Question 62 TV01 - Towing Vessels - Oceans or Near Coastal

The Correct Answer is D **Explanation for D (Correct Answer):** The "rudder adjustment" control (sometimes labeled Rudder Gain or Weather/Rudder setting) on an autopilot steering stand is essentially a **gain control** specific to the rudder output relative to the error input. Its function is to determine how aggressively the autopilot drives the rudder when it detects a deviation (course error) from the set course. By setting the rudder adjustment, the operator dictates the ratio of rudder movement (in degrees) that the autopilot applies for every degree of course error it measures. A higher setting means the autopilot applies more rudder force for a small error, resulting in tighter steering but potentially increasing rudder activity and drag. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **A) To set the departure from base course before actuating the rudder:** This describes the function of the "deadband" or "off-course limit" setting, which determines how much course error the autopilot tolerates before initiating any corrective rudder movement. The rudder adjustment determines the magnitude of the movement once actuated, not the threshold for actuation. * **B) To align the rudder angle indicator with the true rudder angle:** This describes a calibration function, typically performed by technicians or engineers, often involving electrical synchronization or mechanical alignment of the rudder angle sensor/transmitter. It is not an operational control used by the watch officer during normal steering. * **C) To set the rate at which the rudder responds:** This describes the function of a different setting, often called the "Yaw Limit," "Rate Limit," or "Counter Rudder" adjustment, which controls the speed or magnitude of the initial counter rudder applied to check the vessel's swing (yaw rate). While related to steering performance, the rudder adjustment focuses on the magnitude of the rudder output based on the error, not the speed of the rudder itself (which is generally limited by the steering gear pump rate).