Rudder sensor, starting over

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
OK, so I go out and pull the big camel back helm seat. And there sits the rudder quadrant. This is going to be easier than I think. Stick the sensor in there, and move it around. Looks like it won't be a problem, everything is right there and easy to get to. Make a mount block contoured to the hull, correct height,sit the sensor on it and practically done. OOOPS The rudder stop cables are in the way. HHHMMMMM Raise the sensor, and the rod above the stop cables. OOPS not enough clearance on the top. Another plan is needed. OK Mount it on the front half of the quadrant, mount the sensor upside down to the cockpit floor. Not enough space between the floor and the quadrant to mount the connecting rod. OK Lower it and make the connection to the bottom of the quadrant. Now the sensor is upside down and backwards. Two wrongs do make a right don't they. Anyway, directions say if it reads backwards, reverse the wires. Not all I have to do is figure out how to get down in there, measure accurately laying on my back and looking straight up at the tape measure, while holding a light,then figure out how much of a spacer I need. Of course thats the easy part. After getting all the measurements, it still has to be mounted.I have now come to the conclusion that the best way to do this is just go ahead and pull the deck off the boat, mount the sensor, then put the deck back. And yep, I am laughing with and at myself.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,348
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
One of those miner head lamps would

sure come in handy. They're making them with LEDs now. Saves a hand so you can use your other three for the actual work! :) Ain't rudder sensors neat?
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
You also need an eye on the end of a stick.

so that you can see what your hands are obscuring. When my oldest son was about forty pounds I used to use him in tight places and he just loved to be allowed to help.
 

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
Sounds exactly like what I'm about to go thru

In June cause I really don't have a lot of faith that I'll be installing the X5 and I haven't really looked at my quadrent but it sounds just like yours with cables that will get in the way.
 

Timo42

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Mar 26, 2007
1,042
Venture 22 Marina del Rey
When I am working in cramped quarters,

I stick my digital camera up there first and take a bunch of pictures so I have a good idea of what is where. It also shows me what it looked like before everything dropped in the bilge after I removed the wrong bolt. ;D Tim
 

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
Wait

Eventually that rudder sensor will pop off and you will have crawl back down there to reinstall it.
 
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