Tillerpilot installation

[Brian Hofler]

I just received my new Simrad TP20. I see that it should go about
18" up the tiller from the rudder post. That puts the cockpit end
about on the edge of the seat hatch. It is shorter than the old
Tillermaster that it is replacing, which reached from coaming to
tiller, so without extentions, the cockpit end mounts on the seat, a
few inches inboard of the coaming.

I know that others have used the Simrad / Navico units on their
Vegas, so exactly what installation method / acessories were
appropriate? Did it seem like a good idea to use the (additional
cost) fittings available for either end to mount?

Thanks, Doug, #712

 

[reefmagnet]

Doug,
When we mounted our Navico pilot it required a custom piece for the
tiller. Mount the pilot on the seat and shim it so that the box clears the
seat and you can pivot the box forwards and aft. Take a piece of scrap
plywood and c clamp it to the tiller on the opposite side of pilot. Extend
the push rod until it touches the ply. Pivot the pilot forward a couple of
inches and mark the ply about a 1/2" below where the pushrod touches the
ply. Pivot it aft a couple of inches and mark it again. You are going to
draw a line between these marks. Now go down to the tiller and draw a line
on the ply along the top of the tiller. Draw a line From the aft end of the
top line so that it intersects the lower line and repeat the process from
the forward end of the top line. You now have a pattern for your bracket.
Take a pieces of 1/8" by 1" stainless flat stock and drill a 3/16" hole on
the center line about 1/2" from one end, drill another 3/16" hole 1/2"
forward of the first hole. Mark the stock with a piece of tape 1/2" forward
of the second hole. Put the stock in a vise and bend it so that it conforms
to the line you drew on the plywood. Drill another hole on the forward tab
of the stock and cut off the excess. Now you are almost ready to mount it on
the tiller. Place it on the top of the tiller and slide it under the push
rod until its about a 1/2" below the push rod. Mark it under the pushrod and
drill it for the connecting pin. Drill into the tiller with a 1/8" bit
through your 3/16" holes and use #10 stainless pan head sheet metal screws
to screw the bracket to the tiller. Adjust the connecting pin for the proper
height on the bracket and you are done.
We mounted the electrical socket on the cockpit wall but on retrospect would
have put it up on the coaming. Same thought on the engine gauges. When we
re-powered we put the new controls in the cockpit. Think about heavy weather
and your cockpit filled with saltwater. I will probably move the engine
gauges up onto the aft cabin bulkhead to keep them from getting submerged
should we ever wind up with the cocpit filled.
Good luck,
Walt Lyric #120

 

[reefmagnet]

Hi, Walt&Judy:

Thanks a lot for the quick response. I look forward to getting this
thing operational, as I almost always sail alone, and feel lots
better about walking forward with a tiller pilot holding my course.

With my previous old tillermaster I achieved the same effect as your
neat bracket, by carving a teak wedge that elevated the tiller when
inserted at the rudder post/tiller fitting. Boat,(needs a name), is
is a few miles away from my home, so I haven't brought the Simrad
unit to it yet to check on the fit-up.

In any case, bracket or elevated tiller, it looks like I don't need
to go for any of the (expensive) additional parts from Simrad to get
the thing installed.

Thanks again...Doug Taylor

 

[reefmagnet]

Doug,
You're welcome. Wear your harness and keep the tether short. As an
interesting aside. We used to sail past a car recycling lot. They would
crush or shred old cars and load them on barges or into freighters for
export as scrap. As friends were sailing past the area the lot turned on
their crane mounted electromagnet. Our friends were on auto pilot and the
boat made an immediate turn towards the crane. They were able to get back on
course quickly. Enjoy the pilot. Get the extension cord as it's nice to be
able to sit on the forward cabin in light winds while still being able to
steer. Walt