Is this SPX5 Sport Pilot autopilot good for a Macgregor 26X?

[J.Teixeira]

Is this autopilot good for a Macgregor 26X ?

Is'nt it for motor boats only?

http://www.raymarine.eu/products/autopi ... es/e12206/

...

[Oskar 26M]

The sports pilot is billed as being for power boats, and also seems to be better suited to lower displacement vessels than the wheel pilot. However, some people have installed Sports Pilots on their Macs and seem to be very happy with them.

When I was choosing an autopilot for my , the Australian Raymarine dealer did suggest I consider a Sports Pilot but after discussion about how much sailing versus motoring I intended to do and the likely weight of my boat fully laden, he recommended the Wheel Pilot. I have installed the Wheel Pilot and am very pleased with its performance.

You can download the installation manuals for both systems from the Raymarine web site. They show the differences between the two types of drives quite clearly. I note that in the "commissioning" part of the instructions the Sports Pilot manual says that sail boat settings are "not applicable".

On edit: 'moth' systems = 'both' systems. I'm not quite sure what a 'moth' system autopilot would do, lol

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

It looks like the Sport Pilot is back. It's been gone for a few years.

I have the older Sport PIlot+ on my X and it has been a great autopilot. Our boats are perfect for it's feature set. It fit's the boat far better than the ones that require mounting a ring on the steering wheel. Installation was very easy, the hardest part is getting the wheel off.



It looks like this one uses a separate control module where the older Sport Pilots like mine used a control stawk that sticks out the side.



Be sure and hook it to your GPS. While they drive well using the compass alone, they are really great when navigating to a waypoint.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

looks like the SPX-5 Sport Corepack is the best choice for the budget minded Mac.
priced at approx $1,000 today in limited distribution, but likely to be less once its available in all the stores



Bob T.
"DāBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[beene]

I am concerned with the specs on that model.

NEW Modular autopilot system for for manual cable steered power boats with laden displacements of up to 2000 kg (4400 lbs) and manual hydraulic and servo hydraulic steering up to 3500 kg (7700 Lbs).

Whereas the S1 is more geared to our needs IMHO.

S1 Wheel Pilot
State-of-the-art cockpit wheel autopilot system for sailing vessels up to 16,500lbs (7,500kg)
The S1 Wheel Pilot is the successor to the popular ST4000 Plus Wheel drive system. The new S1 system uses the versatile ST6002 control head combined with the S1 SmartPilot course computer for maximum performance. Permanently installed and fully enclosed, this is a drive system that delivers the convenience and performance of an inboard autopilot. Gone are the obstructive and untidy belts and wires of conventional wheel autopilots.

The S1 Wheel pilot system is a patented solution that gives you a wheel drive that you can engage or disengage at the kick of a lever. A rear-mounted plug enables the drive unit to be detached for service or security reasons, without disturbing the wiring harness.

The included rotary rudder reference transducer installs easily and provides the S1 course computer rudder angle information which optimizes the steering performance of the pilot. The ST6002 display also features a convenient rudder angle indicator, and rudder data is also available to other devices on the SeaTalk data network such as optional rudder angle displays, instrument repeaters and multifunction displays.



* Convenient wheel mounted cockpit autopilot for sailing vessels
* Fully enclosed Mk II wheel-drive delivers below deck autopilot performance
* Simple clutch engagement mechanism
* Easy-to-install
* Remotely mounted ST6002 control head
* Rotary rudder reference transducer included
* The ST6002 repeats up to 15 pages of user-defined navigation data from Raymarine SeaTalk instruments and/or NMEA 0183 compatible devices

[efalstrem]

Would have any photos of your installation of the S1 auto pilot. Did you install it yourself?

[efalstrem]

After downloading and thoroughly reading through the Smartpilot X-5 Wheel Installation and Setup Guide I went down to my and tried to determine where all the bits and pieces of this autopilot sytem would fit. There are several observations which I made but have no answer for. First of all, where woud all the wiring go from the Course Computer to the Fluxgate Compass to the Drive Unit and the Pilot Controller. Where would you place the computer and the compass? Then of course it all has to to go the distribution panel which looks full up with other items. When it came to installation of the Wheel Drive - my wheel is five spoke and not flat so I can't imagine how the wheel drive would fit over my wheel.

Does anyone have any suggestions, photos, etc. I would not attempt the installation myself but would like to be reasurred that this system will work on a before I order one.

Shop.sailnet.com has good prices on autopilots.

Ed

[2BonC]

Be cautious if You order a Raymarine SPX 5 sportpilot via the internet and make sure You are aware of what You order! The picture shown in the input of Bobby T. is showing the set without the control/steering computer (known as SPX 5 Core Pack, Raymarine No. 12132) and as far as I have studied the US-prices You might get this set for about 1000,-US$. However the steering computer will cost about another 500,-US$. The complete set (the number is Raymarine E 12206) I have seen at the US-internetdealers for not less than 1500,-US$. Sorry for that folks !

Rainer

[2BonC]

Hi Ed,
I hope to get my SPX 5 Sportpilot within the next days. For the time being it´s quite cold here in Germany , the is standing behind my house in the open air and I´m affraid of working there right now.



However as soon as it´s getting a little bit warmer I will install the SPX 5 .
Having studied the manuals in my eyes the biggest problem will be to get off the wheel from the steering shaft however I will record and documend my work and if You like I will keep You informed about .

Rainer

[efalstrem]

Thanks, Rainer. That would be very much appreciated. Is your steeing wheel flat or do the spokes (Mine has five) concave a bit to the rear.

Ed

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Sounds like the new Sport Pilot is a bit more modular than the old one I have.

As I mentioned the biggest problem I had was getting the wheel off.

Wiring wasn't that hard. I added a separate switch panel for power at the helm since I have so many things there.



In my pilot the motor, control head, and computer are all in the single unit. Looking at the new model, I think I would put the computer inside the pedestal. There is plenty of space inside there. For me the mounting of the separate control unit would be the question. I would want it at the helm where I could reach it without leaving the helm seat. Perhaps on the side of the pedestal? Not the best in my opinion. Maybe in a separate pod up by the GPS? I certainly wouldn't want it forward on the cabin bulkhead. I find I often want to use the AP as an extra hand when I have to go take care of something on the boat. I'll be sitting at the helm driving manually and need to go forward or below to do something. I'll quickly engage the AP to hold the course while I'm away for these brief times.

As for the compass I routed the wires down through the pedestal following the motor cables, aft to the transom, down under the aft berth, then forward under the starboard side, under the head to this location. It has worked out very well. It is low, centered both side to side and fore and aft, and completely out of the way. It is right behind the yellow sticker.

[efalstrem]

Duane:

Thanks for your ideas on wiring and placement of the bits and pieces of the autopilot. On the photo of where you have placed your compass it isn't clear to me where this is.
Ed

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

It is inside the liner directly behind the yellow sticker. The four bolt heads you see are what hold it in place. This area is accessed by removing the cooler liner under the aft dinette seat. It has easy access for wiring under the head. This puts the compass directly aft of the centerboard trunk, low and centered so it is close to the yaw, pitch, and roll centerpoint.

[2BonC]

Hi Ed,
it is almost flat, very alike the original wheel of the but it´s looking nicer
Have a look...


Rainer

[efalstrem]

Here is a photo of my cockpit showing the type of wheel I described earlier.




Ed