Daniel wrote:


Is that a cable steering system?

yes, there is an electrical servo-motor under the pedestal linked
through a chain directly to the shaft of the helm wheel (there are two
parallel chains inside the pedestal). The servo includes an electric
clutch that engages/disengages the motor shaft to its sprocket wheel.
When the clutch is powered the helm wheel is locked to the autopilot
movement and its torque is quite high, believe me.

Oh yeah, chain and a servo motor. No slippage there. The panic button
sounds like a good idea if the autopilot's off or standby button is not
prominent or obvious.

And it might be a good idea that engaging the autopilot disengages the
servo motor clutch. If you can't use the wheel for "dodge steering"
when the autopilot is on, there is really no good reason to have the
servo motor clutch engaged. For quick dodge steering I'd like a
prominent switch (momentary contact?) that disengaged either the
autopilot or the autopilot drive.

As you add more pieces it gets to be more complicated and more to
remember but it seems some safety override would be good on that.

I like if a spin of the wheel induces a dodge. Up here in Maine they
have magnetic lobster pot bouys that cause autopilots to home in on
them. A spin of the wheel at the last second will fool them on some
boats.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)