28TE rudder angle

[RobS]

Do you mean with the thruster motor running? Or the engine?

Good question to clear that up Doug. When I read it I "assumed" motor as in electric motor, not the engine. You do need to put a load on the thruster motor to check for a voltage drop.

[Nancy]

Hi Doug -

We tested the voltage at the thruster with nothing running (to make sure it was essentially the same as the voltage at the batteries). We also tested it with both the engine and thruster running (in both directions) as those are the usual operating conditions.

Thanks for helping clarify.

[DougSea]

We tested the voltage at the thruster with nothing running (to make sure it was essentially the same as the voltage at the batteries). We also tested it with both the engine and thruster running (in both directions) as those are the usual operating conditions.

Well done! (Don't mean to overly question your methods - experience on various forums has shown that assuming people are doing it correctly is often wrong! Clearly you don't fall into that category!!)

[Nancy]

No problem, Doug. You never know when your seemingly flawless logic is, um, flawed. Always good to have a second set of eyes.

Can't wait to hear from the DC motor dude what he finds.

[Nancy]

Well, it's past time to update this thread.

The bow thruster motor was reconditioned last July, including new brushes, and the difference in performance was amazing. We were finally able to dock with grace in adverse winds. So to anyone who thinks their bow thruster is wimpy, I highly recommend reconditioning the motor.

Last week, John made a small modification to the steering assembly. He drilled a new hole in the tiller about 1" forward of the original. (I keep forgetting to take a picture. In the meantime, refer to my 7/30/12 photo.) This is about as far as the cylinder will reach fully extended, and this seemingly small change has made a huge difference in close quarters handling. To our eyes, the rudder throw might have increased five degrees - hard to know without getting really anal on the measurements. The turning circle of the boat is definitely smaller than it was, and the best thing: the stern now turns easily to starboard when in reverse (we have a left-hand prop). Before this change, the boat only went straight (at low speed over a short distance) when in reverse no matter how the wheel was turned.

This new maneuverability is a very welcome change. I can now dock the boat much more easily without using the bow thruster - always a good thing to be able to do.

[slimjim]

Well, it's past time to update this thread.

The bow thruster motor was reconditioned last July, including new brushes, and the difference in performance was amazing. We were finally able to dock with grace in adverse winds. So to anyone who thinks their bow thruster is wimpy, I highly recommend reconditioning the motor.

Last week, John made a small modification to the steering assembly. He drilled a new hole in the tiller about 1" forward of the original. (I keep forgetting to take a picture. In the meantime, refer to my 7/30/12 photo.) This is about as far as the cylinder will reach fully extended, and this seemingly small change has made a huge difference in close quarters handling. To our eyes, the rudder throw might have increased five degrees - hard to know without getting really anal on the measurements. The turning circle of the boat is definitely smaller than it was, and the best thing: the stern now turns easily to starboard when in reverse (we have a left-hand prop). Before this change, the boat only went straight (at low speed over a short distance) when in reverse no matter how the wheel was turned.

This new maneuverability is a very welcome change. I can now dock the boat much more easily without using the bow thruster - always a good thing to be able to do.

Nancy can you post or e-mail me a picture of where you drilled the new hole? My boat turns very slow to port or strb and seems to take too long. My auto pilot shows only a 20 degree trun hard over boat port and strb? Is this normal on 2002 Albin 28TE'S? I would like to get 5 to 10 degrees at the least more.

Anyone else have any ideas? I would like to leave my rudder the same size. My bow thruster works great but out on the water with a lot of other boats close by or whane I need to make hard turns I need way more turning radis. PM me Nancy or post a picture for me please. Thanks SlimJim

[Nancy]

Slimjim, thanks for the nudge on the photo of the steering apparatus with the new hole. I've been meaning to post it.

steering-052813-1600.JPG

This very small change took us from about a 30-degree angle to about 50 degrees - not a 5-degree change as I previously indicated. The improvement in close quarters handling is amazing. We are being careful about handling at high speed until we're sure how the boat is reacting, and would urge anyone making similar modifications to do the same. Lots of boats handle badly or worse if operated foolishly.

One of the things we like about this mod is that it can easily be changed back.

[slimjim]

Slimjim, thanks for the nudge on the photo of the steering apparatus with the new hole. I've been meaning to post it.

steering-052813-1600.JPG

This very small change took us from about a 30-degree angle to about 50 degrees - not a 5-degree change as I previously indicated. The improvement in close quarters handling is amazing. We are being careful about handling at high speed until we're sure how the boat is reacting, and would urge anyone making similar modifications to do the same. Lots of boats handle badly or worse if operated foolishly.

One of the things we like about this mod is that it can easily be changed back.

Awesome Nancy! Thats what I thought you did and now that I see the picture its what I thought. In a big following seas I would be very very careful if you are now 50 degrees and you could bury your bow at a high speed with a 50 degree rudder angle. Where I run in the ocean and bay we have bad weather a lot of the time and big following seas as well.

Right now I am only able to turn 20 degrees and I want at least 30 to 40 degrees so I am going to drill a hole maybe not as far as an inch but maybe a 1/2 inch and let you know how it works. Please keep us updated and I will as well and thanks so much for the fast reply. SlimJim

[Nancy]

Jim, thanks for your input on handling at high speed in a following sea. If we were in large following seas, we probably wouldn't be operating at high speed, and we'd be handling helm very tenderly. Haven't run into the situation yet. I'll certainly keep you posted, and look forward to hearing how this mod goes for you.

[slimjim]

Nancy, attached is a picture of mine, I do have the 2nd hole already set so if I want to change the rudder I can. I'm going to leave it as is for now but its good to know I can if I need to. I am just posting this picture for others in case they want to

photo.JPG

Nancy thanks again for the picture of the rudder. It helped me out big time.