Talk:Steering engine

Needs some modern material

I've provided some historical material, but this article now needs some modern hydraulic steering engine information. --John Nagle (talk) 19:47, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

Need to explain the "with Feedback" qualification.

IceDragon64 (talk) 19:41, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

Steering gear

The correct name is steering gear and not steering engine, since it is not an engine but a machine or a device. See for example: N.S. Swindells, Glossary of Maritime Techlonogy. Institute of Marine Engineers, 1997. שמחה (talk) 05:21, 26 November 2019 (UTC)

Rename

I'm considering an uncontroversial move to Marine steering engine, bypassing the WP:RM procedure. It's the name used in the book reference just added to the article. Incidentally, it would fix the point (above) by שמחה. Any comments?--AntientNestor (talk) 12:43, 5 July 2026 (UTC)

Swindells, N.S., CEng FIMarE (1997), Glossary of Maritime Technology. London, Institute of Marine Engineers. P. 318: Steering gear. Complete machinery used to turn the rudder; includes wheelhouse signal equipment and auxiliary/hand operated gear, generally positioned aft. The main gear is usually electro-hydraulic and directly connected to the rudder stock.

Layton, C.W.T. (1973), Dictionary of Nautical Words and Terms. Glasgow, Brown, Son & Ferguson. P. 365: Steering Engine. Steam, electric, or hydraulic engine that is controlled by a steering wheel, and moves tiller and rudder in response to movements of the wheel. Steering gear. All connections and mechanisms between the steering wheel and the rudder, by the working of which the Vessel is steered.

שמחה (talk) 15:03, 5 July 2026 (UTC)

It seems, then, that "Steering gear" is the whole system, whereas this article describes just the steam engine (or as pointed out above, the yet-to-be added electric or hydraulic engine). I don't think this negates the suggested name change, but it does look like we are off to the WP:RM procedure for controversial changes, after all. AntientNestor (talk) 15:30, 5 July 2026 (UTC)

"Steering engine" is an outdated term for a "steering gear power unit," dating back to the 19th century when a small steam engine replaced the manual steering mechanism operated by ropes and pulleys. The word "engine" refers only to a combustion engine (internal or external), whereas a hydraulic or electric motor is referred to as a "motor." שמחה (talk) 15:38, 5 July 2026 (UTC)

OK, I wasn't aware of the modern usage. Any change would have to incorporate "motor" or "power unit", as you suggest. Pointless, at the moment, until the article is ever expanded to include "motors". Dropping the proposal. AntientNestor (talk) 15:52, 5 July 2026 (UTC)