FPB Series

A New Paradigm for Cruising

Design Objectives

FPB 64

FPB 83

FPB 83 On Deck

FPB 83 Interior

FPB 83 Systems

Passages

How Things Are Working Out

Electronic Steering Control

We've been working with Will Hamm to develop a new steering control for our nav area. For years, Will has made large electronic steering wheels, used on many MegaYachts. However, we wanted something more svelte, and faster operating.

The photo above is the fruit of Will's labor. This unit is about 5 inches (125mm) wide and 3 inches (75mm) high, so it is compact enough to easily fit just about anywhere. When the black steering knob is centered, we're on autopilot. Any time the knob is turned, we have direct control of the rudders.

In the upper left corner is a fast/slow switch. This adjusts the response rate of the rudders to the knob. Fast gives us hard over to hard over within the 3/4 turn range of the knob. This will be used when we're maneuvering in port, or in severe weather when trying to keep the bow into breaking seas. The slow response is used for modest course changes offshore (if we were still sailing, this system would be getting a big workout while carving waves - both upwind and down).

The middle left has a PW/docking switch. This turns off the course-keeping function, so the pilot does not try to hold a compass course when we're in reverse!

Bottom right is a red "gain boost" button. This is a function Will developed years ago for coping with heavy weather. When this button is depressed, the rudder gain is doubled - so, the rudder angle is doubled over what it would normally be. We found this extremely valuable on Beowulf when pressing her hard (or when the winds and seas were pressing us!). With the button engaged, you have way more control. Lift your thumb and the rudder goes back to its normal angle.

In the past we've found this function really helps as a puff hits, or a big sea would starts to slew us around. Just a second or two of gain boost and the boat would stay under control in conditions where normal pilot operation would have forced us to back off on boat speed or change course.

This photo will give you some scale. We wanted the steering knob small enough to hold between thumb and forefinger and quickly change course. This will be most important if caught in breaking seas, where we are on watch for long periods of time, with occasional situations requiring instantaneous helm correction.

So how does this work in the real world? It is a wonderful tool, one that has been in constant use. However, this design is so easy on her helm that we have not had to use the steering capacity in any sort of big waves. Basically, even when surfing down waves at 18 knots or more it has been set it and forget it.

For those of you with Will Hamm's autopilots, contact him to see what is involved in an upgrade. His web site is http://www.whautopilots.com/.