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So I've been continuously annoyed that my 2001 262 doesn't have a rudder indicator. Yes there are a wide array of options in the market, but they require sticking something on my steering wheel or on my dashboard.

I mentioned this to my 18yo son and he asked if he could design something for the boat that would sit on the steering column, behind the steering wheel. I told him to go for it, and in 3 days he had designed and 3-D printed the first prototype. It works great, and I don't think it's intrusive. What do you all think?

That’s a first!

Nice job C262. Amazing what those 3D printers can do…and an 18 year old son!

Nice. So it knows how many turns away you are from center?
Let's get me some of that!

That is truly a great invention. And it looks good too. I think there is business to be made here

Big Block Power wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 7:32 pm Nice. So it knows how many turns away you are from center?
Let's get me some of that!

Sort of. Gears step down the indicator dial to movement in small increments as the wheel turns. It's so I can find center each time without running back to the stern to see where I left the outdrive pointed (almost took out my dock once when I thought it was straight).

I tried to post a small video too, but the site wouldn't take an mp4 file.

Happy to provide more details if anyone is interested.

Cobalt262 wrote: Mon Jul 18, 2022 7:30 am

Big Block Power wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 7:32 pm Nice. So it knows how many turns away you are from center?
Let's get me some of that!

Sort of. Gears step down the indicator dial to movement in small increments as the wheel turns. It's so I can find center each time without running back to the stern to see where I left the outdrive pointed (almost took out my dock once when I thought it was straight).

I tried to post a small video too, but the site wouldn't take an mp4 file.

Happy to provide more details if anyone is interested.

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Yes post the details. I’m sure you’ll get a few takers on the site.

Sorry about the Mp4 format incompatibility. You can post it as a YouTube vid though if you upload it to your YouTube account.

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AsLan7 wrote: Mon Jul 18, 2022 12:44 pm

Cobalt262 wrote: Mon Jul 18, 2022 7:30 am

Big Block Power wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 7:32 pm Nice. So it knows how many turns away you are from center?
Let's get me some of that!

Sort of. Gears step down the indicator dial to movement in small increments as the wheel turns. It's so I can find center each time without running back to the stern to see where I left the outdrive pointed (almost took out my dock once when I thought it was straight).

I tried to post a small video too, but the site wouldn't take an mp4 file.

Happy to provide more details if anyone is interested.

.
Yes post the details. I’m sure you’ll get a few takers on the site.

Sorry about the Mp4 format incompatibility. You can post it as a YouTube vid though if you upload it to your YouTube account.

.

X2 put it on utube.

Here's a quick video of the rudder indictor in action
https://youtube.com/shorts/vM8IvXbdju0?feature=share

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That's awesome. What did you have to do to install it.
Let's get one made up for me.

Very cool Jeff!

Big Block Power wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2022 6:39 pm That's awesome. What did you have to do to install it.
Let's get one made up for me.

You only have to remove the steering wheel, not the center nut, only the wheel. Then slide the thing over the steering colum and tighten it down, making sure the sterndrive is straight and the rudder indicator points up. The last part is to put a 2 piece fitted collar around the first lip of the column's rubber boot and the indicator. Reattach the wheel and you're done.

Guess you would need to calibrate to how many turns of the wheel from lock to lock? Or I guess it doesn't really matter since all you really need to know is if you rudder is pointing off center and not 100% port vs 75% port.

VTENGR wrote: Wed Jul 20, 2022 8:56 am Guess you would need to calibrate to how many turns of the wheel from lock to lock? Or I guess it doesn't really matter since all you really need to know is if you rudder is pointing off center and not 100% port vs 75% port.

Exactly! For my purposes, I only needed to know where "straight" is.

Very nice! Do you have the files uploaded at Thingiverse?

Very cool!