Questions about using an autopilot

sailaway78 · Oct 13, 2011

Auto Pilot

For the use you state, just setting a compass course on the auto pilot would work just fine. I don't see any need in your intended use to require more than that. I use mine a lot in conjunction with the GPS, matching the auto pilot to the rumb line shown on the GPS.

Patrick S/V Shangra-La · Oct 13, 2011

K I S S

What you want the auto pilot for...setting a compass course will more than meet your needs. Don't try to make it too complicated. Another nice advantage is that you can tack single handed by just pushing 2 buttons.

Good luck and have fun.

kloudie1 · Oct 13, 2011

I agree.. I have been using "course set" autopilot for more than 25 years and have been very happy with that. never bothered installing a wind vane. One thing to consider is that once ya set a safe course, the wind vane would not change that and put you someplace else.. For the offshore guys, vanes like the Monitor are great because they require no electric power and usually there are no close obstructions ..

Les · Oct 13, 2011

I have a Hunter 27 with a Raymarine X-5 and mostly I aim the boat where I want to go and hit the auto-button. I never worry about the GPS. If I'm sailing and want to do something, if the boat is sailing well, again i just hit the auto button.

I couldn't live without my autopilot.

kloudie1 · Oct 13, 2011

The sails will definitely be out of trim but it will usually keep going unless he sails start luffing ..You will notice the feel of the boat getting very different..The normal small shifts are not a problem.. you won't be sailing as fast as possible, but usually that is not a problem. It is ALWAYS prudent to rig a preventer if sailing on a course where an unintensional gybe might be possible..

Cayennita · Oct 13, 2011

The X-5 was the Gyro and will keep the boat from yawing downwind. Only time I once in a while use the wind function is when sailing DDW. Problem with the wind vane on top of the mast is that as the boat mast swings, the autopilot will try to correct this. Many offshore boats install the wind unit on the stern rail area to prevent this.
In my 51 footer I have gone from Isla Mujeres to Guatemala to Cuba to the VI'S and other parts of the Caribbean by using only the compass function. If you have a wind shift the unit will let you know even on compass setting. KISS works everytime.

thinwater · Oct 13, 2011

I've had both: compass-only and apparent wind

My first was on a Stiletto 27, a very light catamaran. Compass only, tiller pilot. It was great for motoring and for raising sail. It was not so useful for sailing in perfect trim, but that only mattered because it was a performance boat and very sensative to trim.

My current both has a wheel pilot, apparent wind or compass. The apparent wind function is nice when sailing most courses in most conditions. It is a cruising boat and far less sensative. If there is a big quartering sea, hand steering is better. Hard on the weather hand stearing is better. In both cases it is primarily because a sailor better anticipate the reaction of the boat to puffs and waves. There are also times when a compass course can be better than an aparent wind setting; generally this is deep down wind, when the action of waves can make the apparent wind dance around.

I boils down to how long you are going to keep the boat, how much you want to spend, how much you like to hand steer, and how you use the boat. If you think you would like to cruise far and not be tied to the wheel, apparent wind steering is great. But I would make a few 500 mile trips before I made that call. I did.

Also, if you used the AP all day in tough conditions, it will put a dent in your batteries. You may need to consider solar at the same time.

... All of which is why many have suggested compass only.

Stu Jackson · Oct 13, 2011

weinie said:
Thats pretty much what i need it to do. But I was wondering if the wind shifts while auto steering via compass heading, whats the likelihood of things like accidental jibes or rounding up happening?

If the wind shifts when you're on a closehaul to beam reach course, not much will happen. Worst case is you'll end up in a heave to position. Not an issue.

I find that the AP works GREAT going upwind closehauled, 'cuz I can get the boat well balanced with the sails. In fact, going uphill uses the least amount of AP power!

I rarely use the autopilot going on a broad reach to a run because it is not accurate enough to steer the boat in those type of waves. I hand steer then.

Newer autopilots might be better downwind, maybe.

Don't worry about the wind option. Learn how to use it first and then decide. Most of us have decided it's not worth it. Raymarine sells a separate wind vane, not the one you may already have on your boat. RTFM.

Rich Stidger · Oct 13, 2011

I have an Autohelm brand (Raymarine) auto pilot and a wind display and vane. I use the autopilot in vane or wind mode when I am concerned that the wind will shift and cause a gybe or other un-desired action when I am not immediately at the helm. Most of the time my AP is steering from GPS commands to a course.

