Rudder Control Adjustment - Raymarine Autohelm 5000 User Manual

TRIALS
5.0 SEA
Initial sea trials should be carried out in calm
conditions and with plenty of sea room. The
previously conducted functional test will have
verified that the autopilot is operating correctly
and that you are familiar with all of its controls.
Check that the gain control on the rear of
the control unit is adjusted to the setting
recommended for the particular vessel category
given in Fig. 3.1, Then set the Sea control to '0'
and the Rudder control to '4'.
Initial sea trials on fast planing vessels
should be conducted at no more than half
engine throttle under which conditions the
recommended mid-way setting of the rudder
control should give acceptable steering
performance. A mid-way setting of the rudder
control will also give acceptable steering
performance in sailing and displacement power
vessels under all conditions for initial trial
purposes. Fine setting of the Rudder control is
discussed later.
5.1 FIRST TRIALS
.The following initial trial procedure is
recommended:
hold the course steady.
1.5 seconds for the compass to adjust
automatically to the manually steered
automatically take control. In calm
conditions an extremely constant heading
will be maintained.
a good heading is achieved with a minimum
number of wheel movements. Correct setting
of this control for varying sea conditions is
essential to avoid unnecessary wear and
tear on the autopilot and to minimise
electrical power consumption.
Steer control on the main control unit, (or
the Left/Right control on the auxiliary
control unit with the main control unit
switched to Remote). Major course
alterations are best applied by switching to
Set and then manually steering the vessel
on to the new heading. When the new
course is acquired, hold for a few seconds
and then switch the autopilot back to Duty
to maintain the new heading.
from Auto to Manual and then power steer
the vessel by the control wheel. Switch back
to Auto and the vessel will return promptly
to the original heading.
manual steering may be instantly achieved
by switching to Set or Off on the main
control unit. It is very important to remember
that manual control can only be obtained on
the auxiliary control unit if the main control
unit is switched to Remote. The importance
of being able to regain manual control of
steering must-be stressed. The Off button is
manual take-over procedures should be

5.2 RUDDER CONTROL ADJUSTMENT

The gain control on the rear of the control unit
has been previously set according to the
recommendation given in Fig. 3.1. This control
sets the range of adjustment available on the
main panel Rudder control and in all but
extreme cases should not need further
adjustment.
In all cases, excessive rudder application
results in 'oversteer' which can be recognised
by the vessel swinging slowly from side to side
of the controlled heading. In addition, distinct
overshoot will be observed when the course is
changed. This extreme condition may be
corrected by reducing the Rudder control
setting.
Similarly, insufficient rudder application will
result in sluggish steering response which is
particularly apparent when changing course
using the Steer control. This condition is
corrected by increasing the Rudder control
setting.
Oversteering and understeering tendencies
are most easily recognised in calm sea
conditions where wave action does not mask
basic steering performance.
The operational adjustment technique for the
Rudder control varies significantly between
planing and displacement craft and is
described separately below.
5.2.1 PLANING CRAFT
Planing craft operate over a very large speed
range. Rudder effectiveness increases very
significantly at higher hull speeds and it is thus
necessary to reduce the Rudder control setting
as speed increases to avoid oversteer. In
normal cases the rudder control setting would
be reduced almost to '0' at maximum planing
speed and increased towards '7' at minimum
displacement speeds. Oversteer can be
extremely violent at planing speeds and it is
thus essential to reduce the rudder setting
before opening the throttle.