Boatnerd Discussion Forum

The William G Mather has a direct connection with an articulated rod.

Real modern vessels "fly by wire" with an Ethernet cable on the end of the wheel going to a hydraulic unit near the rudder that moves it.
Same for engine control levers - big levers attached to an Ethernet cable underneath.
Engine management panels the same way. Displays of engine information and alarms.

https://marine.cat.com/cda/files/889530/7/Brochure%20-%20Cat%20Marine%20Power%20Display.pdf

On the Viking1, the steering was controlled with a chain, was mounted
on the cardeck ceiling. I believe it turned a shaft that towards the stern that went vertical down to the Alis Chalmers steering engine.

Ship's steering gears are controlled from the bridge with what is called a Telemotor System.
The Telemotor System can be hydraulic, electric or combination hydraulic and electric. The hydraulic piping and or electric wiring would run from the wheelhouse to the steering flat through the side tunnel or a conduit on the main deck
The following link will give you information on how a basic hydraulic telemotor system works. http://www.machineryspaces.com/steering-gear-telemotor-control.html
The following link will give you information on how a basic electric telemotor works. http://www.machineryspaces.com/steering-gear-electrical-control.html
Modern ships use a combination of both systems with an electrically controlled hydraulic directional control valve and separate hydraulic pump added to the Hydraulic Telemotor System. Pulse signals from the Autopilot or remote control system to the control valve will control the operation of the main steering system.
In the event of failure of the telemotor system the steering can be controlled locally with some sort of mechanical means such as a geared wheel

Sometimes with chains and gear boxes also

The only one I explored personally is the [i]Valley Camp[/i] at Sioux Saint Marie, MI. The wheel stand was connected to a round steel shaft that went aft through the top of the cargo hold to a steering engine that recognised the rotation to drive two steam engines to haul the rudder in either direction. I know that later designs used hydraulic oil in loops to drive the steering engine the same as the mechanical. This is the same hydraulic motor as larger modern pleasure craft. Today the steering engine is hydraulic.
BTW, the ancient method was a drum behind the wheel that had rope or something other that connected to chains that went on either side of the ship to the rudder quadrant (strong arm method).
I hope a marine engineer can fill things I missed.

Electric and hydraulic with rams to quadrant.

How were the controls connected to the rudder on the classic style ore boat from the wheelhouse.? Were the control lines run under the hold or along the sides somehow?? Thanks .