Furuno NAVpilot NAVpilot-500 User Manual

Page 44

4. MENU OPERATION

4-7

Set rudder gain so that the boat does not make frequent yaw. The figure shown below
provides general guidelines for setting rudder gain.

Boat's Speed

Sea State

Load Condition

RUDDER GAIN

fast

calm

light

low

slow

rough

heavy

high

General guidelines for setting rudder gain

COUNTER RUDDER
If the boat is heavily loaded, the heading will turn excessively by inertia, passing the new
course. Then, the NAVpilot-500 will steer the rudder to the opposite side and the heading
will turn in that direction excessively again. In an extreme case the heading oscillates
several times until it finally settles in the new course. An adjustment known as “counter
rudder” prevents this kind of oscillation.

Counter rudder is usually not required for small boats. When your boat zigzags a lot before
settling in the new course, increase the setting.

Intended

course

Large course error

The counter rudder feature functions to smoothly
return ship's heading toward intended course.

Counter rudder:

small setting