie. an arm attached to the rudder stock under the tiller, or attached to it if the tiller does not lift up for stowage. If wheel steered it is normal to attach the arm to the quadrant via a short link. Good luck.
Tiller or wheel steered? If the former you will need to rig something like the Autohelm tiller steerers use; ie. an arm attached to the rudder stock under the tiller, or attached to it if the tiller does not lift up for stowage. If wheel steered it is normal to attach the arm to the quadrant via a short link. Good luck.
Eight days on my back in the bowels of my boat....
I just installed an S1 on my '86 H31 last month. The instructions provided by Raymarine stink! If you have a tiller it's fairly easy. See the instruction manual. For a quadrant, it's a lot more confusing.(At least for me) I'm not familiar with your boat but on mine I had to mount the rudder sensor upside down AND reverse the ball joint on the arm to get it to fit to avoid making too many structural changes to the boat itself. As it was, I had to cut a hole in the protective cover over the quadrant and cables to allow room for the arm to swing. It took me nearly three weeks to install the whole unit on my boat. Be very careful with the push connectors for the wires. They break. Post a follow-up as to whether you have a tiller or wheel. Good luck.
I just installed an S1 on my '86 H31 last month. The instructions provided by Raymarine stink! If you have a tiller it's fairly easy. See the instruction manual. For a quadrant, it's a lot more confusing.(At least for me) I'm not familiar with your boat but on mine I had to mount the rudder sensor upside down AND reverse the ball joint on the arm to get it to fit to avoid making too many structural changes to the boat itself. As it was, I had to cut a hole in the protective cover over the quadrant and cables to allow room for the arm to swing. It took me nearly three weeks to install the whole unit on my boat. Be very careful with the push connectors for the wires. They break. Post a follow-up as to whether you have a tiller or wheel. Good luck.
Wheel Steering
I have wheel steering. I spoke to Hunter and they told me the fiberglass encasing the rudder post is structural (as I thought). Their suggestion was to rig something on to the quadrant where the emergency tiller goes. Really no room to get to the quadrant without extending up the walk-through platform to the sugar-scoop stern where the quadrant is located. Don't like that idea. Still have not heard from Raymarine is the unit can function without the rudder position transponder.
I have wheel steering. I spoke to Hunter and they told me the fiberglass encasing the rudder post is structural (as I thought). Their suggestion was to rig something on to the quadrant where the emergency tiller goes. Really no room to get to the quadrant without extending up the walk-through platform to the sugar-scoop stern where the quadrant is located. Don't like that idea. Still have not heard from Raymarine is the unit can function without the rudder position transponder.
mounts to the steering quadrant.
RAF: The rudder position sensor mounts to the steering quadrant.
RAF: The rudder position sensor mounts to the steering quadrant.
Sensor is not required.
The Position sensor in not required. Obviously, having it installed would help the unit know where the rudder is, and possible perform better, but there are thousands of installations out there with it, and they generally work fine (mine is one of those). Chris
The Position sensor in not required. Obviously, having it installed would help the unit know where the rudder is, and possible perform better, but there are thousands of installations out there with it, and they generally work fine (mine is one of those). Chris
Rudder Position Sensor
Whatever else it does the position sensor has one important function. If the pilot is engaged but the boat is not moving through the water - as when anchored, alongside or drifting - the pilot will continue to move the rudder in an effort to bring the boat back on course. As there is no water flow over the rudder the boat cannot respond. The pilot does this correction in small increments until the rudder reaches hard over against the rudder stop. The position sensor detects this condition and halts the movement BEFORE something breaks or the pilot disengages its clutch or burns out its motor.
Whatever else it does the position sensor has one important function. If the pilot is engaged but the boat is not moving through the water - as when anchored, alongside or drifting - the pilot will continue to move the rudder in an effort to bring the boat back on course. As there is no water flow over the rudder the boat cannot respond. The pilot does this correction in small increments until the rudder reaches hard over against the rudder stop. The position sensor detects this condition and halts the movement BEFORE something breaks or the pilot disengages its clutch or burns out its motor.
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