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Raymarine autopilot control unit User Manual

Page 92

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Chapter 6: Post Installation Procedures

75

The following test will determine whether the rudder gain is set too
high or too low:

1.

In clear water and with the autopilot in Auto, alter course to
starboard by 40° by pressing the

+10 key four times.

• At cruising speeds, course changes of 40° should result in crisp

turns followed by an overshoot of no more than 5°. If this
occurs the rudder gain is adjusted correctly (as at A below).

• An excessively high rudder setting results in oversteer. This is

recognised by a distinct overshoot of more than 5° (as at B
below). This condition can be corrected by reducing the rudder
gain setting.

• Similarly, an insufficient rudder control setting will result in

understeer which gives sluggish steering performance (as at C
below). If the vessel takes a long time to make the turn and
there is no overshoot then the rudder setting is too low.

D4234-1

These actions are most easily recognised in calm sea
conditions where wave action does not mask basic steering
performance.

2.

Refer to Chapter 4, Customising the System, for instructions on
how to adjust the default rudder gain setting. Note that you can
also make temporary adjustments to rudder gain during normal
operation (see Adjusting Autopilot Performance in Chapter 2).

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