Not pining for an auto pilot

[Herschel]

I am not anti-auto pilot. I can see where they could be handy during longer voyages, and for those that do a lot single handed sailing, or for those that love gadgets and technology. But I thought it might be worth saying for the rest of us folks that choose not to have one for financial or aesthetic reasons to, at least, make the case for our more traditional approach to piloting our vessels. My choice to not go the auto pilot route is simply my love of piloting with my own two hands. It goes way back. I fell in love with piloting as a young man on the deck of a Navy destroyer crossing the Pacific, twice, and running missions in southeast Asia. Then I had the rare chance to pilot a Navy amphibious ship up and down the Mekong River for a year. I can still feel the 300 ft. vessel vibrating during one anchoring evolution when I had port engine back full and starboard engine ahead full left full rudder. In six knots of current! The commodore was particular about us anchoring where we were assigned! On the first pass! But, alas, my personal finances and sailing interests, subsequently, took me into one design and the Hobie cat arena for four decades, but I never lost the desire for a sailboat with a wheel. In 2003 I finally got my dreamboat, my 26X. And it had a wheel. Wow! What a thrill to be able to stand, not sit, and pilot with a wheel, not a tiller. And, no body was shooting at me; that was nice, too! I just love standing at the helm meeting the movement of the waves with my own instinctive response, easing her through the various sailing evolutions, or, if transiting a channel or river, piloting through the deeper channel and avoiding obstructions, other traffic, and shallows. When I can take off from my busy life, find refuge aboard my "X", the farthest thing from my mind is trying to steer it by remote control or an app on my phone. The helm is where I find my peace. When I and the boat become, more or less, one, that is my purpose for being there. If I had my druthers, they could carve this picture on my tombstone:



And nothing gives me more satisfaction than observing one of my sons following in my path:

[Catigale]

Then I had the rare chance to pilot a Navy amphibious ship up and down the Mekong River for a year.

I'll bet sail shape was not a priority on those trips. Yikes.

I've sailed with Matt in light air where a good AP can sail the boat where I couldn't, to put it plainly, even with out the added distraction of looking out for Charlie surfing...

[sailboatmike]

I have just removed the old Wheel Pilot Plus from my boat, before I removed it the helm was really stiff making small adjustments to course to allow for the shifting wind really difficult.

Now the steering is so light I can turn it with one finger and you can grab the rudders and it moves the wheel, before we used to use them as supports when getting on the boat when it was on its trailer.

I would love a autopilot as it makes life a bit easier but not if that heavy steering is the price I have to pay

[Baha]

Having spent the past 2 seasons without the autopilot, I have set out to make it functional again. The part that secured the wheel pilot to the pedestal came loose on my first ever sail after buying the boat and I had not worried about it until now. The only time I really wanted it was when raising or lowering the mainsail when single-handing. We'll see if it is worth the trouble.

[Tomfoolery]

Having spent the past 2 seasons without the autopilot, I have set out to make it functional again. The part that secured the wheel pilot to the pedestal came loose on my first ever sail after buying the boat and I had not worried about it until now. The only time I really wanted it was when raising or lowering the mainsail when single-handing. We'll see if it is worth the trouble.

That's what I found mine most useful for on my last boat, though it certainly was very nice when nature called; head or galley.

[BOAT]

Piloting bays and inlets is a completely different animal that sailing in the open ocean. When there is no sight of land in any direction you are glued to the compass. You just need the help in those situations.

[Herschel]

Piloting bays and inlets is a completely different animal that sailing in the open ocean. When there is no sight of land in any direction you are glued to the compass. You just need the help in those situations.

Hope you auto pilot guys don't think I am trying to discourage you. Not at all; just wanted to give us "manual" pilots a little validation. Steering a compass can be a boring process. When I was sailing in the '64 Bermuda race on a 44-ft. yawl, we were fortunate to have eight crew, six of which formed three watch sections, and we could take 30 minute spells on the helm. We had a traditional wooden helm like you only see on old wooden yachts and in gift shops. The spokes made for a good hand grip. That year the whole race was a starboard close reach. Four days! Steering the compass, trying to take every wiggle out of your track that you could. With a weather helm, that meant the helmsman was pushing down on the spoke a lot more than any other move. Got to Bermuda and my right bicep was noticeably bigger than the left! Enjoy your auto pilot, Boat. That is the neat thing about these boats. They can be modified to fit our individual needs and preferences. I'll just never get tired of "steady as you go; steer 047, mind your helm, now!"

[dlandersson]

Was this a travel adventure package?

Then I had the rare chance to pilot a Navy amphibious ship up and down the Mekong River for a year.