Steering Knobs

The Dog House · Post by **The Dog House** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:42 pm

Does anyone use a steering knob? I'm considering installing one on The Dog House. The main reason is to be able to tell where the rudder is from the position of my steering (left) hand without having to look at the wheel. I can spin the wheel quickly enough now without a knob, but I'm not always sure exactly what the rudder position is without looking down at the wheel.

If you do use a knob, where do you have it positioned on the wheel (top, bottom, 10 o'clock, etc.)?

Vitaliy · Post by **Vitaliy** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:06 pm

well dunno about a knob, would be a bit awkward for me personally

my PO of my boat cut grooves at the 6 oclock and 12 oclock on the wheel for the center, its just a decorative line in the teak that marks the center line. the 12 is one notch and the 6 is 2 notches, so when you turn the wheel ud feel them hit your hand

doesn't really stand out as much as a knob would, seems to me more of a trucker thing to do

hope that helped.

The Dog House · Post by **The Dog House** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:22 am

Currently I have a piece of white tape at the top of the wheel marking the center position. From the center position, it's 1 1/4 turns either way to maximum rudder deflection. The tape works well, but I have to look at it. With a knob I could know by feel and wouldn't have to look.

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:51 am

I had one on a Whaler I had when I was about 14. It came with it when I got it and I left it on there. Never really used it at all.

Do folks really not know what thier rudder angle is while underway? I am having a hard time understanding this. Maybe its just early and I am overlooking an obvious explanation.

The Dog House · Post by **The Dog House** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:48 am

Underway is easy to know what the rudder angle is. In close quarters maneuvering when cycling in and out of neutral, I want to set the rudder angle before applying thrust for a short burst. When in neutral and drifting, it's not possible to tell what the rudder angle is by the feel of the wheel. That's where the tape or steering knob really helps.

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:52 am

The Dog House wrote:Underway is easy to know what the rudder angle is. In close quarters maneuvering when cycling in and out of neutral, I want to set the rudder angle before applying thrust for a short burst. When in neutral and drifting, it's not possible to tell what the rudder angle is by the feel of the wheel. That's where the tape or steering knob really helps.

Ahhhh. I see. Single screw. I had to look at what boat you have, somehow in my mind everyone has an F-32/36 or a 10m. I really need to get a grip huh?

Makes all the sense in the world to me now.

How about a spot of etch primer topped with a spot of paint on your wheel? Maybe about the size of an orange seed.

MattSC · Post by **MattSC** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 5:46 pm

I have a small line, 1/8" diameter nylon wrapped around the the wheel to let me know where my rudder is, very easy to find by feel. It's wrapped approximately 1" and has worked well for the past 18yrs. It has not slipped at all. It's at 5 O'Clock on the wheel in the attached photo

Matt

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 5:50 pm

How about one of these.

http://www.davisnet.com/marine/products ... pnum=00385

P-Dogg · Post by **P-Dogg** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:05 pm

An advantage of the rudder angle indicator is that it tells you where, well, your rudder is. If you have hydraulic leak in the steering, the mark on your wheel will slowly move out of position over time. Or so I've heard.......

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:43 pm

P-Dogg wrote:An advantage of the rudder angle indicator is that it tells you where, well, your rudder is. If you have hydraulic leak in the steering, the mark on your wheel will slowly move out of position over time. Or so I've heard.......

True , even a small internal leak , and if you have dual stations the first time you use the other helm it will be off .

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:44 pm

Plus that, my tri-cabin goes 2.75 turns either direction to full deflection from center (5 1/2 full turns from one side to the other). No way to use a fixed mark on the wheel.

kallen · Post by **kallen** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:49 pm

My friends gave me a steering knob for my birthday years ago, it had a condem in it. Guess what brand? Kept the knob works great.

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:49 pm

Is The Dog House mechanical or hydraulic being a 1971?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:58 pm

Most likely cable , but things could have been changed over the years

The Dog House · Post by **The Dog House** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 9:16 pm

Commissionpoint wrote:Is The Dog House mechanical or hydraulic being a 1971?

The Dog House is mechanical. From center to full deflection is 1 1/4 turns. With a knob, I figure I can keep my left hand on the steering wheel and my right hand dancing between the transmission and throttle. Next year I hope to replace the split controls with a Morse MT-3 combination control box, and then it will be left hand on the wheel and right hand on the throttle.