Chapter 3: Commissioning & setup 41
Over time you may wish to repeat these adjustments using a range of sea conditions
and headings to achieve optimum all-round performance for your particular vessel
and preferences.
Adjust these settings when motoring your boat at cruising speed.
Response level
The principal method of adjusting the performance of an SPX-5 Tiller system is by
changing the response level. This is the only user adjustment you should need to
make to the SPX-5 Tiller system on a regular basis. This controls the relationship
between the SPX-5 Tiller system’s course keeping accuracy and the amount of helm/
drive activity.
To temporarily change the response level:
1. Press
-1
and
+1
or
resp
to access the
RESPONSE
screen.
2. Use
-1
or
+1
to adjust the setting.
3. Press
disp
to confirm the change.
Rudder gain
Boats can vary widely in their response to helm, and by adjusting the rudder gain you
can change the SPX-5 Tiller system’s steering characteristics. Rudder gain is a
measure of how much helm the SPX-5 Tiller system applies to correct course errors –
higher settings mean more rudder is applied.
Complete the following test to determine whether the rudder gain is set correctly:
1. Set
RESPONSE
to level 5 (see above).
2. Motor your boat to a typical cruising speed in clear water. (It is easier to recognize
the steering response in calm sea conditions where wave action does not mask
steering performance.)
3. Press
auto
to enter Auto mode, then alter course by 40°:
• if the rudder gain is adjusted correctly, the 40° course change should result in
a crisp turn followed by an overshoot of no more than 5°.
• If the rudder gain setting is too high, the 40° course change will result in a
distinct overshoot of more than 5° and there may be a distinct ‘S’ in the course,
as at (A) below.
Correct this oversteer by reducing the rudder gain setting.
Screen Text Effect on operation
RESPONSE 1-3
This setting minimizes the amount of rudder activity but may compro-
mise short-term course keeping accuracy,
RESPONSE 4-6
This setting gives good course keeping with crisp, well controlled turns
under normal operating conditions.
RESPONSE 7-9
This setting provides the tightest possible course keeping and greatest
rudder activity. This can lead to a rough passage in open waters as the
SPX-5 Tiller system may fight the sea.
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