How Does
How Does Jog Lever Boat Steering Work?
A Tiller Instead of a Wheel
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When the tiller of a sailboat is put over to change direction, the boat changes direction; if the boat is steered to the right and the tiller is not returned to center, the boat will continue to the right until the tiller -- and thus, the rudder -- is again moved to center, returning the boat to a straight course. This type of steering is called non-follow-up steering, meaning that the tiller and rudder do not automatically return to center when the tiller is released. Jog lever boat steering uses a small "stick" in much the same way as a tiller, providing rudder control with a small movement rather than several turns of the wheel.
Common Applications of Jog Lever Steering
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Hydraulic steering (overhead view)
Jog lever steering can be used on boats of almost any size, from small runabouts to the largest of crude carriers as long as they have hydraulic or electric servo-motor steering systems, although jog levers are much more common -- for reasons of cost -- on hydraulic systems. A hydraulic steering system uses a hydraulic pump connected to a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, as shown below, to move the rudder to the left or right.
An On-Off Switch to the Steering Pump
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The jog lever control acts like a three-position electrical switch. Spring-loaded to the "off" position in the center, when the lever is moved to the right (or left), the hydraulic steering pump activates the double-acting hydraulic cylinder, moving the rudder to the right (or left). When the jog lever is released, the lever returns to the center position and the steering pump ceases to operate, leaving the rudder in the position it was in when the pump shut down.
eHow Article: How Does Jog Lever Boat Steering Work?
