Auto Pilot Install

[Piper Capri 22]

Happy (almost) spring!

The most exciting thing on my long list of boat projects this spring is the installation of a Raymarine ST-1000+ autopilot. It wasn't worth having anything more than a tiller tamer when I was on the lake near my house but now that I'm sailing in the Apostle Islands it's a different story. I love sailing but hand steering for 2 hours on the same tack ain't my idea of a good time!

Anyone have an ST-1000? Could you let me know where and how you installed? On the seat or on the rail? Did you need any of the additional hardware they sell separately?

Any info is appreciated!

Thanks,

Brook

 

[tom h Capri 22]

I'm planning the same thing and wondering if adding a second battery for the extra power drain is necessary.

 

[shnool]

ST1000+ on my capri 25.
uses very little power (I have one deep cycle battery)... I use a 15 watt panel on off days to top off the battery.

 

[Piper Capri 22]

From the bit of research I've done on them I doubt you'd need an extra battery. It's something like 0.5 amp draw for light steering and 1.5 in peak power mode (utilizing auto tack for instance). I've just got a small 28 amp hour battery. But I figure that's a good 12-15 hours of auto pilot steering before I'd even worry about it. And okay a bit less with the depth finder on etc. But even if I'm spending long weekends in the islands the boat isn't sailing that much. So, not much power draw IMO.

Brook

 

[Piper Capri 22]

ST1000+ on my capri 25.
uses very little power (I have one deep cycle battery)... I use a 15 watt panel on off days to top off the battery.

Thanks for the picture!!

 

[tom h Capri 22]

Great info, does the install instructions give the location of the connection to the tiller or is that trial and error.
My thoughts: the connection point would have a direct effect on power comsumption do to the leverage needed or does the unit have enough power that its not all the critical.

 

[NewportNewsMike]

Great info, does the install instructions give the location of the connection to the tiller......

Yes. The distance between the center line of the rudder stock to the tiller pin must be 18 inches.

This info came from the Owners Manuals I found online at Raymarine.

 

[Piper Capri 22]

Yes. The distance between the center line of the rudder stock to the tiller pin must be 18 inches.

The manual does treat this distance as the exact distance to mount it from the point of rotation where tiller meets rudder. To my mind though it would be sensible if one treated this as the MINIMUM distance you'd want it from point of rotation. So that, as others have said the mechanical advantage is enough for the tiller pilot to do it's thing without generating too great a load on the mechanism/electrical draw. Also, I'd say I'd not want it right at the tip of the tiller since the auto pilot can generate something like 140lbs of thrust force. I wouldn't want it cracking the tiller either.

If I'm not way at the end but a bit north of 18" like 19" or 20" would you guys agree that would make sense if that's okay for mounting purposes?

 

[NewportNewsMike]

The other "variable" that comes into play when you are trying to decide where to mount the drive pin on the tiller would be the stroke of the autopilot control unit itself.
If you mount the autopilot too far out (toward the "hand end" of the tiller), you may end up without enough autopilot stroke to move the tiller as far as it needs to be for the autopilot to perform correctly.

The folks who designed the package and specified the 18-inch distance did so so that you would have a certain amount of rudder movement. If you choose to use, let's say 22 inches, you would end up not being able to "throw" the tiller over as far: say 15 degree rudder angle instead of 20 degree rudder angle (numbers just made up for an example, I have no real idea what the "real" parameters are).

Unless there is a real good reason not to follow the Raymarine engineers guidance, I would install it as specified in the installation instructions.

 

[NewportNewsMike]

___Deleted duplicate post___.

Previous post took a long time to upload, and I was not sure I had clicked the "Submit" button properly, so I hit the "Go" button a second time! And ended up with two posts.

 

[Piper Capri 22]

The other "variable" that comes into play when you are trying to decide where to mount the drive pin on the tiller would be the stroke of the autopilot control unit itself.
If you mount the autopilot too far out (toward the "hand end" of the tiller), you may end up without enough autopilot stroke to move the tiller as far as it needs to be for the autopilot to perform correctly.

Great point! Hadn't thought of that. Thanks. Hope I can use the 18". The only reason I was thinking I might adjust is I was thinking I'd look for the natural point where the tiller pilot when resting on the bench seat would be level with the tiller making it easy to mount and unnecessary to purchase any additional hardware. Your comment has made me rethink that. I'll plan to stick very close to the 18" and if need be pony up for one or more of the raymarine adapters. I'll let you guys know how the install on a Capri 22 goes too!

Thanks again.