On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 11:30:26 -0400, Jack Erbes wrote:

Larry wrote:

On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 10:45:11 -0400, Jack Erbes wrote:

Larry wrote:


Anyone have any ideas? Thanks,

No friction clutches or drag adjustments on any of the cables or turning
spools? Maybe you could add one somewhere.

Jack

The cable is a single cable - push/pull. Not certain how I could change
that in any way. That said, there is no slack in it at all, so I am
wondering why rudder feedback is even needed.

If you can turn the jet by hand and the wheel will go with it, maybe one
of the accessory market autopilots made for use with tiller steered
boats or for direct attachment to motors can be made to work.

You basically need to find a place with enough room where you can anchor
one end of an autopilot attached to a point on the jet that will swivel
it right and left. Here is a link to one made by Raymarine as an
example, there are others on the market. Check out places and catalogs
like West Marine or BoatUS to get some others to consider:

http://tinyurl.com/7v66k

You might be a fringe market, seems like most of the jet boat drivers
want to do it by hand so that they can quickly irritate every single
other boat driver within their vision. I'm joking of course, no insult
intended.

Jack

Thanks, Jack,

You bet we're a fringe market! However, this isn't a jetski, it's an
actual boat! In fact, one of the finest boats you can buy - Hinckley -
uses jet drives. They have the advantage of having nothing hanging below
the bottom to get banged up by rocks. Thus, it is uniquely equipped for
fishing in shallow water providing you don't suck up mud into the pump!

The problem is that the steering mechanism for the jet is under water.
Thus, any drive which moves the jet also has to be. Nautamatic suggested I
replace the steering mechanism with a hydraulic one, but that is close to
impossible.
--

Larry
email is rapp at lmr dot com
09/15/05 11:38:32 AM