Raymarine Autohelm 100, Install Manual

Page: 98 / 109

Chapter 5: Initial Sea Trials 97
5.8 Rudder Gain Adjustment (High Speed Planning Craft)
Warning: It is particularly important that the Rudder Gain is correctly set
on high speed craft. Incorrect adjustment will lead to poor steering
performance and is a dangerous condition at
high speed.
Adjust as follows:
• Set to Rudder Gain for optimum steering performance at the vessels
normal cruising speed.
• Push either
RESPONSE
key for access to Rudder Gain. Adjust either
side of the calibrated setting to provide optimum autopilot steering.
5.9 Rudder Gain - Adjustment with Speed
Due to the significant differences in dynamic stability between planing and
non-planing conditions, most high speed craft require Rudder Gain
adjustment when going from planing to displacement speeds or vice
versa. The required adjustment can be achieved automatically
or manually.
• When the autopilot is used with the speed input from an Autohelm
SeaTalk Speed instrument or is receiving boat speed via its NMEA
input. Rudder gain is automatically adjusted with boat speed. After
setting the gain at planing speed no further manual adjustment should
be required.
Warning: When speed information is fed to the autopilot via the
NMEA input always check the displayed speed is close to the
actual boat speed before locking the autopilot onto a heading.
Delays in data transmission could result in the 'pilot' applying too
much rudder after a large change in vessel speed.
• If no Speed input or NMEA is available manual adjustment should be
carried out to the Rudder Gain setting via the Response keys adjusting
as follows:
1. Speed decreases from planing to displacement
- Increase gain by 1 or 2 levels.
2. Speed increases from displacement to planing
- Decrease gain by 1 or 2 levels.
Warning: The manual gain adjustment must be made after
reducing from planing to displacement speed and before
increasing from displacement to planing speed.