Autopilot Reviews & Price Range -- 33' Wheel Sailboat

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Bob Pullen HC-33 1981

Bob Pullen HC-33 1981

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Aug 20, 2006
220
Hunter 33_77-83 Yucatan, Mexico
We find ourselves in the market for an autopilot for our 33' 1981 Hunter (wheel steering). Although we are 33' LOA, only 27+ at the waterline, & very light boat, plenty of battery power on the house bank. Looking for something to be used not very often, as we often stay a year or more in a destination, diving and day-sailing (where the crew likes to steer).
We tend to take small 2-3 day sails to our next destination between long stays -- which is when the autopilot would be getting most use -- i.e., very intermittently, and we usually pick fair weather months to move Seanorita to her next back yard.
Price, reliability, and robustness, in that order, are the criteria. As soon as the finances improve, this order may be reversed...but until then...
Any suggestions or advice will be very gratefully appreciated.
many thanks to all for your previous suggestions and help -- it has made a huge difference in getting here and being in good ship shape to keep going
Thanks
Bob & Jenny
S/V Seanorita
Mahahual, Mexico
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,311
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Autopilots

Bob,

You really only have three choices:

1. Raymarine wheel pilot, good for boat up to 16,500#, but experiences have indicated that this is really the upper range for this unit. S1 or X5, lotsa $$. Interfaces with everything, if that's what you're into.

2. An "underneath" below decks connected to directly to your quadrant. Raymarine makes 'em, too. Interfaces, too.

3. "Independent" machines, like the CPT (www.cptautopilot.com), plus other brands, like Alpha and Simrad. Some are standalone units, like the CPT with a belt. Others include the head end and screen, you need to add the drive.

That's the simple part. Others will no doubt chime in with their favorites.

For me? I'm keeping my simple, non-interfaced, belt-driven, Autohelm ST3000 - for as long as it lasts, and as long as I can find the replacement belts! Then I'll get that CPT!!!
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Afraid Stu is right, $1250. for what is likely the only wheel pilot available, the Raymarine X-5. Sure do not understand why Simrad quit making theirs. Mine is ten years old and I have never had a problem. So much easier to install and maintain than the Raymarine. It was selling for $750. when they stopped making the WP-30. Maybe you can find a used one, someone selling a wheel unit because they are installing a below decks unit. For that you can figure around $4000. or more.
 
G

Gazuum

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Oct 23, 2010
67
Pearson P365K Port Angeles
Comnav 1420, cheap and bullet proof. Comnav is well known to commercial fishboats.
 
Prime Time

Prime Time

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Sep 25, 2008
544
Bristol 43.3 Perth Amboy
Raytheon/Raymarine

My dad has an older Raytheon on his Bristol 40 that has worked flawlessly for 20 yrs. It is mounted on the steering pedestal. The control unit stays down below out of the elements until he wants to use it.
 
RAD

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
Quick and easy the Raymarine S1 or X5 for about 1150 dollars and it works well for boats of your size....I agree that a quadrant mounted unit is the best way to go but that adds thousands to the cost, I've had mine a few years now and use it a lot even when I'm goofing around in the bay for a short sail
BTW two wires and its talking to your GPS
 
Les

Les

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May 8, 2004
375
Hunter 27 Bellingham, WA
Not sure this will add to the discussion but I have been using the Raymarine X-5 for about three years now with no problems on my Hunter 27. I've had an Tillermaster, an Autopilot (I can't remember what model), a Raymarine Autopilot 5000+ chain drive, and now this X-5. At the moment I think I like the X-5 the best as it seems to wander the least from side to side. The brochure said it would "learn" the boat. Seems like it has.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Do you prefer an electronic auto pilot to a wind vane?
 
W

wufibugs

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Aug 16, 2009
1,000
Hunter 1986 H31 California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista, CA
May be hopelessly outdated, but my old WP-100 works pretty well on my 31 and I would imagine these are pretty cheap.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,311
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
wufibugs said:
May be hopelessly outdated, but my old WP-100 works pretty well on my 31 and I would imagine these are pretty cheap.
Click to expand
Are they still being made or are they available on eBay, etc.? If not, not a great solution. They stopped making our Autohelm ST3000 a few years ago, back when things were simple and the fluxgate compass was built right in, and you didn't need a rudder position sensor and all the cr*p Raymarine has added to jack up their prices. I've searched for used/new ones on the web, but the prices exceed the cost of new ones and the CPT. Crazy. But true.
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
To Ross' question re. windvane. . . .

I think an autohelm would always precede the purchase of a windvane. Except for the long journey to Florida a lot of wheelpilot use is under power when a windvane would not work. I single-hand a lot and 'Simrad' steers while I manage the main, pull the fenders in, go for beer, etc. I would love a windvane for long sailing days but never at the expense of an autohelm.
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
i have simrad on my quadrant--i am not going to add another steering mechanism at the moment--is spozed to have all my electronix interfaced--i will find out during shakedown cruise...:eek:
 
W

wufibugs

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Aug 16, 2009
1,000
Hunter 1986 H31 California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista, CA
No, Stu, the WP 100 is long out of production. I was able to find a cover when I lost mine, but a quick look at ebay or craigslist shows a real scarcity of this kind of used equipment.
 
A

alexco38

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Sep 25, 2008
1,096
CS 30 Toronto
Bought a Raymarine S-1 last winter. It has a gyro built in. Really good for following seas especially with wave. It even learns the pitching and yawl to easy off the steering. Interfaces to the Wind and GPS.

I had a Simrad TP20 on my last boat so I was looking for Simrad WP30 but they quit making them.

But after using Raymarine S-1 for a year, I love it. Especially the control. The Simrad WP30 has to be set on the side. The Raymarine is on my NavPod. I can control it via the chartplotter.

I mail order it from MarineDeal for about $1,000.
 
Bob Pullen HC-33 1981

Bob Pullen HC-33 1981

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Aug 20, 2006
220
Hunter 33_77-83 Yucatan, Mexico
Many thanks to all!!
I can't believe what a great resource this is!
We have narrowed down our choices and are actively searching for a good bargain on a new X-5, E12201 for under $1K...probably wait til xmas sales.
cheers
Bob
 
CaptColt

CaptColt

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Mar 26, 2011
3
Hunter custom- Cherubuni 33 Mystic, Connecticut
Ahoy Bob-
I have a 1977, 33 Hunter also. Did you get the Auto Pilot X-5?
Some folks feel the 33 Hunter might be too heavy for it. How has it worked?
Did you consider a below deck model?

thx-
 
Bob Pullen HC-33 1981

Bob Pullen HC-33 1981

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Aug 20, 2006
220
Hunter 33_77-83 Yucatan, Mexico
Hi
still haven't made it back to the US to pickup my X-5...guess just too many things going on. made it to Belize for a couple months of fantastic diving, lobstering, and conch...got back and hauled out, in preparation to move on south. Will head up to the US at the end of april to pickup the autopilot and a few other odds and ends to complete the refit.
Many thanks for the reply.
Bob
 
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