Rudder position Indicator- Garmin

[Kaptajnen]

To either port tWe just took delivery of a new Ranger Tug 31-S.

Is there any way to Display the rudder position on the garmen screen?

I was told that the way to center the rudder is to turn the wheel all the way to port or starboard and then turn it 3 turns the opposite way.

To me that is a timeconsuming and rather quaint way to center the rudder.

Any suggestions?

Than ks

 

[TexasEye]

https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-GRF-Rudde ... B009PTTYOU

 

[Kaptajnen]

Hello TexasEye.

Thanks for the link. Can you tell me how the Rudder Position is shown on the Garmin Display, after the sensor has been installed? What specific screen, i.e. engine or what?

Thanks

 

[ixlr8]

Hello TexasEye.

Thanks for the link. Can you tell me how the Rudder Position is shown on the Garmin Display, after the sensor has been installed? What specific screen, i.e. engine or what?

Thanks

Based on info on the Garmin site, it pairs with the autopilot controller and shows up on that screen. This is some thing I am tempted to get, since I put the full enclosure on it is more difficult to see the engine position.

 

[TexasEye]

Yep,

It is for the autopilot not the Nav System. Garmin should include this capability to their Marine Nav system capability

 

[Admiral S]

Hello TexasEye.

Thanks for the link. Can you tell me how the Rudder Position is shown on the Garmin Display, after the sensor has been installed? What specific screen, i.e. engine or what?

Thanks

Based on info on the Garmin site, it pairs with the autopilot controller and shows up on that screen. This is some thing I am tempted to get, since I put the full enclosure on it is more difficult to see the engine position.

ixlr8 -

Not sure the GRF sensor will work with your outboard. They are for inboard rudder tillers. I would give Garmin a call and see what they say.

 

[stwendl]

It’s not as simple as buying the sensor and plugging it in. As I understand it and based on my equipment on my 2016 r27, the autopilot controller needs to have that extra port which mine has not. If you want to make a try n2k Sensor that plugs into the bus then you need a second device, chop of the connector and splice together. Or buy a different auto pilot controlle

Technically it’s irrelevant if you have OB or rudder. However, protecting that sensor on an outboard would require extra effort. There may be splash protected sensors available for such purposes that I don’t know about. As mentioned before, installing can be a pain, as i have done on a sailboat before.

There a few articles on this site explaining the installation in details

 

[Kaptajnen]

It is not as simple as buying the sensor and plugging it in. As I understand it and based on my equipment on my 2016 r27, the autopilot controller needs to have that extra port which mine has not. If you want to make a try n2k Sensor that plugs into the bus then you need a second device, chop of the connector and splice together. Or buy a different auto pilot controller.

That is what I discovered after buying the sensor and trying to have it installed in our new Ranger 31-S. Had to abandon the install and return the Garmin sensor to the dealer.

 

[Kaptajnen]

It is not as simple as buying the sensor and plugging it in. As I understand it and based on my equipment on my 2016 r27, the autopilot controller needs to have that extra port which mine has not. If you want to make a try n2k Sensor that plugs into the bus then you need a second device, chop of the connector and splice together. Or buy a different auto pilot controller.

That is what I discovered after buying the sensor and trying to have it installed in our new Ranger 31-S. Had to abandon the install and return the Garmin sensor to the dealer.

In order to add an AIS responder to our Boat, I installed a VESPER XB-8000 box.
It is equipped with a NMEA 2000 port, so I am considering trying to add the Garmin rudder sensor again. It would involve pulling a cable from the stern to the forward equipment bay under the instrument panel which could be a show stopper.
Any thoughts?

 

[BradOwens]

Being used to having a rudder position indicator on Coast Guard ships, I thought it was something I would miss having on my R29. I have found however, that after three years of owning Serendipity, I get along just fine without one, and wouldn't waste time and money installing one.

 

[Tug Travelers]

Kaptanjnen-
Hi, both John and I (Tug Travelers) have 2016 R31's and we have the garmin rudder angle Indicators. For us, it was just a plug in after the armature arm was mounted. Email me at jeff@tugtravelers.com and I will send you photos if you want.

On our display, both on the flying bridge and on the lower helm, the indicator shows up on our auto-pilot screen at the top as well as our primary nav screen (also at the top).

It is very handy to have and the install was not hard.

Jeff
Tug Travelers Guided Ranger Tug Flotillas
www.tugtravelers.com

 

[Kaptajnen]

Jeff,

Just sent an email to you.

Thanks,
Claus

 

[Kaptajnen]

After checking with Ranger Tugs, here is the word on installing the Garmin Rudder Indicator on our 2018 Ranger 31-S:

——————————— QUOTE————————
“With the system you have onboard you will need to buy the indicator which is the GRF 10 and also get an adapter that is the GRA 10. This will allow you to connect from your indicator to your NMEA backbone and send the information to your GHC 20 display.”.
——————————— END OF QUOTE————————


FisheriesSupply.com lists the GRF10 at $250. and the GRA10 at $200.00. Add the cost of installation and you are looking at a total of close to a thousand bucks.

 

[Scottfree]

Sorry but I'm not understanding why the position of the rudder is relevant. It's never pointed where the boat is going except in dead calm at 1 knot.


Did I miss something?

Leon

 

[BobnDoc]

Jeff
I,too just sent you an email re installation of a rudder angle indicator. Not sure if it went thru. Please send me the info so I can do the same. Thanks for presenting a straight forward commentary. I’ve gotten a number of discouraging responses when I have asked others. Bob rosemanbob@comcast.net

 

[Wee Venture]

Leon, when you are in open water it is easy enough to put the boat in gear, see which way it turns and correct heading on the fly. It’s mainly when you are starting out from a mooring (especially with a single screw vessel) that it becomes an issue, and especially in tight quarters. If I am starting out slowly from a side tie, having pushed the bow out, and want to clear the vessel still tied ahead of me, I want to make sure the rudder is straight before the rudder position becomes evident from my forward motion. By then it may be too late to correct without an “embarrassing” encounter.

When I come into a dock I try to make a habit of centering the helm. And then just before leaving I try to remember to check it again. You can do this of course without a rudder position indicator by rotating the wheel in one direction to lock and then turning it half the number of “lock-to-lock” turns back the other way (on my boat that is 2 and 5/8 turns). A rudder position indicator would help if you have forgotten to do that or have lost track while underway slowly and need to know quickly.

For example, coming out of the Ballard Locks near Seattle it was my turn to cast off. In the confusion I had forgotten to center the helm. There are currents and I found myself dangerously close to a concrete wall on my starboard side that I was moving parallel to but heading toward. Too much left rudder and the stern hits. But if the rudder is even slightly to the right the bow hits. If I apply more power, what will be the effect? Thank God (and Ranger) for bow and stern thrusters! Likewise, I was recently backing out of long finger piers in Victoria Harbor with boats on both sides and little clearance. The rudder has an effect while backing, but it takes some time while underway to know which direction that is. There too, I wanted to know for sure the rudder was centered while making my corrections with bow and stern thrusters.

Bottom line, I can do without it by remembering to center the helm but a rudder position indicator would be nice to have.

John B

 

[bob daily]

A less expensive way to go is with a dedicated indicator like the A marine or other units sold, you can get all needed items to install yourself for less than $100.00 and yes they are reliable and for me a must when leaving a crowded pier in the dark for fishing, knowing which way your going in the fog when trolling and the GPS is bouncing around, and is great to be able to tell your 12 year old helmsman where you want the rudder, have saved many down rigger balls and lines from being tangled! Could I live without it? Share but why!
You can see my unit on my photo album.