Rudder Position Indicator

[Beyond R27]

I recently purchased a 2016 Ranger R27 and found the rudder position indicator on the Volvo Penta Display, but it does not show the rudder position just the icon. I think this would be very useful since I'm new to boats this large and find it difficult to find center when the wheel turn is 5 revolutions. Did this model year come with that option or is there something not working I can check or have fixed?

 

[misinger]

You have to have one installed to show up on chart plotter and it will increase accuracy of autopilot as well.


https://buy.garmin.com/en-CA/CA/p/109829


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Godspeed]

We are also looking to add the indicator. I see it’s 300+ dollars for the sensor. Has anyone one had one installed? And if so can it be a DYI project or do you need a prof to install it. Also, I assume there is a data cable required, is it included with the sensor.

Thanks,

 

[bob daily]

Check Amazon, they have them for about $200 and cable about $ 50. Bob

 

[Beyond R27]

Thank you for the information.....Greatly Appreciated.

 

[Wee Venture]

We are also looking to add the indicator. I see it’s 300+ dollars for the sensor. Has anyone one had one installed? And if so can it be a DYI project or do you need a prof to install it. Also, I assume there is a data cable required, is it included with the sensor.

Thanks,

I installed one myself on our R-31 and I love it. Yes, I know how to count wheel turns and I know there are some differences of opinion on this. But when I’m maneuvering in tight quarters, perhaps had to reverse and turn the boat and then start up again, I’d much rather glance down for half a second to see exactly where my rudder is than have to turn it to lock and back, or just start making headway and then realize I’m turning in an unsafe direction.

I recently lost a bow thruster in the locks. The lock master was waving me out, I was right next to the wall, things were happening fast and I was *very* thankful I could glance at the rudder position and adjust accordingly as I started making way.

The installation was not super simple but not too bad. I used Marine Tex to fill in and flatten a concave area of the inner transom, then secured a small ipe board (after removing any surface resins) to the prepared area with West Systems epoxy resin plus filler. Screwed a stainless angle bracket Into the board and mounted the rudder feedback sensor on top of that. There was no need to penetrate the hull with fasteners and it is very solidly fixed in place.

The sensor does come with an attached data cable. But the caveat is that it needs to be plugged into a Garmin GRA 10 adapter (another $180) in order to interface with your NMEA 2000 Network, or else into a Garmin Smartpump.

There are others on Tugnuts who have installed this and posted about their experience. I would be happy to post more on my installation if anyone is interested.

John

 

[bob daily]

Or you could install a dedicated rudder angle indicator which is a lot cheaper than the Garman and personally I have way too much on the chart plotter. Is it needed? Probably not but its one of those things that makes life easier kind of like your thrusters when docking.
A photo of my rudder angle indicator is in my album along with how I attached it. Installation on a R-21EC I had to be a little creative. Bob

 

[Wee Venture]

Great job, Bob! Creative installation and I Ike the classic look of the gauge. Unfortunately, there is no space at my helm where I could have mounted that nice round glass gauge. It looks like an elegant solution though.

John