When do you use auto Helm?

Kopite · Dec 8, 2015

Hi,
It depends if wifey will always go with you. If there's a chance you might want to go alone, then I'd definitely go for the auto helm. Love mine, and can't imagine having to sail without it..
Andrew

Calif. Ted · Dec 8, 2015

I probably use it 90% of the time at least.

Meriachee · Dec 8, 2015

AP can and will steer the boat better than you ever will, and offer you the ability to do all kinds of things that you couldn't do while attached to the wheel. With a wind input, you can let the AP drive while you concentrate on sail trim, which is real benefit while you are learning the boat.
You said it yourself, even with the company, you're doing most of the driving. You can't do it all, all the time. Sooner or later you gotta go. (at a minimum.....)

arf145 · Dec 8, 2015

I use mine a lot. When singlehanding of course, but a surprising amount when sailing with others. As Meriachee said, it frees me up to trim the sails, as my crew is not always experienced. BTW, no way an autopilot for a 30 ft boat will cost $5K.

Bad Obsession · Dec 8, 2015

I have a Catalina 30 and I put an Autopilot on it. I used it about 90% of the time. It is like having a capable second crew person.

During the 8 years that I had my Catalina 30 I single handed 95% of it. I had some cruises as long as 20 days out on the Chesapeake Bay. Unless I was stuck in higher winds and a following sea I ran it or I was in a lot of boat traffic.

If you don't have one you will want to add one. A wheel pilot works great on the Catalina 30 and it really isn't that big of a job to mount it.

Bad Obsession · Dec 8, 2015

My current boat is a Compac 23. It has a tiller pilot. I use it about 80% of the time. The reason for less use is that I don't like it as much as the wheel pilot on the Catalina 30. My wheel pilot steered really well and the auto tack feature was awesome. I am use to Raymarine products and my TP10 is Simirad. I still haven't learned how to auto tack it and I really don't like the controls. I may put a Raymarine ST2000 on it someday when I have it budgeted for the boat.

Still, I wouldn't own a sailboat without an autopilot. I single hand 99% of the time in my sailing career and 100% of the time in the current boat.

JohnShannon · Dec 8, 2015

30 ft boat wheel pilot EV100 is about $1400. There are less expensive options as well. Pelagic autopilot looks like they have some interesting stuff.

Ken13559 · Dec 9, 2015

AP best equipment onboard. Think of it as your best sailing buddy.

hewebb · Dec 9, 2015

I use the tiller pilot when solo sailing and when wife or non sailor type is on board to go on deck or below. I solo most of the time.

kappykaplan · Dec 9, 2015

Since my sailing is mostly solo, I'd be lost without my autopilot, and changing from a wheel pilot to a linear drive greatly opened up opportunities to go out in sporty conditions. It gets used every time I go out. As Ken13559 notes, it's my best sailing buddy.

woodster · Dec 9, 2015

When do you use auto Helm?
the answer is every time you get a chance or think about it

BillBay36 · Dec 9, 2015

Until the auto on the boat died I did not realize how much we used it. When you don't any longer have one you realize how often.

kito · Dec 9, 2015

I am considering a wheel pilot on my H30 when I get her finished. Can someone enlighten me on the purpose of an autopilot when sailing on small inland lakes where the wind is never a constant speed or direction (swirling)? Especially on lakes surrounded by mountains or hills, the wind direction can shift from one direction to another. I never used an AP and always wonder about this. It seems on smaller inland lakes where you need to tack every 10 minutes anyway, just using your rudder lock on the wheel would be sufficient to grab a quick beer or take a wee wee.

woodster · Dec 9, 2015

i like the old style raymarine ones with the fluxgate compass and rudder sensor they don't need satellites to operate if i am understanding them correctly ...the newer ones appear to have to have satellites to function and i wonder what would happen if some jack a$$ turned the satellite off would you then go around in circles like billy preston

Meriachee · Dec 9, 2015

Kito,
This is precisely the conditions we live in, and the wind input to the AP is the best friend you have.
Flying a similar rig as the avatar, (same sails, tack to a bowsprit) solo is not a scary scenario at all with the AP, but wouldn't even be considered without. That kite is way too big for any kind of wind at all, by design, and the AP keeps it full 90+% of the time without intervention. It does it as well as I can manually.
The rudder lock is great for a quick dash below. The AP is very much like another crew member who can steer the boat exceptionally well, freeing you up to tend sail. The only thing the AP doesn't do well, besides knowing where the beach is, is keep a vessel lookout.
I'd say we use it 100% of the time we're going someplace. If we're 'motoring home' the route is in the plotter, the AP is following it, and we're tidying up so that there's less to do when we get back to the mooring, even though, end to end the lake is only an hour.

Meriachee · Dec 9, 2015

Woodster, the EVO has the compass, it's just in the same housing.

Justin_NSA · Dec 9, 2015

Reading this thread makes me glad my 'new' Hunter 30 came with autohelm. I plan to do some solo sailing next year on her. Raising and lowering the mainsail should be a cinch. I can even use the head or fetch a beer.

Charlie98117 · Dec 9, 2015

I love my autopilot. It's great for for getting the sails up or down when solo sailing and even when you have a crew it's nice for just relaxing and enjoying the sail with your friends. It's like having an extra crew member who doesn't mind standing at the helm for hours and doesn't drink up all your liquor.

There was an old Autohelm 4000 on my boat when I bought it and I thought great, check that off the list. But after adding a chart plotter I decided it would be much better if it could talk to Otto so I sold the old one on Craigslist and upgraded to an EV100 Wheel Pilot.