80 AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 2019 | International Boat Industry ibinews.com
TECHNICAL
SECTOR SPOTLIGHT | STEERING & TRANSMISSION
a better power source, but we kept a DC
option for emergencies.”
CMC was approached by a major
customer, San Lorenzo Yachts, and the
collaboration resulted in Directa being able
to run two rudders independently and in
a way that greatly enhanced docking. The
company has now supplied the Directa
system to hundreds of yachts, including
a 50m superyacht along with all of San
Lorenzo’s GRP models from 72ft-126ft.
“Oddly, the biggest challenge for us was
the lack of regulation for class approval,”
Cappiello said. “Electric steering had no
comparisons, so the rules didn’t exist. We
worked with RINA and ABS to actual makethe rules so compliance would be possible.
We have also ensured that our protocols
can communicate with all the main players,
such as Raymarine, Furuno, Garmin and so
on. The key is how quickly the system can
refresh the data from the various inputs,
so we have put a lot of research into the
refresh-rate time factor. This has made the
system as responsive as possible.”CABLE STILL HAS A ROLE
Whilst electric steering a joystick control
is enjoying a greater market share, many
OEMs are still more comfortable with
the tried and trusted cable and hydraulic
systems. Companies like US-based Edison,
Sweden-based Jefa, UK-based Lewmar and
the Italian companies of Transfluid and
Ultraflex still supply efficient mechanical
and hydraulic steering systems, although
most also offer electronic alternatives.
“We’ve noticed that mechanical systems
are now making a much lower percentage
of our sales, whereas our share of hydraulic
electronic systems is growing,” said
Ultraflex’s CEO Piero Gai.
“However, many boatbuilders still want
steering cables that are low maintenance
and yet highly flexible, and able to take tight
corners. Our Fourtech system is a typical
example, and a great performer.”
Armein Heisler, who has worked in
the steering industry for 27 years,
primarily with US-based Whitlock and
then with Norway-based Jefa, agrees that
for some OEMs, a simple mechanical
system is preferred.“Whilst hydraulic steering is very
effective in powerboats, we see that
yachtsmen prefer mechanical linkages,
as you get to feel every drop of water that
flows past the rudder,” he told IBI. “At night,
you can’t see the wind effects or the wave
patterns, so you rely heavily on the feedback
through the wheel. I explain to customers
that it’s like driving a car at 150mph on
the Autobahn. All cars have mechanical
steering, albeit power assisted, so you can
feel every twitch and bump in the road
and correct accordingly. This keeps you
safe. But if you drove a car with hydraulic
steering, with its ‘dead’ feel at that speed,
you would soon lose control and crash.”
Jefa supplies most of the sailing yacht
OEMs on the market, with a third of their
turnover in autopilot drives. The company
has proactively responded to the trend for
wide transoms and twin rudder set-ups in
cruising yachts. “We have also seen a steady
increase in catamarans sales,” said factory
manager Stig Jensen. “These boats require
long cable and rod runs, where we have
seen a big leap in demand.”
Hydraulic systems continue to be
favoured by powerboat enthusiasts
and have become even more compact,
dependable and responsive.
“We have recently launched Navitech,
an electromechanical system that makes
steering very precise and easy to set,”
said Ultraflex’s Piero Gai. “We have had a
lot of interest from the ski boat market.
Other developments include a new design
of hydraulic cylinder, the UC130SVS, CMC’s CEO Alessandro Capiello predicted
the move towards all-electric marine systems CMC’s all-electric steering runs from an
AC source with DC capability for emergencies.
The system allows twin rudders to be worked
independently, providing a far greater range of
docking options Ultraflex responded to the trend for ever
larger outboards and the need for independent
steering when they designed their new system A conventional twin wheel cable
steering system from Jefa, which the company
says ‘gives far greater feedback at the wheel for
serious sailors.’ Note the autopilot drive, which
is a major part of Jefa’s business