42
NAVMAN
G-PILOT 3380 Operation Manual
8-1
Steering parameters
The G-PILOT has seven steering parameters
which can be adjusted to optimize steering
performance. Select the Advanced checkbox to
view all parameters.
These parameters can be adjusted using the
Parameters menu. To adjust the parameters,
go to
Menu > Setup > Profiles > Parameters
(see section 6-2). From the Basic, G-PILOT
or Compass screens, press
to open the
Parameters menu directly.
Adaptive
This is an adaptive response setting where the
G-PILOT adjusts how far the boat can move off
course to maintain a constant rate of rudder
corrections. The adaptive setting eliminates
the need to set the response according to
varying weather conditions.
• The range is A1 (adapts slowly) to A5
(adapts quickly).
Response (dead band)
How far the boat will be allowed to fall off
course before it makes a correction.
A lowest response setting lets the boat
fall very far off course before the G-PILOT
corrects. The highest response setting
corrects for every boat movement
• The range is 1 (broad course keeping) to 10
(tight course keeping).
Ratio (gain)
How far the rudder moves relative to the
degrees of course error
• The range is 1 (small corrections) to 10
(large corrections).
Trim
Trim gain -(Integral gain) Watches if the
boat is off course consistently in one
direction (Ex. Due to a strong wind, or poor
weight distribution ).Trim Gain causes the
G-PILOT to slowly apply extra rudder in the
opposite direction to correct for the course
error.
• The range is 1 (trim slowly) to 10 (trim
quickly) and 0 (OFF no trim effect).
C-rudder
Counter rudder gain – (derivative gain) At
the end of the turn, counter rudder will
steer in the opposite direction to help stop
the turn at the desired heading. If the boat
is turning quickly towards the set course,
the G-PILOT with start to apply rudder in
the opposite direction to prevent to boat
steering past the desired direction, this is
called counter rudder. Counter rudder gain
sets how strong this effect is.
• The range is 1 (low: Most often used with a
plaining boat) to 10 (high : Most often used
with a sail boat or displacement boat) and 0
(OFF no counter rudder effect).
GPS gain
In GPS mode, this determines how much
correction is applied to remove cross track
error.
• The range is 1 (steer gently back on track)
to 10 (steer quickly back on track).
Wind gain
In wind mode, this determines how
much correction is applied to reduce any
difference between the set wind angle and
the actual wind angle.
• The range is 1 (slowly affected by wind
change) to 10 (sensitive to wind change).
Optimum steering
Change the values of the steering parameters
for optimum steering performance.
Generally:
• For calm seas, increase response; for rough
seas (or to save power) decrease response.
• For higher boat speeds, decrease ratio; for
lower speeds, increase ratio.
• In case of cross-winds or weather-helm,
increase trim; In case of balanced steering,
decrease trim.
• For large displacement boats and boats
with insensitive steering, increase counter
rudder; for lightweight boats and boats
with responsive steering, decrease counter
rudder.
8
Optimising steering performance