Tillerpilot Installation Expert?

[Rusty Fitzgerald]

I just "won" (in a West Marine auction) a Navico TP 100 tillerpilot for installation on our 1994 H26, and the details have me puzzled. The instructions say to mount a specially shaped pin on the top of the tiller eighteen inches forward of the pivot point for the rudder, and to mount the other end on the cockpit somewere it is 23.5 inches from the centerline with the unit horizontal (to the water) and square (with the centerline). On my boat, however, translating these dimensions to the real world is problematic. Eighteen inches forward of the pivot point, my tiller is still arcing gracefylly upward at nearly a 45 degree angle. 23.5 inches right or left from that point is dead air - on the starboard side, this is just aft of the key installation at the end of the cockpit seat; on the portside it is the vicinity of the swim ladder. Has anyone had any successes or failures trying to install such a unit on a boat like mine? ThanksRusty FitzgeraldS/V "Solace"

 

[Mike Pajewski]

Yup, that's where it goes

I'm in the process of installing mine now. I'm installing a Raytheon TP2000. Another of our fellow hunter owners, Ron Fraboni, has helped me. You will need a 90MM deck socket & a 120mm tiller bracket. The tiller bracket will require a bit of mechanical persuasion (bending) to achieve the proper angle. Yes indeed, it installs right in front of the swim ladder. The pedestal does unscrew from the deck socket, so it won't kill toes when swimming. I will probably drill my pedestal for a safety lanyard cause I can see myself dropping it overboard.Mike PajewskiH26 "Loon"

 

[Ron Fraboni]

E-mail Me

Rusty, Last year I installed a Navico on the cockpit floor on my H26 with the help of a fellow sailor from England. It is a bit confusing, but it will work. Send me your e-mail and regular mailing address and I will send you some photo copies of pictures I took of the installation. I can't scan. My e-mail is - Frabonimn@aol.com

 

[Todd Thomas]

easy fix

I also have a Hunter 26 ('94) since she was new.Three years ago I installed an Autohelm Tiller Pilot.The 18" forward is where to attach the hook-up pin on the tiller, to do that, I drilled the hole and epoxied the pin in place and have had no problems since.As for the Base, I purchased a 9" vertical extension from the manf. and found it still too short to meet level with the "pin" so I found a proper sized piece of stainless pipe and afloor socket to screw it into and attached it to the deck.I have another friend who also mounted one by fitting a pice of trimmed stainless to fit the curve of the starboard seat that the pilot could be attached to.It is really worth the time to set it up! Oncel you have had one you'll wonder how you ever got along with just a tiller-tamer!