autopilot mounting

[marcin_palacz]

Hello,

I have just got a Simrad TP22 autopilot for "Lotta"
(TP20 is I think geaometrically identical to TP20)
I am going to mount it on the cockpit seat, just a little
a bit aft to the locker lid, as suggested by a few people
in earlier discussions in this group.

I still don't know how to solve the problem that the tiller
in its rest position is about 18 cm below the seat.
(I have a nice curly tiller, which can be partly seen here:
http://members.chello.pl/m.palacz/vega/tiller.jpg ,
is this an original one, btw ?)

Either the tiller should be lifted up (how ?),
or an additional autopilot mounting "support"
should be fixed to the tiller....
This must have been solved by many people, I suppose...

Does the fact that the tiller is not horizontal
(35 degrees at the lowest, rest position)
should be somewhat taken into account when fixing
the autopilot to it?

Any suggestions, please ?

Marcin
"Lotta" V1958

 

[wxt8981]

Hi Marcin;

first, you need to know how fast the autopilot reacts, in
other words, how fast (or slow) the tiller will move.
According to that, this will give you the point where to
attach the pilot's arm. (you should have info about that in
the pilot's manual.)

I think the pilot's arm should be (about) horizontal. I
mounted my pilot on the coaming of the seat, that way I can
swing (and fasten)the pilot along the back of the seat when
not in use.

Good luck... Wilhelm, V-257

 

[emmajen5]

Marcin,

I had the same problem installing a Raymarine ST1000 tiller pilot a couple of years ago. Someone on this list suggested suspending the tiller on a short piece of cord attached about a foot (or so) up the tiller and tied off to a little cleat below the lazerette clasp. It worked like a charm. I can raise and hold the tiller to exactly the right heighth without sacrificing its vertical and horizontal mobility when not using the auto helm. My unit is mounted farther forward than yours on the cockpit seat itself. I had to mount it that far forward in order to provide the length of throw, etc. the installation instructions required. The requirements were very specific. Also, I could keep the arm horizontal without the tiller being at too crazy an angle. I haven't found any great inconvenience having it there.

Garry
"Raven" V. 2427