Current thinking on Autopilot for 26M?

[Oskar 26M]

To hull with work! Sailing is more fun and sailing with new mods is even better So I couldn't wait any longer.

A helpful local Marine Electronics firm (who are one of Raymarine's accredited agents down here) established a contact for me in Raymarine's Oz Office today. The guy there was also helpful and walked me through my needs. He started by recommending a Sportpilot but after talking to him at length I was sold on a SPX5 Wheelpilot kit. Apparently the SPX5 has some sort of gyrocompass that means you don't need the rudder sensor so it is heaps easier to install than earlier model Wheelpilots on a Mac.

I'm going to find out if that's true or not in the next few weeks ... I went back to the local electronics firm and ordered a kit (Part No E12201) which should turn up in about a week. Good price too, about 25% off the RRP, a heap cheaper than the prices I got from other mainstream boating shops and since the :commission" the installation it qualifies for the Raymarine 2 year on-board warranty.

Now I just have to wait... and worry that I've made the right choice!

[delevi]

No worries Oskar. You'll love it!

[egwall1]

Leon,
I saw in your earlier post you installed an ST40 wind system.
The Admiral gave me the system awhile back, but I haven't installed it yet. I'm a bit puzzled about where to mount the Rotavecta transducer unit. I'd sure like to put it on the mast top, but that introduces the problem of the rotating mast. I've thought about a fixed pole (4 feet high, or so) mounted on the rear trailering mast support, but have worried about getting clean wind readings that low, and right behind the mainsail. Where have you mounted the Rotavecta transducer, and what has been your experience with it?
Eric

[Boblee]

Oskar
When I was researching the pilot, raymarine said the only one they could recommend was the sportspilot for the Mac,.
Bob

[delevi]

Eric,

My rotovecta transducer is not on the masthead for reasons you mentioned... rotatting mast, as well as strong likelihood the transducer could be damaged during trailering. I mounted a 6' stainless steel pole on the transom. I remove the mast support arc when the boat is rigged. My bimini is actually higher than the mast support arc and the pole is about 18 inches above the bimini. The pole has a 90 degree elbow, connecting another pole about 2 feet long-now parallel to the water, which goes just short of centerline. The transducer is mounted up there. The wire runs to a waterproof disconnectable socket to the inside of the transom. When trailering, I unplug the wire from the socket and remove the entire pole with transducer and stow in the cabin. I only trailer a few times a year, so not too big a deal in my case. I flush mounted the display on the port bulkead near the companionway. This allowed for acceess to the back side by temporarily remoivng the electrical switch box. I can take some pictures if you like. The system works quite well. The accuracy, I'm sure, is not as good as higher end models or those mounted on the masthead but I beleive it's far enough from the mainsail to not get much intereference, and it's accurate enough. So far, I'm quite happy with the setup. It will show apparent wind speed and direction. For true wind readings, you would need a paddlewheel speed sensor. My new GPS unit came with one, so now I have that too... a nice bonus. It will not give a true wind reading from GPS speed (SOG.) No idea why, but that's what Raymarine told me.

Leon

[delevi]

Bob,

I have no experience with the sport pilot, and I certainly think the guys at Raymarine know what they're talking about. They haven't steered me wrong yet. However, I can say that the wheel pilot works very well on the Mac. As I recall, the sportpilot was designed for motorboats. BWY used to install them on their boats, but they no longer do because many customers were unhappy with the performance. I, on the other hand, am very happy with the wheel pilot's peformance on my Take that for what it's worth. It's possible they don't recommend the wheel pilot due to the new pedestal, which would involve altering the wheel drive bracket or having one made. I was able to use the sotck bracket since I have the older (05) pedestal.

Leon

[James V]

I am not really sure why Raymarine does not recommend their wheel pilot for the Mac. It could be several reasons =

very hard to use on plane. I found that when on plane I do not want to use it. To much stuff in the water and things can happen to fast.

The play in the wheel. Most boats do not have this much play in the wheel.

First time users and usually installed themselves. This results in a few to many contacts with Raymarine.

