unipas richardson autopilot

[Hermit Scott]

I just won an auto pilot on ebay for $1. I tried to look it up but it must be really old.
I was going to buy a linear actuator from Northern for $125 and hook that up to the rudder post and then have a wired or wireless remote so I could steer from other parts of the boat. But I bid on this and forgot to up my bid but won it anyway.
Does any one have one of these old units? Do these things just keep you on a bearing?
And what does the word dodging mean in regards to these things?

 

[Tim R.]

I have not heard of this unit. The dodger function may be a way to temporarily and momentarily change your course to steer around an obstacle such as a lobster pot buoy.

 

[sailaway78]

Never heard of it

Never heard of this unit. EVER Must be older than me, which is pretty old. I agree that the dodger function is probably for a temporary course change to miss an obstacle. Would also think that one this old would not have the ability to be hooked up to a GPS or have the ability to do more than just hold a steady course in a straight line. The good news is if you end up throwing it in a dumpster, you only spent a buck. Nothing on a boat costs just a buck.

 

[Stu Jackson]

What do you have to lose?

Hook it up and see if it works. In fact, you could wire it in temporarily and check it before you go all that far to put it in place.

And, given other recent threads, make sure to calibrate it. Usually with some keystrokes and a minimum of a 3 minute circle route.

Good luck, nice buy!:dance:

Oh, and if you don't want it, I'll take it off your hands for $2!

 

[Hermit Scott]

Circle?

In my minds eye I see an electronic compass that tells the linear actuator to go left or to go right. I don't see how it would need to be calibrated??? And I read a recent post about circling. And some guy said he did a few circles in the boat and someone else ripped him for not knowing.
How do you calibrate, what happens if you don't and how do I circle so I won't get ripped by those who know? Cause I couldn't live with myself if anyone found out I don't know everything.
I could double my money huh? Not a bad deal. Let me see if it works first, then I might take you up on it. By the way the guy charged $26 in shipping. I don't think it would cost that so maybe he didn't do too bad after all. Especially if he sold me a turd.
Worst case scenario, I will have the rudder post and the other mounts fabricated for a linear actuator that works. I will toss this in the trash, or sell it for $2 and build my remote control linear actuator that will mount right up where this one was.

 

[kloudie1]

Scott, Interesting old unit !!! I’ve not encountered one.. Looks like the actuator or force generator is the round part and the square part is the rudder feedback system to tell the computer how much and how fast the rudder is moving. The black part probably has the flux gate compass built into it.. The control head dodger is probably to enable you to miss things.. the knob is probably the rudder gain which tells the computer how much rudder and how fast to apply it.. Hook it all up on the floor (careful of re-bar influence) and turn the control head to see if you get a reaction from the actuator.. then turn the black part .. to see if it makes the actuator move.. you may be able to use it for a remote steerer if the auto part doesn’t work and the actuator does.. the dodger buttons may be functional.. I’d be interested in hearing how your troubleshooting with it is going!

 

[Stu Jackson]

I resemble that remark!

Hermit, U wrote: "And some guy said he did a few circles in the boat and someone else ripped him for not knowing."

I didn't intend to "rip" him, I just provided him with information that going in a circle in and of itself is NOT recalibrating, and that certain setups are needed - the next contributor gave him the link to Raymarine. Just dispelling urban myths. Kloudie is right in how to try it out before you go to the bother of hooking it all up.

What happens if you don't is this: it doesn't work, i.e., it won't keep course, it'll make S curves in the water, it'll drive you nuts. So, you may have a perfectly good unit, and you'd trash it for NO good reason.

So, given your, ahem, investment, I'd try to do as much as possible to get it working properly, if you can.

 

[knowitall]

Here's a link to the Unipass unit.

http://www.comnavmarine.com/html/cmnv2200.htm

 

[Hermit Scott]

unipas

I am still waiting on it to get here. So I will hook it up to a battery and try it out.
I'm just messing with you Stu. lol
Hopefully the flux capacitor compass is working ok.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I finally got the thing from the ebay seller. I hooked it up to a bettery. The dodge feature works, and the actuator works. This thing is old, not even any solid state controller. There is a control box that is supposed to have a compass that is suspended from the top and there are some crude sensors to measure it's rotation. The compass and oposing part of the sensor are missing.
It's designed so when you flip the switch to on, a solonoid engages on the sliding track to fix the actuator. And that is your heading. No adjusting no changing course. If you don't like the course turn it off and back on when you do like the course. It is made to keep a boat on a course and not a remote steer the boat as you like device. The travel on the actuator is 6" total. The mechanical parts are fine but I need something to control it. I have a feeling this is going to moved down on the priority list.
I doubt I will be able to find this analog compass piece.

 

[bcaudas@xtra.co.nz]

Unipas

Hi just checking if you still have this unit as I need some parts, it would be a 1970 vintage looking at the books I have, regards Brian Audas New Zealand

 

[Hermit Scott]

honor

In an incredible act of unsurpassed ebay honor, months after I paid for the unit and it was shipped and I gave positive feedback, the seller tracked down the original owner and secured the missing part and sent it to me. I was absolutely blown away. I have had a very positive experience with people that own boats so far.
I need to hook it up tonight and check it out. Hopefully it will work.
bcaudas-what parts are you looking for?

 

[Last Chance]

I have the UNIPAS AUTOPILOT on my boat. you are right is is old but I would like to buy our unit for parts.

 

[invaderjb]

unipass

I just bought a boat and it has one but its disconnected found this on google. I have the manual for it . contact me on invaderjb@aol.com

 

[belfastcruiser]

Hey All - Kevin in Frozen Belfast Maine - I too have one of these old Unipas heading sensors. If anyone wants to sell theirs, I'm trying to stockpile parts - maybe it'll last another 37 years! Thanks!

 

[rpwillia]

You are living a charmed life!

In an incredible act of unsurpassed ebay honor, months after I paid for the unit and it was shipped and I gave positive feedback, the seller tracked down the original owner and secured the missing part and sent it to me. I was absolutely blown away. I have had a very positive experience with people that own boats so far.

Nuff said.