Tiller Pilot for Hunter 23.5

[tallswede]

I would like to know if any of you have used a tiller pilot on your 23.5 and how you mounted it. I'm planning on buying a Raymarine ST-2000 for my boat. I plan to mount it on the starboard side of the cockpit. The manual I have read online says to mount it 18" forward of the rudder pivot point. My concerns are is this going to be too close to my outboard motor. I wonder if the metal in the motor being 18"-20" away from the tiller pilot might affect it's operation. How about a stereo speaker being in the vicinity? What has been your experience on this subject? Thanks for any info you might have folks.

Kevin

 

[twodzusfittings]

I bought the same unit for my 25.5. I mounted the pivot pole on the opposite side of the boat from the motor. I have had great success with it and worth every penny. Not sure who you will be purchasing it from. Search the internet for best prices. I bought mine from Defender. They at the time had it on sale for a considerable amount less than WM and some of the other big names. My aim is to hook it up to my laptop and be able to use a chart plotter from Seaclear with a GPS USB receiver. It might be old fashioned as most folks now use the Ipad etc, but it's cheap and no need for connectivity charges.

 

[Hugh Straub]

I have a very old Navico unit which I recently installed on my 23.5. I mounted it on the port side, opposite from the outboard. I needed two shaft extensions to reach the tiller

 

[Hugh Straub]

Sorry, jumped the gun on Mr. Send Button.

I mounted the socket for the unit just aft of the port locker lid. I put a deck electric socket on the vertical panel on the port side of the port side transom opening and ran the wires carefully to the electrical panel's auxiliary switch. Because I only wired the unit for power, I do not have, nor have need for computer interface or other bells and whistles. Navigation on Lake Ponchartrain in light/no wind is straight line and straight forward. I also use the very cheapest Etrec GPS with destination points pre-entered so a computer hook up is not needed. I simply set the compass course and then sit back with my book. (I do look up every 5 minutes or so to check for traffic, crab pots and course, of course)

The tiller pilot is a great addition, not just for passage making, but also just to hold the boat's head to wind when raising/lowering sails. It makes single handing the 23.5 a treat.

Kind regards

Hugh Straub

 

[tallswede]

I was hoping not to have to mount the unit on the port side in order not to get in the way of the swim ladder access. Does the mounting socket fit flush to the deck or does it get in the way at all with the pilot unit removed?

Thanks
Kevin

 

[Hugh Straub]

On my Navico, the socket is flush with the deck. Whenever the unit is not in use, I disconnect it from the tiller and stow it in the port side cockpit locker. Thus, the swim ladder is not at all blocked, though happily, I've not yet felt the need to use it!

On my boat, a starboard side mounting would make it cumbersome to get to my 5 hp Honda to adjust speed, etc. BTW, because I chose to use a water proof deck plug/socket to power my unit, I removed the Navico plug and installed the water proof plug. This was a little tricky as there were several wires to choose from in the unit's electrical cord. Presumably, your new unit came with its own female socket, so that should not be a concern.

I also had to get a lowering bracket for the post to which the unit's control arm attaches to the tiller. This was needed so the unit would be level at zero heel. I considered through bolting the bracket to the aluminum tiller, but decided instead simply to use stainless hose clamps. Those work perfectly.

I was concerned about powering the unit, because we are frequently becalmed in South Louisiana and for long motoring passages no one wants to be married to the tiller. I installed the alternator kit on my little outboard and it keeps the battery up for those long runs. You'll find, once tuned, your tiller pilot will use very little power as it only moves when necessary, and mostly is idle.

Take your time to consider your installation and you'll be very pleased with your purchase. I wouldn't own a boat without one.

Kind regards

Hugh Straub

 

[twodzusfittings]

"I wouldn't own a boat without one." Good statement. In time it becomes your sailing partner and the only one your going to be able to push its buttons without retaliation. You will also start to feel what one degree and ten degrees actually is in open water. As to the plugs, I mounted mine on the bunker wall of the deep hold and ran the wire to the panel with its own switch. If I am not running the motor, my solar panel helps top off the battery making the power consumption very limited.

 

[Johann]

Starboard side

Here is mine (ST1000) on the starboard side with a 2007 6HP Tohatsu. The motor tilts up no problem and adjusting throttle is not an issue either. I did have to malletize the tiller bracket to get it at the correct (horizontal) angle.

I never had any issues with compass interference.

Oh, and there are speakers blaring away under the stern rail seats...

