Can You Identify This Connector?

[GorillaToast]

I found it mounted up under the cockpit coaming cubby hole on my Catalina 22. My guess is it's for an autopilot, but never having had one, I'm not sure; nor do I know what brand/model auto pilot it might be for.

If it can be re-used down the road, I'll remount it. Otherwise, I'll put in a 12v socket.

Thanks.

 

[25yearslater]

That looks like an Amphenol connector that are common industrial control connectors. You can check Allied Electronics for that and the male plug.

 

[Steve Dion]

May have been an autopilot, GPS or any other electrical connection for the cockpit.

 

[Manureva]

my simrad autopilot use that exact same plug

 

[Joe]

It's the tiller pilot connector.... didn't the previous owner leave the unit with the boat? Look on the tiller itself... there may be a small peg, or peg hole, that served as the extension arm connector. Also there may be bracket holes near the coaming that the control unit was mounted on.

 

[GorillaToast]

It's the tiller pilot connector.... didn't the previous owner leave the unit with the boat? Look on the tiller itself... there may be a small peg, or peg hole, that served as the extension arm connector. Also there may be bracket holes near the coaming that the control unit was mounted on.

No, the PO did not leave the tiller pilot. He may not have gotten it from his PO. And yes to both - there is a peg on the tiller and holes in the side of the cockpit that have been filled in with 4200.

So, I'll just put this in my box of misc parts until the time comes I think I need an autopilot. I'm working on learning to use the sheets to steer, and if I ever get to the point of crossing oceans, I'll get a wind vane.

Thanks.

 

[txtowman]

autopilot will help keep the bow into the wind while you hank on and raise the sails, in case you didn't know that. That is the one thing I struggle with on occasion.

 

[Joe]

No, the PO did not leave the tiller pilot. He may not have gotten it from his PO. And yes to both - there is a peg on the tiller and holes in the side of the cockpit that have been filled in with 4200.

So, I'll just put this in my box of misc parts until the time comes I think I need an autopilot. I'm working on learning to use the sheets to steer, and if I ever get to the point of crossing oceans, I'll get a wind vane.

Thanks.

whether you intend to cross oceans in your C22 or not... an electronic tiller pilot, such as those made by simrad or raymarine, are extremely functional if you sail shorthanded. Not the same thing as a wind vane.... which is a substantial investment and unnecessary for your type of sailing. You can purchase a brand new tiller pilot for your boat for under $400... less if you search e-bay. To increase your sailing experience to an even higher lever, I strongly recommend investing in this wonderfull tool.

 

[WayneH]

Another vote for getting an autopilot for your boat.

My wife is a purist and resisted using our autopilot until we hit the GICW in Louisiana. Turning the autopilot on in the ditch gave us time to watch the scenery go by and just a tap on the controls would correct that slow drift across the channel.

Raising the sails shorthanded is a lot easier if you don't have to steer at the same time.

Need to check the map of the lake to see where you're going to anchor for the night? Turn on the autopilot so you don't lose your heading. I've had two tiller steered boats and I can definitely tell you that taking your attention off the steering for any time at all changes your heading.

 

[GorillaToast]

Another vote for getting an autopilot for your boat.

My wife is a purist and resisted using our autopilot until we hit the GICW in Louisiana. Turning the autopilot on in the ditch gave us time to watch the scenery go by and just a tap on the controls would correct that slow drift across the channel.

Raising the sails shorthanded is a lot easier if you don't have to steer at the same time.

Need to check the map of the lake to see where you're going to anchor for the night? Turn on the autopilot so you don't lose your heading. I've had two tiller steered boats and I can definitely tell you that taking your attention off the steering for any time at all changes your heading.

That's what I have a tiller tamer for. A line with a bungee attached, wrap once around the tiller and, voila, she stays on course
long enough for me to set the main and jib. No need to worry about staying on course in the little pond I sail in. I'll get one when I need one.

 

[rgranger]

That's what I have a tiller tamer for.

Hey Gorilla: Two other inexpensive options to consider...

1) Sheet to tiller self steering..... This costs about $10 in rubber tubing and cheap blocks from tractor supply. I've tried this and it is real fun. I don't have all of the bugs worked out of my system yet but I'm close. Next time I go sailing I should have it working smoothly. Here is a link to a page that describes it.

http://www.blueanarchy.org/selfsteering/index.html

2) If you don't want to have to go forward to pull down your jib, install a jib down haul that leads back to the cockpit. I've also done this and it is the best mod. I've made (and also less than $10). Here is a link that describes this project.

http://web.mac.com/overholtzer/impliedconsent/Downhaul.html

Neither webpage are mine.

Another advantage of a jib downhaul is that if you also pull one of the jib sheets taught while the jib downhaul is pulled tight down, you jib will sit tame on the deck pulled off to one side.

 

[GorillaToast]

Hey Gorilla: Two other inexpensive options to consider...

1) Sheet to tiller self steering..... This costs about $10 in rubber tubing and cheap blocks from tractor supply. I've tried this and it is real fun. I don't have all of the bugs worked out of my system yet but I'm close. Next time I go sailing I should have it working smoothly. Here is a link to a page that describes it.

http://www.blueanarchy.org/selfsteering/index.html

2) If you don't want to have to go forward to pull down your jib, install a jib down haul that leads back to the cockpit. I've also done this and it is the best mod. I've made (and also less than $10). Here is a link that describes this project.

http://web.mac.com/overholtzer/impliedconsent/Downhaul.html

Neither webpage are mine.

Another advantage of a jib downhaul is that if you also pull one of the jib sheets taught while the jib downhaul is pulled tight down, you jib will sit tame on the deck pulled off to one side.

I have a ton of downloaded info on sheet to tiller steering, and that will be one of my main projects this year. There's a guy and his wife that did a video log of sailing an Albin Vega to Hawaii using sheet to tiller steering. In 32+days I rarely see him touching the tiller.

I already have and use a jib downhaul. Have had one on all my boats.

Thanks for the input, tho.

 

[rgranger]

I have a ton of downloaded info on sheet to tiller steering, and that will be one of my main projects this year.

Very cool. I've just started on that project myself and have not had much opportunity to try it out yet. I'm hoping to go to the Pamlico sound in 3 weeks and will see if I can get it smoothed out then.

So, please post updates on yours...I'd love to hear how it goes and learn from your experiences as well.

 

[GorillaToast]

Very cool. I've just started on that project myself and have not had much opportunity to try it out yet. I'm hoping to go to the Pamlico sound in 3 weeks and will see if I can get it smoothed out then.

So, please post updates on yours...I'd love to hear how it goes and learn from your experiences as well.

Will do. The problem is, until I can retire in 3 yrs I'm stuck with sailing in one of the local reservoirs. Both are thin slivers, barely wider than the Ohio River, so I don't get very long on any tack to see how well any self-steering system works.