You can always add the wind vane later if you find the need.

BTW, the new autopilots (Raymarine) have a built-in yaw transducer to anticipate boat movement when sailing down-wind. It works quite well. If the AP that you buy does not have the yaw transducer, down-wind performance will be very poor and/or dangerous.

alexco38 · Oct 13, 2011

Raymarine normally steer to current compass heading using a fluxgate sensor.

When you use "Track" button, it uses the GPS output if it is under NAV (or GoTo) otherwise it says something like no heading.

When you preess Auto and Standby together, it will use the Wind input to steer to the current apparent wind angle.

alexco38 · Oct 13, 2011

I bought the new Raymarine X-5 specifically for downwind to help hoist the spinnaker. Yes it has Gyro. It usually beats me on steering straight downwind. It has anti-gybing logic to prevent accidental gybe. Pretty cool stuff.

I found that for upwind, I need to change the "response" (press both -1 and +1 together) to 1 or 2 (least responsive). For downwind I need to change to 5 (most responsive).

It's well worth the money.

Joe · Oct 13, 2011

weinie said:
I have a 27 Catalina with wheel steering that I single hand most of the time.
I would love to get an auto pilot to make life a bit easier but I was wondering which method of steering those of you with an autopilot use; setting a compass course or setting a course off the wind direction?

I currently don't have an electronic anemometer/wind indicator installed so I would have to use the electronic compass setting.

My sailing pretty much consists of tooling around Long Island sound for the day... i.e. no overnights and no off shore cruising. Therefore, I'm not going to need the autopilot to steer the boat while I'm napping or cooking a meal. I would use it mostly to hold the course so I can trim the sails, go forward, and generally futz around without having a hand on the wheel. Would using the autopilot without plugging into an anemometer work for me or should I look to install one too?

Get the basic auto pilot first, using it with the internal built in fluxgate compass. For singlehanding, the AP is a much more useful tool than an electronic wind device. You can add the wind instrument feature later..... but you'll find the compass course mode the most practical for your type of sailing....

The important thing is to get an autopilot.. now... so you can go to the toilet, make lunch, trim sails, or just take a break from the helm... without heaving to.

Bill Roosa · Oct 13, 2011

Couple of corrections
when using the wind vane the boat will NOT hold a constant course but will vary with the wind direction. If the wind is steady then the course will be steady. if the wind veers then the boat will too. Accidental jibes are not possible unless the wind changes VERY rapidly. The boat will then lag behind the wind but will correct so watch out for a second accidental jibe as she comes around onto the programed tack course.
Having the vane at the masthead is not a problem as the software averages out (just like with the waves and rudder) the changes and holds a steady course.

thinwater · Oct 13, 2011

Bill Roosa said:
Accidental jibes are not possible unless the wind changes VERY rapidly. The boat will then lag behind the wind but will correct so watch out for a second accidental jibe as she comes around onto the programed tack course.

Good point. Though I seldom rig a preventer if hand steering, I always rig a preventer if I'm letting the autopilot do the job. It's not so much that it does poorly, but rather that I might be away from the helm or in the impact zone, wool gathering. Even in lighter winds, that could be bad.

A preventer can be very quick to rig, if thought through beforehand.
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2011/10/simple-preventer.html

HernandoBeacher · Oct 13, 2011

If I am trying to reach a destination, I navigate to a waypoint so that the autopilot corrects for cross track error. If I am just having fun, I use the wind angle. Rarely do I steervto a course with the autopilot.

dkdoyle · Oct 13, 2011

I use an autohelm 3000. I also have wheel steering and it is very effective at holding a course. These are older devices that just keep running and most importantly they use very little power.
Out there using it today. It is steering while I take pictures.

Benny17441 · Oct 13, 2011

Never connected the GPS nor the wind instrument to the autopiolot. None of them can see traffic nor obstructions so I don't want the making decisions on their own about a course to steer. Our longest passages are usually under 40 hours and we always keep someone on watch. The autopilot is there to allow the person on watch to move around and to limit fatigue from providing multiple steering inputs hour after hour.

thinwater · Oct 14, 2011

I've seen two boats in our yard that have hit "way points."

They punched in the lat/lon and it took them right there. Exactly. In both cases, they explained that the marker was hidden by the mast, so they never saw it.

I'll leave it to the reader to see the obvious falicies and solutions.