Autotiller

[Robin Schoener]

This posting doesn't look like it 'took' the first time, so if it comes up twice now, pardon me! I have a Navico Tillerpilot TP100 that I've owned for 4 or 5 years and it has worked fine. Last year the second time I used it, every time I tried to put it on autopilot it would go to standby after about 30 seconds. So I didn't use it the rest of the summer. I somehow hoped it would be magically cured after sitting in my closet this winter (you know, the same voodoo that makes your broken computer work if you turn it off and then on). Nope. Now it just makes its own frequent and random adjustments whether I put it on standby OR autopilot. I have written to Simrad, but have not heard from them and am frankly not very optimistic about getting help from them. I know it is not a very expensive piece of equipment, but I hate to throw it out if there could be a simple fix to try. Anyone know anything about these things? Thanks!Yours, Robin Schoener

 

[Tom Wootton]

Check the wiring

When I bought my '95 H26 last year, it came with a Raytheon ST2000 tillerpilot. The first time I tried it out, I got lots of erratic behavior including some of the symptoms you describe. When I checked the wiring I found that it was stranded but not tinned, and riddled with corrosion at the end. I cut back a foot of wire, and when I stripped the insulation I found more corrosion. I replaced the entire run with marine tinned copper, and I twisted the positive and negative wires together along their entire length to reduce interference. I had to replace the plug that the pilot plugs into as well--corrosion had frozen the setscrews. It works fine now.

 

[Jim Maroldo]

Autotiller woes

Robin:Certainly do as Tom has suggested. You may be surprised. Here's another thought: you didn't say what boat you have. Did you check the condition of the battery? Low voltage could also cause the problem you are having.Aside from writing them, maybe a call or email would be quicker? I have the TP300 myself, and I've found them to be very responsive on the phone. Their contact info is at the link below...Good luck!Jim MaroldoOcean Gate, NJ