Adding rudder position indicator.

[Driller]

Anybody try one of these bad boys? https://www.amazon.com/Davis-385-Rudder ... +INDICATOR

I've looked at it, but looks a little like training wheels to me. I think if I could get the rudder indicator to show up on my GPS it would be more stealth. But that's just me. I know that they make conversion systems to take a standard 2 wire rudder indicator and convert it to NMEA 2000 which most Chartplotters will accept, just haven't had the time to research it throughly.

[jma2@fuse.net]

Timely thread. I've been researching rudder indicator options for my Cobalt with Volvo Penta 280. Volvo has a "rudder kit" but it mounts to the back transom and with an arm attached to the drive which is attached to a sensor. That doesn't seem to work for Cobalt boats--where would it be mounted? Also, the kit is much more expensive than the addition of the rudder indicator option for our boats. Cobalt charges about $233 for a rudder indicator for a VP engine.

I noticed when looking under the dash that Cobalt appears to install wiring harnesses for everything regardless if optioned. For example, under my dash, there are open-ended connections for a "compass" "trim tab" "trim power" "GPS" "Key FOB". So, I surmise that VP pre-installs a rudder sensor, and, if a rudder indicator is ordered, all that Cobalt has to do is add a gauge to the wiring harness. Unfortunately, I did not locate any wiring connector under the dash for a rudder indicator. However, in the engine compartment, there are more open-ended wiring connectors, and I did find a wire harness labeled "Rubb?r". Could this be the connection point for the rudder indicator gauge? The "b" is a backward "d", and the "?" looks like a backward "e". Is that how VP spells rudder?

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Having recently purchased the Easy Connect Interface, I plan to install a NMEA backbone so I can pick up other data, e.g., fuel level, depth, trim, and hopefully GPH. I would like to get the rudder indicator working on the App, so if i can confirm my plug-and-play theory for the rudder indicator, it might work with the App. That would be cool.

In the meantime, I'm using zip-ties to indicate rudder position. From full port or full starboard, I turn the wheel one full turn and stop when the two blue zip ties are at the top. It's not perfect but it's better than nothing.

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[mdadgar]

Anyone ever sort out adding a rudder indicator to a Volvo Penta? I would like to add one to my A25 so I stop pulling skiers out at a 30 degree angle.

The gauge package supports it - just needs signal.

- Mark

[Tuscany]

Good news and bad news.
Bad news, my dealer said Colbalt informed them that the wiring harness is different, and not able to add the option. The other bad news concerns the good news.. there is no good news.

[Big Block Power]

Is it nmea 2000 compatible? It should be easy to buy it and add it on?

[Driller]

They make a converter from a standard 2 wire rudder indicator to the NMEA 2000 network. Lots of them online. Install the rudder indicator and the converter tie into the network and you should be in business. I looked at this some, but I would have to install the NMEA backbone as my boat is not equipped.

[jma2@fuse.net]

Well I install a rudder indicator sensor in my CS3 (now CS23) as a DYI project. I ordered the Volvo Penta kit from my Cobalt dealer, and it came with no instructions. Surprisingly, my Cobalt dealer did not know how to install it or have any instructions; so after calling Cobalt they sent me a few pictures of how it looks installed in the boat, and I found a VP diagram online that helped too. So for anyone wishing to DYI this project over the winter, here is how to do it. It's not that hard. The key part is making sure your boat is level for proper calibration.

Here's what I got from my Cobalt dealer:

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STEP 1: Remove bolt from steering arm

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STEP 2: Replace the bolt with the one that came with the kit

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THIS CONTINUES IN A SECOND POST B/C I'M ONLY LIMITED TO 3 PICTURES PER POST

[jma2@fuse.net]

STEP 2 (Continued): New bolt on steering arm.

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STEP 3: Determine placement of sensor on transom wall. Note that a wire mount was in the way, so I had to move it over. To do this, I drilled a small pilot hole and then filled it with 3M 5200 adhesive before screwing it down in its new location. Also I filled the vacant hole with the 5200.

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STEP 4: Install and attach armature from the rudder sensor to the new bolt installed on the steering arm.

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Note that the sensor has 3 mounting holes, but I was only able to use 2 of them because my mounting wall was not high enough to take the 3rd screw. The two screws hold it in fine, and when I perform final assembly, I will apply 3M 4200 adhesive to the sensor and transom wall.

This is the rough installation for now, but the outdrive is perfectly straight to the boat, and the rudder sensor is perfectly level and square to the transom and steering arm. Next time I get down the lake (who knows when), I will finish final installation, and attach and calibrate a NMEA 2K converter to the sensor to to send the signal to my iPad. My boat has a NMEA backbone , which I installed over the summer.

For anyone who wants to do this, it's not difficult project. The hardest part was probably replacing the bolt on the steering arm, and of course drilling holes in the transom wall.

[jma2@fuse.net]

CORRECTION TO PICTURE IN POST ABOVE

The wiring mount was moved as depicted below.

IMG_2911.jpg

[AsLan7]

.
Wow. Nice job installing & documenting this project J2. Let us know how you like it.

[greenhut]

Nice write-up and pics J2. I found the doc below. It would seem to imply that those of us with EVC dont require a converter...

https://muldermotoren.nl/SalesGuidedec2 ... 5B1%5D.pdf

[greenhut]

J2 - what was the VP part number of that kit?

[jma2@fuse.net]

Volvo Penta Rudder Indicator Kit Part No. 1140463. The Cobalt Dealer charged me $233 for the kit, which is (was) the same price to add it at the Cobalt website when you “Build Your Dream”.

My boat is non-EVC, so I cannot comment on whether you need additional sensors. I also have the Easy Connect Interface, however, and if you have EVC and want to install the Rudder Indicator Kit, the VP literature states that the Easy Connect will show rudder position on EVC equipped vessels without having to install any additional sensors. So, I would think your intuition is correct that you don’t need additional sensors for an EVC vessel to add the rudder indicator. But I wouldn’t know if your EVC display has a rudder angle gauge or some way of outputting the data.

[greenhut]

Volvo Penta Rudder Indicator Kit Part No. 1140463. The Cobalt Dealer charged me $233 for the kit, which is (was) the same price to add it at the Cobalt website when you “Build Your Dream”.

My boat is non-EVC, so I cannot comment on whether you need additional sensors. I also have the Easy Connect Interface, however, and if you have EVC and want to install the Rudder Indicator Kit, the VP literature states that the Easy Connect will show rudder position on EVC equipped vessels without having to install any additional sensors. So, I would think your intuition is correct that you don’t need additional sensors for an EVC vessel to add the rudder indicator. But I wouldn’t know if your EVC display has a rudder angle gauge or some way of outputting the data.

Thanks J2.

The EVC display on the R series is tiny, and I doubt it can display the sensor position, but it passes data on to the Garmin which definitely can.

[Tuscany]

Thank you ,Greenhut for answering questions that dealers can not.
I am super busy from now to October, but I plan on doing this rudder thing, as well as updating our Garmins. I may be resurrecting this and asking you questions then. Thanks so much.