Rudder position indicator

[techmitch]

Got it buttoned up. Drive direction indicator replaced voltmeter. Voltmeter is in hole cut for water pressure gauge. Latter moves to new hole fore of throttle. While I was remounting engine hatch cover, I replaced nut securing latch prong with 4" drilled and tapped strap (can't rotate). Now a 11/16th" wrench slipped in finger slot will definitely open a jammed compartment.
Informed Susan that I will no longer need her assistance in docking. No longer any need to futilely look back at spot where outboard should be when I pull this I/O in. I'll put dock on starboard and rope a cleat myself.

A regular frickin hero I tell ya!

 

[Christo]

Congrats Arm, looks like all your efforts paid off, very nice

 

[Arminius]

Congrats Arm, looks like all your efforts paid off, very nice

Thank you. This project followed on my realization that my boat handling could be better. We'll see how it goes next season.

 

[Arminius]

If I were starting over: I'd bend a shelf of sheet metal like the Swede and fasten it to transom under the 2 existing penetrating bolt ends, drilling it to receive the pot both unmodified and with one flange cut off-should that be necessary. I'd extend the tiller clevis pin upwards and loop the spring over the pin itself. A Grade 8, 3/8 bolt with 2.5" of unthreaded shank would make a good replacement pin with self-locking nut screwed and jammed down all threads. Prepping the threaded portion of the bolt to receive the spring loop would be your call but I would not drill or cut a hardened Grade 8 unless I had the tools. Easier just to grind it down to 3/16th" carefully, creating a shoulder to stop the spring loop as you drop it on.

They call distorted thread lock-nuts "2-way" and I'd use one on a Grade 8 rather than trying to drill it for a cotter pin.

 

[Arminius]

Finally hauled the boat out and put it in water. This helm indicator works great. I reverse out smartly knowing outdrive is amidships and shift and spin the wheel while still under weigh, goosing it out of the marina with confidence.

 

[techmitch]

A regular frickin hero I tell ya!

Finally hauled the boat out and put it in water. This helm indicator works great. I reverse out smartly knowing outdrive is amidships and shift and spin the wheel while still under weigh, goosing it out of the marina with confidence.

 

[bobeast]

This discussion reminds me of one I had with my boat-brother about anchor chain counters. I installed one on mine, and he scoffed that it was a lot easier to just paint the chain or install chain markers.

He recently bought a boat where he can not really see the chain from the helm. I suspect there will be less scoffing going forward.

 

[Arminius]

Hornblower and "Lucky" Jack Aubrey liked smart boat handling almost as much as accuracy with a cannon.