In anticipation of using the newly installed WP30 this week, any advise or experience using the wheel brake when the WP is engaged. Since it is rare that I can achieve a perfectly balanced helm, I always use enough wheel brake so I don't have to keep my hand on the wheel. Is this what I should do when the autopilot is engaged, or should I have no brake and a free wheel? Any change in your advise, depending on whether under sail or power? The boat has significant prop walk above 4 knots.
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no brake with wp
Scott, Don't use any brake at all with the autopilot. Just adds extra work for the machine and uses more power.
Scott, Don't use any brake at all with the autopilot. Just adds extra work for the machine and uses more power.
WP30 on H37C.
Terry is right, do not put a brake load on the autohelm. I am not sure why you asked. I set my course with my WP30 on my H37C and leave the helm for work around the boat. It will sail all day without me. Is yours not calibrated? Are your cables adjusted and tight? Even with a lot of weather helm the WP30 will handle it. And prop walk in the forward gear? I hope we are not talking about a bent rudder stock here. My boat has severe prop walk in reverse but none at all in forward.
Terry is right, do not put a brake load on the autohelm. I am not sure why you asked. I set my course with my WP30 on my H37C and leave the helm for work around the boat. It will sail all day without me. Is yours not calibrated? Are your cables adjusted and tight? Even with a lot of weather helm the WP30 will handle it. And prop walk in the forward gear? I hope we are not talking about a bent rudder stock here. My boat has severe prop walk in reverse but none at all in forward.
The WP30 becomes your brake...
when its engaged, you can not move the wheel by hand, you have to disengage the unit before you regain control by hand. The thing I try to remember is to be sure I DON'T have the brake on at all before I engage the clutch on the wp30. by the way, you will be very happy with this autopilot.
when its engaged, you can not move the wheel by hand, you have to disengage the unit before you regain control by hand. The thing I try to remember is to be sure I DON'T have the brake on at all before I engage the clutch on the wp30. by the way, you will be very happy with this autopilot.
Thanks David, Ed and Terry but
how come none of you came right out and called me a knuckhead. Of course the WP is a "brake", I just made the common mistake of asking the question too early. I haven't taken the boat out since the WP was installed and I never tried to move the wheel when the WP was engaged at the dock. Ed, as to prop walk, my rudder is fine because sometimes I can achieve a balanced helm under sail ( wheel midline, no brake), are you saying you can motor w/o out a standing helm (I think that what its called)to starboard? The boat came with a fixed 2 blade and a Gori geared 2 blade folding in a box. I put the Gori on which reduced the prop walk forward, reverse is still severe to port, but the folding prop can stop /move the boat in reverse to my satisfaction. Looking forward to the WP PS, it came with a "free" remote.
how come none of you came right out and called me a knuckhead. Of course the WP is a "brake", I just made the common mistake of asking the question too early. I haven't taken the boat out since the WP was installed and I never tried to move the wheel when the WP was engaged at the dock. Ed, as to prop walk, my rudder is fine because sometimes I can achieve a balanced helm under sail ( wheel midline, no brake), are you saying you can motor w/o out a standing helm (I think that what its called)to starboard? The boat came with a fixed 2 blade and a Gori geared 2 blade folding in a box. I put the Gori on which reduced the prop walk forward, reverse is still severe to port, but the folding prop can stop /move the boat in reverse to my satisfaction. Looking forward to the WP PS, it came with a "free" remote.
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