autopilot of catalina 27

[Bob Middleton]

I am ordering a Simrad TP10 autopilot for my 1987 27' Catalina. What is the best way to mount it? It looks like the best method is to cantilever it from the starboard side. That raises the following questions:(1) The boat side has a slight slope. Is this a problem to mount the autopilot? The pin will not be vertical.(2) The tiller is curved through most of it's length. If I use the standard tiller bracket to attach the tiller pin below the tiller, the pin will not be vertical. is this a problem?(3) The bottom of the tiller is 6" above the seats at 18" from the rear of the tiller. I plan to use the cantilever bracket (1.18" high) and adjust the height of the cantilever accordingly from the seat (looks like +/- 3"). Will this work?(4) The engine gauge panel is such that it will not be posible to go with the 18" "critical dimension" from the rear of the tiler. The cantiliver will have to be closer to 20" so as not to be on top of the panel. How critical is the 18"?(5) Where is the best location for the 12 VDC plug?This may all be fairly basic, but I don't want to start drilling holes until sure of the mounting. Any help would be most welcome. Thanks.

 

[Tim]

autopilot mounting

No one is jumping in on this one so here goes... My 27 is set up with an older SEAFARER MINICOURSE . The autopilot pivot is set into a bushing in the cockpit seat. There is a block epoxyed in uinder to support the bushing. I made a bracket for the tiller that hangs below and keeps the push/pull ram close to level. It is attached with wing nuts so can be remover when not in use. The pin on this bracket is vertical but this is not necessary for it to work. I put the electrical connection inside the seat bins so it is out of the way. THe connectors I used have a screw cap to keep them dry when not being used ( perko) Good luck

 

[John Buckham]

Mounting your tillerpilot.

I replaced my Tillerpilot with an Autohelm ST-2000+ earlier this year. Works great.There are some specific dimensions which need to be met if the tillerpilot is to work right.I don’t know about the Simrad/Navico manual, but the Autohelm manual had all sorts of helpful mounting information.Wait until you get the Tillerpilot before you start drilling holes in things.If you’d like pix let me know via E-mail and I’ll send ‘em off to you.ke6pid@earthlink.net

 

[brian]

autopilot

i just installed a tp 10 on my cat27. mine is 18" from the rear of the tiller (i have an outboard). my power plug is upper left of the rear cockpit bulkhead. my ap is not exactly level due to the curved tiller. use one of the longer brackets that go under the tiller. i didn't use the cantilever, thought it would get in the way. the ap is 90 degrees from the tiller. i put the cup that the unit sits in just astern of the starboard cockpit hatch. kind of confusing, i'll send pictures is you like....measure a twice (more like 4-5 times) then drill...brian