Rambunctious & Iggy: last winter you were going to try to developed a digitally incoded trim indicator and limit switch. (see the Formula section). Did either of you have any success???

No, I was searching for encoders that might work in a marine environment. Didn't have much luck. Couldn't find one that was waterproof, only water resistant. Need one to withstand salt and pressurized water spray.
Would still like to find one that'll work though.
Unfortunately it will be expensive, but what isn't.

I'll have to start looking into it again.
I've been so busy at work, haven't had time to spend on it.

Hmmm, now you've got the wheels turning again. Thanks.

shhhhh, don' t tell everyone

oh, i did that already....

been talking to a budy at work who has his own machine shop at home. we want to fabricate some over the winter

I got so much going on (finish house, pole barn, landscaping, tow lite company startup with partner, investment property for storage buildings, yada ydad, that I haven't done much yet but engineer in the mind about it.

I actually want to take a power seat controller that we make at work ( Johnson controls)
and utilize the position memory feature. they even have 4 presets now for up to 4 or five (channels)

this would be trick and I am filing the patent provisional to protect the idea..... but ....

...you would have with the touch of a button:
position 1 - tucked in, tabs down, for planing off
position 2 trimmed for rough seas
position 3 - trimmed out for flat out top speed
position 4 - trailer position, tabs up ( dry dock or trailer loading)

you could reset any of the 4 positions to anything you want, just like in a car power seat

this can be accomplished with water proof encoders on the mechanisms(drives and tabs) (which we have not been able to find for less than $456 a pop!!)

or push pull cables moving the senders inside the engine compartment.

A seat track has about the same travel as an outdrive????? hmmmmmmmm

what do you think, is there a market for this?

thanks for asking about it

Rob

Damn straight there's a market for it.
Sounds like a great idea. Keep us posted.

WOuld you want manually selected 4 position or have it speed sensitive--that is 0-20mph down, 20-40mph, 40-60mph, 60+mph. All done automatic with a manual override. I do like the 4 position also.

i don't know marty... it is a good idea,

but where i boat (lake Mich) i can go 40 with the family and trimmed out for a smooth ride on a calm night, or be just POUNDING the 6 footers and barely hit 40mph..... most of the time in the air ( that's usually when I break something....just ask waterfoul)

I noticed on one of the door panels we make ( honda or something) that the controller had 4 memory positions, and a STOP button. ( i guess when the seat is running your knees into the steering wheel.)

you could simply hit the stop at anytime . and then use your normal trim buttons to do anything. the controller just opens a circuit to power a motor until a position on the linear potentiometer is reached, then stops. so even if the two drive pumps ran at different speed ( like mine) one just gets to position 2 seconds before the other. when they both hit their set point they stop

racers could even set up a memory for the turn.....????

or you could be very accurate in your set points by setting them on the trailer, actually measuring the trim cylinders, then setting a memory position, knowing they are level, or just come back from your best Kilo run ever , and hit set.....

i gotta go rumage in our test facility for some scrap door modules and seat tracks for my prototype.