Hi guys,
I was playing around with the autopilot settings for damping on the weekend, when I noticed one of the inputs you can select is rudder angle which I have never used before. You can select either AWA,TWA, Compass, Rudder angle or GPS (chartplotter)
I normally only use two inputs; Compass bearing for in enclosed waters, and TWA for offshore or when there's no lee shore.

I'm trying to work out when/why you would use "rudder angle" as an input?
Say you set a rudder angle of 4 degrees. If the wind angle increases, the boat powers up and weather helm increases, so the rudder angle will increase, and the autopilot will correct the course to re-centre back to the 4 degree angle.
So, doesn't that mean a "rudder angle" mode is no different to "wind angle" mode? If so, why would you even have it as an option?

I'm trying to think of a scenario where it might be more useful than the other choices, ie: downwind under kite? For single handing when you're sleeping os? For heavy, or light, seas?
I must be missing something basic here, if so I apologise in advance for the dumb question
With thanks!
SB

I think that the rudder angle mode is effectively a "joystick" mode ie you twiddle the rudder angle to steer the boat manually by remote.

Hi Shaggy, was it you had a set of instruments for sale some time ago?
Cheers Conrad

It could be handy coming to pick up a mooring a bit off the wind when single handed, a fancy steering lock.