Tiller pilot !!!
- Thread starter yugnoir
- Start date
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- Jul 24, 2006
- 628
i had a mac 26d 1988 model. I think the pilot would be tough given the tendencies for the mac to round up in the gusts. I installed the Ida sailor improved rudder and still was almost imposible to keep it in the groove-always headed into the wind and dumped air from the sails. Maybe yours is better tuned than mine, or you can reef early say around 15k. my two cents Patrick
Comfort Level
I had an older Navico tiller pilot on my old boat A Watkins 27, loved it. you will need to trim your sails for best performance.
I had an older Navico tiller pilot on my old boat A Watkins 27, loved it. you will need to trim your sails for best performance.
I use a Raymarine Tiller Pilot 1000+. It works quite well, especially if you've got it properly calibrated for your boat and have the sails properly balanced.
One thing I highly recommend is making a splash sleeve, usually out of some fairly water proof material like Sunbrella. This can really help extend the life of the tiller pilots, since one of the most common causes of failure of the tiller pilots is water intrusion, and a splash sleeve reduces the problems with water intrusion significantly.
One thing I highly recommend is making a splash sleeve, usually out of some fairly water proof material like Sunbrella. This can really help extend the life of the tiller pilots, since one of the most common causes of failure of the tiller pilots is water intrusion, and a splash sleeve reduces the problems with water intrusion significantly.
Smooth water, good, rough... maybe.
As SD said, balance is key, but at some point waves knock a light boat around. But in general, with adjustment, it would always settle down. Sometimes slowing down for balance is unavoidable.
But if you are suggesting leaving the watch under sail for more than a few moments... only if the wind is light or you are motoring. Even then, it is SO easy to hit something - a floating log - something. Be careful.
Also, if there is a chance of loosing it overboard, attach lanyard. Mine actually mounts behind the transom (on a catamaran the rudders are way back) and dropping it would be lamentable.
As SD said, balance is key, but at some point waves knock a light boat around. But in general, with adjustment, it would always settle down. Sometimes slowing down for balance is unavoidable.
But if you are suggesting leaving the watch under sail for more than a few moments... only if the wind is light or you are motoring. Even then, it is SO easy to hit something - a floating log - something. Be careful.
Also, if there is a chance of loosing it overboard, attach lanyard. Mine actually mounts behind the transom (on a catamaran the rudders are way back) and dropping it would be lamentable.
Tiller Pilots
I have a Autohelm 800 tiller pilot and really enjoy it. When I first started to use it I played around with it to understand how it would behave in different situations. I feel very comfortable with it in light to moderate winds with any wind angles. You need to be careful with your movements that shift the balance. You will learn the feeling with use. I stay within quick reach to disconnect rapidly. Just go out and play around with and you will learn its tendencies.
I have a Autohelm 800 tiller pilot and really enjoy it. When I first started to use it I played around with it to understand how it would behave in different situations. I feel very comfortable with it in light to moderate winds with any wind angles. You need to be careful with your movements that shift the balance. You will learn the feeling with use. I stay within quick reach to disconnect rapidly. Just go out and play around with and you will learn its tendencies.
Attachments
Yeah, I use mine all the time when I single hand... If I have crew I don't usually hook it up... the most important thing I can pass on to you is to make sure you've balanced your rig... that means you absolutely must know how to properly trim your sails for each point of sail. With the rig balanced the AP exerts less effort to keep you on course, which will give you a lot more confidence and will probably use less battery.
I don't have a wind sensor on mine so I have no comment regarding that. Therefore, if the wind shifts, I'll either trim sails or change course.
Under power the AP is quite useful but it really shines when you're sailing singehanded because iit frees you up to trim sails, eat, toilet, read, whatever...
Downwind sailing can be somewhat erratic, but you really need to experiiment for yourself. The problem is that the unit may over correct for the yawing motion common to downwind sailing in the oceran, and may set up an accidental jibe....... not good. But downwind on flat water, such as when I come back into the bay, I can set up the AP to handle the boat while I start putting things away....
Last comment... WEAR A HARNESS and TETHER... and stay ATTACHED to the boat at all timesl when you singlehand with or without the autopilot on.
I don't have a wind sensor on mine so I have no comment regarding that. Therefore, if the wind shifts, I'll either trim sails or change course.
