Hi all, I've spent many sessions of Internet access reading endless threads of postings re: the subject of auto-pilots and the endless issues relative to performance or lack thereof. I'm turning to each of my fellow C30 owners to direct me towards the best choice of auto-pilot (i.e. 3000, 4000, Simrad, etc.). I'm concerned that I will spend more time searching for the proper settings then enjoying the benefits and convenience of the auto-pilot itself. Thanks do much for your insight, -Chuck
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ST4000
Easy to install, easy to use, settings simple,no maintenance, and very reliable. Also easy to interface with GPS. Seven years on my Catalina 30 and I am very happy with it. Sean
Easy to install, easy to use, settings simple,no maintenance, and very reliable. Also easy to interface with GPS. Seven years on my Catalina 30 and I am very happy with it. Sean
Ditto
Concur with Sean. I have the ST4000 on my C320 and it's great. Allows me to singlehand the boat very nicely. The setup is very straightforward -- generally done once & checked each year during commisioning. The hardest part is establishing the deviation calibration of the fluxgate compass --- you'll have to drive in circles for a while!
As a sidenote, my experience is that you need to balance the drive on your sails before engaging the autopilot in any heavy air. Otherwise it really has to work very hard to keep up (relating to that "response" setting!). Trim the sails to minimize weather helm. --Ron
Concur with Sean. I have the ST4000 on my C320 and it's great. Allows me to singlehand the boat very nicely. The setup is very straightforward -- generally done once & checked each year during commisioning. The hardest part is establishing the deviation calibration of the fluxgate compass --- you'll have to drive in circles for a while!
As a sidenote, my experience is that you need to balance the drive on your sails before engaging the autopilot in any heavy air. Otherwise it really has to work very hard to keep up (relating to that "response" setting!). Trim the sails to minimize weather helm. --RonEffects of "prop walk"?
We are about to purchase an ST4000 for our recently purchased 1991 C28. The boat pulls quite a bit to port under power. Have heard that this is normal "prop walk". Does anybody have experience in how this will affect the autopilot's performance? Thanks
We are about to purchase an ST4000 for our recently purchased 1991 C28. The boat pulls quite a bit to port under power. Have heard that this is normal "prop walk". Does anybody have experience in how this will affect the autopilot's performance? Thanks
Much like hand steering
Prop walk is much more dominant at low boat speed. Once you get any boat speed on, it's there but relatively minor in effect. Effects of wind and current will dominate then. Especially with a sailboat that has a keel. Whether you hand steer to a heading or to a point (real or electronic) anything that tends to yaw the boat will need correction. Steering to a point, you (or your autopilot) will tend to compensate with opposing rudder force to keep the boat headed to that point. It will result in an apparant heading shift from your true heading. Steering to a course will be compensated, too, but it is likely to be seen as a drift parallel to the desired course line. Either way, always check your 360degrees to make sure you really know how the boat is moving through the water. A quick check behind you can often determine if your offset will get you into troubled waters. --Ron
Prop walk is much more dominant at low boat speed. Once you get any boat speed on, it's there but relatively minor in effect. Effects of wind and current will dominate then. Especially with a sailboat that has a keel. Whether you hand steer to a heading or to a point (real or electronic) anything that tends to yaw the boat will need correction. Steering to a point, you (or your autopilot) will tend to compensate with opposing rudder force to keep the boat headed to that point. It will result in an apparant heading shift from your true heading. Steering to a course will be compensated, too, but it is likely to be seen as a drift parallel to the desired course line. Either way, always check your 360degrees to make sure you really know how the boat is moving through the water. A quick check behind you can often determine if your offset will get you into troubled waters. --Ron
Simrad is best & here's why...
All autopilots now have the great electronics & bells & whistles, but here are the numbers to look at: Torque (actual force available to turn the wheel) RPMs (the speed at which the autopilot can turn the wheel). Here's the #s I got from the Mfgr's websites- torque: WP30 80nm, AP4000 50nm RPM's: WP30 7.8, AP4000 5.5 The WP 30 is 40% faster & 60% stronger! (It's easier to mount too...)
All autopilots now have the great electronics & bells & whistles, but here are the numbers to look at: Torque (actual force available to turn the wheel) RPMs (the speed at which the autopilot can turn the wheel). Here's the #s I got from the Mfgr's websites- torque: WP30 80nm, AP4000 50nm RPM's: WP30 7.8, AP4000 5.5 The WP 30 is 40% faster & 60% stronger! (It's easier to mount too...)
Simrad Yes
I installed the WP 30 last season. After having it for a full year of use, I have fallen in love. When hooked to the GPS it has never failed to go to the next waypoint. You need to balance the boat so that it does not have to over-steer in the puffs. Under power it also works great. It makes life a lot easier for us SINGLE HANDERS. I use the remote and can sit at the bow and still steer the boat around obstacles. I am sold...
I installed the WP 30 last season. After having it for a full year of use, I have fallen in love. When hooked to the GPS it has never failed to go to the next waypoint. You need to balance the boat so that it does not have to over-steer in the puffs. Under power it also works great. It makes life a lot easier for us SINGLE HANDERS. I use the remote and can sit at the bow and still steer the boat around obstacles. I am sold...
Simrad WP 10
Here's this Ron's 2 cents worth. I bought the WP-10 for my 30 Catalina 2 years ago and still think it was the best unit for my use. I sail in the San Juan Islands / Gulf Islands area of B.C. Most everything is line of site and I don't need the GPS auto feature of the WP-30 ( I put the difference $$$ into a good handheld GPS instead). The WP-10 allows me to singlehand and I love the auto tack feature. Very easy to install also. Cheers, Ron S/V Seascape
Here's this Ron's 2 cents worth. I bought the WP-10 for my 30 Catalina 2 years ago and still think it was the best unit for my use. I sail in the San Juan Islands / Gulf Islands area of B.C. Most everything is line of site and I don't need the GPS auto feature of the WP-30 ( I put the difference $$$ into a good handheld GPS instead). The WP-10 allows me to singlehand and I love the auto tack feature. Very easy to install also. Cheers, Ron S/V Seascape
ST 4000
My ST 4000 came with the boat and I really like it. I recently had to replace the drive belt and it was dead easy. I will say that on the passage to Bermuda It had trouble keeping up with 5 to 8 foot quartering seas and more than 20 knots of wind, we ended up hand steering much of the time. This may have been remedied by better knowledge of the boat. It was new to me at the time and I've learned how to balance the sails better now.
My ST 4000 came with the boat and I really like it. I recently had to replace the drive belt and it was dead easy. I will say that on the passage to Bermuda It had trouble keeping up with 5 to 8 foot quartering seas and more than 20 knots of wind, we ended up hand steering much of the time. This may have been remedied by better knowledge of the boat. It was new to me at the time and I've learned how to balance the sails better now.
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