 

[tallswede]

Thanks for all the great ideas. Looks like the tiller pilot will work either way so when I pick mine up I'll do some mock ups to see which I prefer. Johann, I see that you have stern rails. I'm planning on putting some on my boat so I can install full lifelines with pelican hooks for opening and boarding. I've also thought that would be a good place to mount speakers. Hugh, I hear ya about summer calms, we get 'em here in Texas too. I think I can put an alternator/regulator on my 8 hp Tohatsu, I'll have to look into it. Right now I just have a solar panel to trickle charge my battery.

Thanks again,
Kevin

 

[John23883]

About the electrical interference

Unless they are different then they have always been, these small tiller-pilots are not affected by electronics or magnets because it is not a smart unit. It uses a gyro that only knows where it is pointed, not an actual compass heading or like a GPS.

 

[tallswede]

Unless they are different then they have always been, these small tiller-pilots are not affected by electronics or magnets because it is not a smart unit. It uses a gyro that only knows where it is pointed, not an actual compass heading or like a GPS.

The Raymarine ST-2000 can be interfaced with GPS and can have an optional remote control. It also uses a different mechanical operation from the ST-1000 that supposedly is more powerful (In case I buy a bigger boat) and uses less battery power. It is more expensive but I think the features make it worth it even on my little boat. I plan to buy and install next month. I'll let the forum know how it goes.

 

[FourPoints]

The manual for the ST2000 says to install it at least (going from memory) 20 inches from anything magnetic, which would include your engine (under the flywheel are permanent magnets).

You shouldn't worry about blocking the swim ladder though, as you won't be swimming when you are running the AP!

 

[Johann]

Interference

Even with the motor tilted up, there was never any issue with the tiller pilot deviating from course/hdg. Also, having the tiller pilot on the starboard side allows you to adjust hdg and throttle without going over the tiller. Having the swim ladder side free makes a great place for landing a fish if you are trolling.

 

[tallswede]

Even with the motor tilted up, there was never any issue with the tiller pilot deviating from course/hdg. Also, having the tiller pilot on the starboard side allows you to adjust hdg and throttle without going over the tiller. Having the swim ladder side free makes a great place for landing a fish if you are trolling.

This is what I was thinking. Yes , I might not need access to the port side while underway but I definately don't want mouts protruding into that space when the pilot is removed. I'll have to see what mounts come with the unit and how best to install.

Kevin

 

[FourPoints]

I definately don't want mouts protruding into that space when the pilot is removed. I'll have to see what mounts come with the unit and how best to install.

Kevin

The only included mount is to mount it directly onto the top of a surface, which is non-intrusive when the AP is removed. The cantilever mount (hard to see, but visible in Johann's picture) uses only a thin plate bolted to the bulkhead, the protruding arm unscrews for storage with the AP when it is not in use.

 

[twodzusfittings]

I will confess my nickname is sometimes "Mr Cheepo" I like to create or find less expensive ways to make things work, so in my disgust with the price of the connection for the Pilot to the Tiller ($45), I manufactured out of scraps from my little workshop, the tiller bracket. Here is a picture. Cost me nothing except my time. The second picture shows how I installed the brass pivot sleeve, provided when purchasing the pilot. I backed the hole on the underside with a 1.25 inch thick disc (hockey puck style) of AZEEK board, used some 5200 and stainless steel screws for reinforcement.

 

[Hugh Straub]

I epoxied the sleeve/socket into the horizontal seat surface, aft of the port locker cover, without any extra backing material. I have had no trouble with my mounting arrangement on my 23.5.

Kind regards

Hugh Straub

 

[tallswede]

Thanks guys for all the feed back. I'll try to post pictures when I do my install.

Kevin

 

[Mike in Cape Cod]

I bought a new ST-1000 on sale from Ray Marine for $300. about nine years ago and it has performed flawlessly on my H23.5 I single-hand most of the time and would not be without it. I can go below and make a meal, set or douse the jib, reef the main etc all the while the boat stays the course. I have hooked it up to my Garmin GPS-3II and it works great. installation was pretty easy except for connecting the wiring under and at the rear of the the deck. Kinda claustrophobic. In bad weather the wired remote allows me to steer from inside the cabin, nice and dry. I made the tiller bracket and used stainless radiator hose clamps to hold it in place.The photo on the left shows the unit while under way,and the photo at right shows the plug in (left) for the twenty foot long wired remote control, and the plug at the right is the 12 volt power connection outlet, both waterproof. Also attached is the ST-1000 Operation Manual. Good luck !

 

[Hugh Straub]

+1 on the no fun of running the wiring under the cockpit sole. (Seems that I'm not subject to claustrophobia until I find myself in a really small confined space). I find it hard to imagine any one actually sleeps under there!

But, the joy of an autopilot is well worth the discomfort of a proper installation.

Kind regards

Hugh Straub