Auto Tiller Installation

[seatravellerhawaii]

Aloha All,

I'm the owner of a 1978 Venture 25, "Jerry's Wish". Over the years I have done some modifications to my boat. I recently sailed with two friends during a very good weather window from my home port of Hilo,Hi. to the Island of Maui.We had to hand steer for hours and hours there and later back. I would like to hear from from any of you that have installed a Tiller Pilot on the older Venture or Mac 25. Photos would be a wonderful help too. The water's I sail in, call for a rather robust tiller pilot, so any suggestions on makes & model types is welcome. I have a Ida sailor rudder system and a boom vang and kicker from BlueWater Yachts. Thank you all in advance.

Aloha and Mahalo,
John Tucker
S/V Jerry's Wish
1978 Venture 25
seatravellerhawaii@yahoo.com

 

[flynfol]

tillerpilot

Hi,

I have a '75 Venture 25 with a Raytheon(raymarine) ST1000+. It works well, except in a following sea. Balance your sails, then turn it on. Hindsight being 20/20, I think I would go with the ST2000+(a little more money, but actuator has recirculating ball instead of threaded bushing....faster lock to lock time and I would think less friction, less power consumption) Both will track data from a chartplotter.

John

ps have a couple pics of install in here somewhere

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I have a (simrad) TP10 on a 26D (same rudder setup). it doent handle big gust well, nor directly down wind.

it works great in less than 20 knts, and less than 4' sea (chop), no experence w/ big rolling swells (typical west coast sea state).

the TP10 does not connect to a gps (AFAIK), but its robust and strong. (so far)

I mounted mine less than suggested distance from pivot pt, and have no problems.

its still the best $300 I spent on the boat.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/MACGREGOR/PC160015.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/MACGREGOR/PC160017.jpg

http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/MACGREGOR/?action=view&current=PC160016.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/ftldiver/mac/c607b4c0.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/ftldiver/mac/a96660e9.jpg

hope that helps.

(Oh, I wanted mine on port so I could operate the motor controls and TP at the same time... most mount it on the laz cover... on stb.) I would do it the same way again.

 

[Robspan]

I have an Autohelm st2000 that I use on my 26s, and which was on my former boat, a 30 footer. The two boats are very different with respect to steering and responsiveness, but there are some similarities in what you can expect from the autopilot.
Under sail, any kind of sea, the autopilot works very hard and it often reaches the point where in my opinion, it just isn't worth it. By the time the autopilot moves the tiller over to compensate for one movement, the boat is already slewing around in the other direction. In my experience, you really need the right conditions to use it under sail - mostly, low wave action.
With that said, I would never be without one, mainly for motoring in light to zero air. That's when manual steering is really boring, and the autopilot lets you putter around the boat, or get a cold one from the cooler.

 

[JDK]

Re: tillerpilot

I very much agree with flynfol. I've had both the ST 1000 and the ST 2000 on a 26D, and the larger one is well worth the difference in price. The recirculating ball drive is exponentially better than the worm gear of the 1000. As with anything, getting the setup right is the key, and there are a lot of choices available on the Raymarine. I'd buy it again if mine quit.

JDK

 

[seatraveller hawaii]

Thank you all for your input.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

FWIW Practical Sailor (this month) has a comparision of the ST1000 to the TP10.

They selected the ST1000 over the TP10, as a best buy, (imo) due to the screw drive of the TP10,(slower), and the gps interface the ST1000 has. (TP10 doesn't have this), but the TP10 was cheaper and stronger.


if anyone is interested, I can post more of the article. (just got it yesterday).