Autohelm tiller auotpilot on a Hunter 23???

[Rookie Sailor]

Does anyone have any tips as to how to mount a tillerpilot on a Hunter 23. Mine is an '86. The Tiller is higher than the seat backs, and 12" off the seats. This is way out of specs from the manual. If anyone has done this before please "steer" me in the right direction. I am thinking I need the cantilever wall mount, and a tiller bracket to mount under the tiller arm.Thans for the help.

 

[Wanderer138]

How I installed mine

First, drill and epoxy the bushing into the cockpit coaming, making sure you have the correct distance forward from the axis of the rudder (see owners manual) Then drill and epoxy the pin into the top of the tiller the same distance forward of the rudder axis, so that the tillerpilot is at right angles to the tiller when steering straight ahead. Finally, figure out how many and what length ram extensions you need and order them. They come in different length increments (1", 3" and 6") so you should be able to get the length you need to within 1/2". The problem is that you really don't know for sure until you have partially installed the tillerpilot.Finally, wire the tillerpilot into the switch panel. I used the AUX2 switch (lowermost one) and I replaced the stock switch for one with a round toggle to make it easy to identify by location and feel. The wires for the power supply were run up under the starboard cockpit coaming and I installed the socket in the front bulkhead of the fuel tank loacker under the flip-up seat. That way it's readily accessible but out of direct exposure to sun, rain and waves. That was five years ago and it's still working fine.One last tip. I learned the hard way that proper sail trim is crucial when using a tillerpilot. Before engaging the tillerpilot, trim the main until you can literally steer with one finger because power draw depends on how hard the tillerpilot has to work. YOu will save a LOT of 20A fuses this way. Good luck.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Mike M16608]

Tiller Pilot on H23

Our 86 came with a First Mate autopilot that had broken wires and had not been used in years. I cleaned it up, fixed the wiring and hooked it up to a battery in my shop. Amazingly, it immediately began hunting for the heading it was on! Here is how it is setup: There is a simple bracket attached with 2 screws about 3" below the top of the starboard coaming, on the seat back. A brass pin is attached to the underside of the tiller. The pilot is attached by inserting the mounting pin on the pilot into the seat back bracket and the arm of the pilot is lashed onto the pin on the tiller, from the underside. A bungee or small line works fine. This arrangement is not ideal. If the arm could sit on top of the tiller, it would be easier to deploy and then detach. But, you already see the design problem involved. Also, the seat back bracket can poke you in the back when seated on the starboard side when the pilot is not in use. The female end of the power connection is mounted snug in a hole drilled through the teak toerail on the starboard side. The wires run under the cockpit, directly to the battery. The wiring exiting the pilot terminates with the male plug. The pilot housing contains an on/off switch, so I don't run in through my fuse box. I believe it has a fuse inside the pilot housing, but it has never blown and I've never gone looking for it. This contraption actually works quite well, but it's diligence in making minor adjustments to hold course drive the Admiral batty. I suppose fussing with the sensitivity adjustment could make it operate a bit lazier and quieter. Finally, it has a hard wired remote tethered to about 12' of old style telephone cord. All in all, it's a pretty complicated example of '80's technology added on to an otherwise pretty simple boat.