Raymarine Autohelm 100, Install Manual

Page: 97 / 109

96 TYPE 100/300 Operation and Installation Handbook
5.7 Rudder Gain Adjustment (Displacement Craft)
The factory set rudder gain level provides stable control for initial sea
trials. However, vessels can vary widely in their response to the helm, and
further adjustment to the rudder gain may improve the autopilot’s steering
characteristics. Rudder gain should be set in Response level 1.
An excessively high rudder control setting will result in oversteer, which
can be recognized by the vessel swinging from side to side of the
automatic heading, accompanied by excessive rudder movement. In
addition, distinct overshoot will be observed when the course is changed.
This condition can be corrected by reducing the rudder setting.
Similarly, an insufficient rudder control setting results in understeer which
gives sluggish steering performance and is particularly apparent when
changing course. This is corrected by increasing the rudder setting. These
tendencies are most easily recognized in calm sea conditions where wave
action does not mask basic steering performance.
Typically, if at cruising speed a course change of 40 degrees results in an
overshoot of between 2 - 5 degrees, the rudder gain is correctly adjusted.
Push either RESPONSE key for access to Rudder Gain. Adjust either side
of the calibrated setting to provide optimum autopilot steering.
Correct
rudder
setting
Rudder
setting
too high
New
heading
New
heading
R173/2-1
Rudder
setting
too low
New
heading
A B
Note: Once the optimum setting has been found, the default calibration
setting for rudder gain should be changed.
Adjustment with Response Level 3
Response level 3, by default, automatically sets the gain to 3 settings
above the gain at response level 1. This can be adjusted as follows:
Select response level 3 and then scroll to the gain display. Adjust the
value as required and save the new value by pressing the up and down
response keys together momentarily.