rudder angle indicator 2017 R31

[desertug]

The garmin autopilot ghu 20 supports a bar on the bottom of the display which will work, it requires a gha-10 interface and an analog rudder angle unit. The rudder angle units seem to vary in price from $19.00 to $170 from Volvo/Penta. Has anybody done this ? It is amazing to me that the autopilot itself does not know this information and you just need to display it. My wife the pilot got askew of the trailer yesterday after pulling up a little bit, admittedly I had the trailer in the water too far and it was not aligining correctly.

 

[BobR]

I added the Garmin Sensor and plugged it into the NMEA 2000 network. Now shows in my autopilot display. The Garmin Autopilot only needs the Garmin interface box and nothing else on my 2014 R31.

 

[desertug]

Do you have a part number because all I see is the GHA 10 which is an analog interface.

 

[desertug]

found it GRF10 could you send a picture of how you mounted it. Please

 

[desertug]

This is not as simple as is described. It does require an analog device, in Garmin the GRF 10 but that is not a NEMA 2000 device so you have to convert to NEMA 2000 Garmin GRA-10 then go find the back bone and pull an extension cable 11829 up thru the boat. So Andrew if you are monitoring this what is the easiest path?

 

[Bobby Beard]

Anybody figure this out?

 

[desertug]

I tried to get the smart pump out of Garmin and it did not work for me. I just took delivery and wasn't interested in a $3,000 up grade at this point. The rudder indicator from the smart pump puts it on the main display, the way I am going now it will be a bar on the bottom of the autopilot. The install needs a pedistal for the analog indicator connected to the rudder arm and the parts listed above which converts it to the NEMA 2000. I still have to remove the refrigerator in the R31S to access the path back to the rudder indicator for the NEMA 2000 connection. Will send pictures from cold storage on progress 😉

 

[Bobby Beard]

Good luck!!

 

[desertug]

Here are a couple of pictures of the beginnings, to do this rudder indicator job you need skinny flexible friends. Picture of Randy my friend in the refrigerator hole. The backbone behind wall on his left. WARNING the terminator for the end of the backbone is delicate we broke mine and it is $30.00 to replace. Then Randy was able to scramble aft to grab the end of the fish tape from me in the starboard lazerette second picture.Now get the analog indicator mounted and solder the ends together from the extension and the backbone cable and test it before the refrigerator is re- installed. more pictures and news to come.

 

[CocoaBella]

I installed a Simrad RF25 rudder position transmitter on my 2013 R31 and it worked right out of the box. Plugs into NMEA 2000 port. There is no calibration routine for it in the Garmin autopilot, so you need to calibrate it mechanically. Mount right side up or upside down to get correct right/left (mine is upside down), adjust centering by length of connecting rod, and adjust the gain by changing the length of the lever arm.

 

[desertug]

I am going to do a full breakdown with pictures next week on owner customizations over on the general discussion forum. I got the gra-10 rudder indicator from garmin installed and plugged in it came right up after being energized, it showed up on the GHU-20 auto pilot. Moved it port/starboard bingo it works much simpler and more intuitive than the directions described it. This is something that is pretty easily done. I will give the dimensions for the cable make up the colors to use whole breakdown. The 2017 R31S has the pump for the trimtabs and hatch lift right beside the rudder post port side. So I built a mast on the second whole in the rudder arm and mounted the GRA-10 over the autopilot hydraulic ram starboard side. Works great 🙂

 

[desertug]

I did the whole stream of conscience thing over on "owner customizations " hope this helps. LOVE my RANGERTUG