autopilot for 30 ft sailboat

[barb todd]

I am looking at getting an autopilot for my 30 ft (wheel steering) sailboat... i would like to hear from anyone who has the simrad 10 and how it performsthanksbarb

 

[Ed Schenck]

Spend the extra $100. . . . .

and buy the WP30. More than worth the extra money and you won't have to worry about heavy weather. The WP30 is rated at over 19000# and does really well on my 18000# 37-foot cutter. I believe they are almost identical in size and installation.

 

[R. Young]

Ques. for Ed & WP30 comment

I agree with ED re the WP30 - and a question for Ed. On another forum someone said they could never get the WP30 to calibrate - i.e., get into cal mode and rotate boat 540 deg (?) and get 2 beeps for OK or 1 long beep for cal failure.I responded that I experienced the same thing i.e., got a cal failure signal BUT calibration seemed to take place. Prior to cal an autotack turns me 180 deg and after the "failed" calibration it turned about 110 degrees.Have you experienced anything like this?R. YoungHunter 37Destiny

 

[Steve Dion]

110 deg is the default

As I remember the 110 deg. is the automatic default for a tack. I would try the calibration again.Ed:The Simrad WP30, can now be had for about $750 including the remote (non-display model).

 

[Ed Schenck]

WP30 calibration:

wish I could remember. I have those "senior moments" almost continuously anymore. But I thought it calibrated correctly the first time. All that I remember trying to do was to set the sensitivity so that it did not overcorrect and did not correct too often. Forgot the details and without the book I am useless. With the book it was pretty straightforward.