Just my thoughts. I would sugggest that Raymarine sets up a section for Mac users to handle specific problems with the boat.

I have been very happy with mine as well as all users. There is one thing. The back is open to salt spray. after enough salt is left over the pilot it will stick or stop. a fresh water flush is needed every so often. This is in the maintance section in the back of the manual. I have see about 10 boats with this problem.

Enjoy. I have used mine for 5000+ miles. What a joy!!!

[Oskar 26M]

Thanks for the further input guys.

The Raymarine advisor started with a recommendation for a SportsPilot, but he also pointed out that it was better suited to runabout power boats and that his recommendation was based on the Mac being used in a power/planing mode. The total displacement weight of my fully loaded Mac was also a potential problem as it was close to or exceeded the limit of a SportsPilot

However, he was quite clear in his advice that the WheelPilot was a better way to go for Mac with what I want to do, (especially the sailing aspect). He also recommended that I buy their wind system to supplement the WheelPilot but, although I was tempted, I had better wait a while...budget constraints

[c130king]

I have been following this thread and was wondering if anyone recalls anyone ever using a tiller pilot on an attached to the steering arms in the back of the aft berth (inside the boat).

Is this even feasible/possible?

Just wondering.

Jim

[James V]

I don't think it will work as you need some amount of distance so that the tiller pilot does not work to hard.

[c130king]

James,

do you know how much distance a tiller pilot needs?

Jim

[Currie]

I have been following this thread and was wondering if anyone recalls anyone ever using a tiller pilot on an attached to the steering arms in the back of the aft berth (inside the boat).
Is this even feasible/possible?
Just wondering.
Jim

I've been thinking about this lately too - even called Raymarine and went through some scenarios. The biggest problem is that in order to steer manually, you need to physically disconnect the actuator from your steering. That's easily done if it's right next to you in the cockpit - not so much if it's down below. Also, if the wheel steering is still connected, the autopilot must drive the wheel's rack-and-pinion in reverse, which is an extra, rather unpredictable load. There are some products from RayMarine that are electrically clutched - hydraulic ones as well - but they are much more $$$.

I was actually considering this though, for a tiller pilot....extending one of the rudder-bracket posts up through the transom and out the top, and connecting it to a tillier pilot behind the helm seat. Would be great for disconnecting it - but it it would still have to drive the wheel, unless that could be clutched somehow. Plus there's a bunch of other problems - proper orientation, angle, etc.

I have to admit, I kinda hate the pedestel - it takes up half the cockpit and is so in the way. But I don't really like a tiller either - kinda blows the power-boat thing. I have an idea of what I'd like, but it's not in good enough shape to share yet Maybe soon. It's one of those winter "mental" projects. Or should I say "mental winter projects".

Cheers,
~Bob

[c130king]

It's one of those winter "mental" projects. Or should I say "mental winter projects".

Cheers,
~Bob

Either way...sounds like you're mental.

Jim

[delevi]

I use mine under planing speeds all the time. Works great. I usually go to response level 2 when motoring. Again, have to disagree with Raymarine on this one. I love this unit. It's been tried and tested in various conditions both sail and power. I would give it the highest marks and not hesitate to recommend it. The only two things I do not like:
1. would be nice if the clutch mechanism was automatic
2. when tracking to a gps waypoint, the unit seems to veer off course for a brief moment as it calculates the ideal heading to compensate for current and/or leeway. Then it takes you to the correct course and keeps you there. This is almost unnoticable under sail but very notisable under planing speeds if you go from auto (point and shoot mode) to track mode. To compensate, I slow down, switch to track, let the unit catch up to set correct course, then throttle up again. I also found that in heavy seas, track mode makes too many adjustments. We're talking 10-14 foot waves here per my trip last week. In that scenario, auto mode was much more accurate than track mode. To be honest, I was quite impressed that the pilot was able to steer an accurate course in these conditons. It did.

Again, it does essentially everything you can expect an autopilot to do.

Cheers,
L.

[James V]

Jim, per my understanding the maker of the unit says how far up the tiller to put it.

James