Autopilot-Sewage removal

[Hermit Scott]

Just a couple od noob questions.
I bought an old autopilot on ebay for $1. The actuator works but it was missing a compass part. But I got to thinking about it and this autopilot appears to be able to keep the boat on a compass heading. But when you are sailing isn't it more important to keep the boat at a certain angle to the wind? I looked at wind vanes and there is nothing about a compass about them, they seem to just keep the boat at a set angle to the wind. The compass heading seems good for motoring but of no use when sailing.
In practice how do autopilots work? What use is it to have them 'hooked up' to a gps? I have heard that but I don't know what that means. I'm not sure if this autopilot is worth installing.

How is sewage pumped from the holding tank? Also I watched a segment about the marina I am going to be staying at on youtube. Are there marinas that have a hook up to constantly remove sewage from the boat or do you have to motor over to something that pumps it out or sucks it out somehow?
I just pulled alot of plumbing out to replace it. I have a holding tank but it wasn't installed. I am trying to figure out if I should do anything special to the head plumbing while I have it apart.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

The advantages of an autopilot capable of steering both my compass and wind direction will become self-evident to you once you undertake a prolonged trip when steering by hand can become tedious even with a large crew.
When short-handed, an autopilot can become almost essential.

By compass, it allows you to leave the helm momentarily which is necessary for a myriad of reasons from sail handling, getting a drink, head break, etc. and with a constant wind, can give the helmsman a welcome break.

By wind, it can do all the above plus relieve an un-attentive helmsman the tedium of maintaining a VMG course.

When connected to a chartplotter, it can maintain the rhumbline course in all kinds of weather allowing the helmsman to better navigate or stand a more attentive watch. The downside here is complacency which is always a danger.

Pumpouts are usually at discreet locations to which you bring the boat and allows you to vacuum out the holding tank typically from a deck fitting connected to the bottom of the holding tank. Some also allow you to discharge the tank overboard if outside the prohibited area, usally 3 miles or more offshore.

does this help?

 

[Bill Roosa]

How stuff works

Hi Hermit
The AP uses the signals from the fluxgate compass to figure out how much the boat is departing from the wind steered course. It will then sound an alarm if the course varies more than (for Raymarine) 15 degrees than the one it started on. This is really a wind shift warning as the AP is steering to the wind in that mode. It also uses the compass to average out the course. It averages the wind direction and compass course data to steer more efficiently and use less power.
When you hook your GPS to the AP it becomes able to steer against a current (crab?). For example, if you sail across a river mouth that has a strong cross current coming out of it, a normal AP will steer a course and you will be carried out to see as you encounter the cross current. It will not crab toward shore and keep you on course to your destination waypoint.
You need to have a deck pumpout (suckout really) fitting to attach the marina pumpout hose. I don't know of any marina that has a slip pumpout feature for every slip. You have to go the the pumpout station for that. WM has lots of info on the rules and regs for waste holding/dumping systems. Try

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/HeadsHoldingTanks.htm

and we have Peggy if you have a specific problem.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Re pumpout and your toilet and holding tank system

Re pumpout: No pumpout system works continuously. A few marinas have hookups to their central pumpout in every slip, but those are rare and you'd still have to turn it on to use it only when you need to. Most likely you'll have to take the boat to the pumpout location.

Now, while all the hoses are out, is the time to talk about where to put the tank and how to plumb the system and what needs to be done to the toilet to end up with a system that's both trouble-free and odor-free...which will require more conversation, questions and answers specific to your boat than is practical in a genral discussion forum. So if you'd like to send me a PM (private message) I'll reply with contact info that allow us to talk instead of swapping 50 emails apiece. I'll be glad to help you!

Meanwhile you might also check out the link in my signature...it goes to a comprehensive "toilets and holding tanks 101" manual that will help you learn how to correctly install, operate and maintain your system to PREVENT 99% of problems instead fixing 'em...'cuz prevention is always cheaper and easier than cure.

 

[sailingdog]

The way the pumpout system works in my town is that you call the harbormaster, and they have a pumpout boat that comes right up to your boat in your slip and pumps your holding tank out during the season. We pay an annual fee that covers the pumpout service. It's far more convenient than having to go to a pumpout dock.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I will visit your link Peggy. Thank you for the offer to help. After I look over all the info you have I will contact you by pm about any questions I have.
The advertisement on youtube for corpus christi marina says they are state of the art and there is a waste vacuum at every dock. I don't know if that means every slip or what.