Added hydraulic steering to the trolling motor

[DiverDennis]

Hello All,

Just finished adding hydraulic steering to the trolling motor. Tapped into the existing steering with a 6 way solenoid valve. The valve allows steering from MAIN or TROLLING. With this setup and the Raymarine X-10 autopilot, the trolling motor can now be steered by the autopilot. Let's go fishin'

[GLF]

Looks nice Dennis. When is the boat going in?

[DiverDennis]

Thanks Mike.

Our first trip will be at Muskegon in April.

[Paulywood]

Looks good Dennis. You might want to think about heading farther south in April. Muskegon doesn't really have any coho so the fishing doesn't get good there until the water warms a little. May is better than April. I usually try to head to St. Joe or South Haven if I fish in April.

[Hoosier_Steelheader]

That's a pretty sweet looking contraption...

[DiverDennis]

Looks good Dennis. You might want to think about heading farther south in April. Muskegon doesn't really have any coho so the fishing doesn't get good there until the water warms a little. May is better than April. I usually try to head to St. Joe or South Haven if I fish in April.

Hey Nick,

Thanks for the advice. Our first trip will be a shakedown outing. Have to "learn" the autopilot and the water needs to be calm. Muskegon Lake will offer calm conditions to do the seatrials.

We did a road trip on Sunday down to D&R Sports for a salmon clinic with the Best Chance Too guys (Bill Bale and Dave Engel). Then we headed down to New Buffalo to check out the marina and launch. Gonna check out SH/SJ next weekend.

DD

[DiverDennis]

Here are the valve specs and a description of it's operation...http://www.hydraforce.com/Solenoid/Sol-pdf/1-640-1.pdf

From the helm pump the hoses connect to 1 & 4. 2 & 3 go to the main cylinder and 6 & 5 go to the trolling cylinder. When the solenoid is energized, the flow is blocked between 2&3 and permitted at 6&5.

Operating pressure: 3000 psi

Max flow rate: 2gpm

Waterproof solenoid current draw: initial 1.22, hold <1

[DiverDennis]

Finally got out to break in the autopilot and new hyd steering setup. Glad to report everything works great. The pilot now steers the ship's main rudder or, with a flick of a switch, the kicker (trolling) motor with ease.

After performing the pilot's sea trial steps (autolearn, calibration) in the calm waters of Muskegon lake, we went out the channel do some trolling in Lake Michigan. The water was pretty calm with a 10mph NW wind. While trolling with the kicker, there were no crazy back and forth motions, no zig zagging, just a nice smooth straight bearing as she goes. We even caught a couple kings.

Headed to Ludington for a week on June 30th. Will be at the Municipal Marina, E dock.

[capt-bruce]

Hi Dennis,What is your expected date to arrive?I may have to make a trip to Ludville.

[Nailer]

Very nice Dennis. Glad every thing worked good.

[DiverDennis]

Hi Dennis,What is your expected date to arrive?I may have to make a trip to Ludville.

Hey Captain. Good to hear from you. We will be there on the 30th. Come see us.

[DiverDennis]

Very nice Dennis. Glad every thing worked good.

Thank you muchly.

[DiverDennis]

10-4

We are heading to the Ultimate Sports Show in Grand Rapids tomorrow. Gonna check out the BCT super seminar. Should be fun.

[Nailer]

10-4

We are heading to the Ultimate Sports Show in Grand Rapids tomorrow. Gonna check out the BCT super seminar. Should be fun.

Stop by and say hi to

Don, Tangled Mess

Terry, Dirty Dog

Don, Fishsniffer At the Silver Streak booth

Tony, Eyefull. Next to the Silver Streak booth

Josh. Killerbe20. At the Outdoorsman.

Aaron, Line Dancing. At the Mucc Booth.

John, Yoda. At the Big Weenie booth.

[DiverDennis]

Thanks for the invite. See you there.

[DiverDennis]

Had a good time at the show. Stopped by the Silver Streak booth and met Terry. Picked up some new UVs. Beautiful.

Attended Jerry Lee and Bill Bale's seminars. Jerry talked mostly about presentation and Bill covered wire divers and copper.

Watched the dogs jump.

Bought some pickled jalapeno asparagus and some turkey jerky.

Had a pulled pork BBQ sandwich out on the deck overlooking the river.

Ran into a guy I used to work with (Dan Thelen at Fisher Body, Lansing) at the Steelheaders booth. He's retired now and loves the club.

Won't be long,

DD

[OK Bill]

That's a pretty sweet looking . How did it work out for you. Interested in doing something like this to my boat