Need autopilot settings after reset

[Dr. D]

My boat came equipped with the B&G Zeus3 and Triton2. I had previously updated the software. A week ago another software update was available and I executed the update. Yesterday I went sailing for the first time since the upgrade. When I went to engage the autopilot, an error message appeared: "AP Heading data missing," and the autopilot did not engage. Also, the TWD remained "000" no matter how the wind shifted.

I fumbled through the Triton2 menus until I came across "RESET". Sure, why not? The unit cycled then came back up. The TWD was now showing the correct data. But when I attempted to engage the autopilot a message appeared stating autopilot required commissioning.

I sailed for a while more, then got back to the slip. Online I was able to find out the commissioning procedure and I followed those. Here is my dilemma: Since I had not anticipated the autopilot data being wiped slick, I had not recorded the parameter settings. So, does anyone have available what the default settings for my boat (or similar)? Some of the parameters are obvious (it is a sailboat), but some are not.

BTW, I have written to B&G asking for this data. I hope they take the hint that their software update has a bug in it.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Here’s what all the settings pages look like on mine (Zeus3 on a 37). Your mileage may vary depending on boat and rudder characteristics.

 

[Dr. D]

Many thanks! There may be a few differences between the boats, but those settings will be a lot closer than factory default.

 

[Dr. D]

David: Thanks again for the data.

Besides posting here, I had sent an email to the service manager at the dealership where I bought the boat. I guess he was on vacation, but he forwarded the email to one of the co-owners. Nice guy! The co-owner said entering the data by hand isn't needed. There is an "AUTOTUNE" function which even their techs use. In relatively calm conditions, engage this function and the autopilot steers a series of S turns for a few minutes. From the response of the vessel, the autopilot calculates the values. And it works!

One must enter some basic data (sailboat, 12 V, etc.), but the rest is determined from the vessel response. Interestingly, the values of the data calculated were not too far from David's.