Under power the AP is quite useful but it really shines when you're sailing singehanded because iit frees you up to trim sails, eat, toilet, read, whatever...
Downwind sailing can be somewhat erratic, but you really need to experiiment for yourself. The problem is that the unit may over correct for the yawing motion common to downwind sailing in the oceran, and may set up an accidental jibe....... not good. But downwind on flat water, such as when I come back into the bay, I can set up the AP to handle the boat while I start putting things away....
Last comment... WEAR A HARNESS and TETHER... and stay ATTACHED to the boat at all timesl when you singlehand with or without the autopilot on.
Joe makes a very good point, worth repeating.
If your boat isn't rigged with jacklines, then you really need to set them up before going out singlehanded....and use the jacklines, tether and harness religiously when out there by yourself.
I have two of these and have burned up two. I'm sure they are fine for their intended use as tiller pilots where they are being constantly tended. When used to tweak a windvane linkage; especially if installed out of sight, they tend to burn up even getting hot enough to melt the case. The problem is lack of limit switches. Misadjustment of the vane gear or winds going light so the the boat can hold course lets the pilot go to full extension where the motor simply stalls and starts heating up. One of my two failures melted components off the circuit board so that they were rattling around inside.
There is a solution:
http://www.rogerlongboats.com/ST1000mods.htm
BTW I will second the other comments about use of teathers when self steering singlehanded. It can't be emphasized enough although I seldom follow my own advice. I mostly keep telling myself that the freeboard on my boat is 1000 feet.
Roger—
If you could e-mail me that pattern, I'd be interested in installing those limit switches in my ST1000... it's warranty period is about to end... so I'm willing to tinker with it. BTW, it was good meeting you at the Maine Boatbuilders Show.
I'll PM you with the e-mail address.
If you could e-mail me that pattern, I'd be interested in installing those limit switches in my ST1000... it's warranty period is about to end... so I'm willing to tinker with it. BTW, it was good meeting you at the Maine Boatbuilders Show.
I'll PM you with the e-mail address.
I used one on my C&C27 and it worked very well. I had a MAC 25 and on that I used a Tiller tamer which also worked well. I actually added a tiller tamer to the C&C. Sometimes it was just easier to use. What has been said about balancing your sails is very important. I know on my MAC 25 I could steer the boat with the sails so it would have a great affect on the auto pilot.
Great except downwind on our '77 h27
We have an Autohelm on our 7,000 lb. 27 footer. We use it extensively when motoring and motor sailing, and whenever I single hand the boat. With the sails decently trimmed, it has no problem except in heavy following seas. Of course, heavy following seas implies heavy following winds - so we seldom use it on that case. But it has performed wel in heavy weather from close hauled to a beam reach.
We have an Autohelm on our 7,000 lb. 27 footer. We use it extensively when motoring and motor sailing, and whenever I single hand the boat. With the sails decently trimmed, it has no problem except in heavy following seas. Of course, heavy following seas implies heavy following winds - so we seldom use it on that case. But it has performed wel in heavy weather from close hauled to a beam reach.
I have a raymarine autotiller 1000+ on the H25.5, one of the best purchases for the boat in my opinion. I have always been very comfortable with it in winds up to about 15kts. Above that, I tend to like to have my hand on the tiller. Never had a problem with the unit, but it did seem like it was working a little harder and didn't want to ruin it.
On my previous boat (pearson 30) I had an Raymarine ST 2000+. As long as the boat stayed reasonably ballanced and didn't heal significantly, the tiller performed great. I used it in conjunction with a wireless remote. The tiller was fitted into a socket and when I would put the tiller pilot on I would take the tiller off and steer with the remote. This freed up much space in the cockpit.
The pilot was inconsistant when interfacing to the computer. It would accept waypoints just fine going east to west. But every time I came to a waypoint from the west, it would steer way off coarse. I used the same computer and software with my current autopilot. It doesn't have any problems.
The pilot was inconsistant when interfacing to the computer. It would accept waypoints just fine going east to west. But every time I came to a waypoint from the west, it would steer way off coarse. I used the same computer and software with my current autopilot. It doesn't have any problems.
You don't happen to have pictures of this setup do you? I am trying to figure out how to install a ST-2000 on my Pearson 30...
Thanks
Pierre
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