MacGregorSailors.com

I am 1st,
Been on that line since Victor started selling his idea for a new autopilot. 4 years ago.
I kept saying I will get a Raymarine to put the pressure on, but that doesn't work.
So he called my bluff.
Dave

Obelix wrote:Dave,
Please get in line, I'm waiting too

Obelix

It' nice to hear that things are coming along nicely behind the "radio silence" on the forum, Vic.
I too have not been rushing into the Raymarine AP until I see your device first. The NMEA2000 compatibility mastreb is looking at is my curiosity too. Keep up the good work!
-Brian.

vkmaynard wrote:Sorry no pictures of Dimitri in Tampa. Send some.

You wanted to see pictures of my boat?

Here it is anchored on a private beach in Key Largo...before I installed the A/P or got my new sails...



And here is a pic that Jurgen took of my boat sitting in the marina in Caledesi last June....if you look real close at the helm, you might see me..



But getting back to the topic of the autopilot, here is a pic of my son "pretending" to drive the boat last January, while its really being steered by the newly installed Maritech A/P



Maybe after I "develop" my pics from Cayo Costa, I'll have something a bit better to post..

Some serious interest here. Me included.

I also considered the Raymarine device, but yours has my trigger finger checked. I was coming up with a solenoid disengage device for the tiller drive. Now you have me holding back.

How about some preorders? I'd buy one knowing it might come with some software upgrades in the future. Sounds like what you have would make me more than thrilled.
I've got all winter to install this thing. High speed AP has little interest to me. As mentioned above, I want hands on the wheel at WOT.

What do you say Vic? Admirals all over the country would love to buy one for their captain for under the tree. I'll even offer to put up your website and credit card interface for a taste of one of these.

--Russ

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa wrote: You wanted to see pictures of my boat?

Here it is anchored on a private beach in Key Largo...before I installed the A/P or got my new sails...

As I look out at 18 degrees, that picture looks Soooo nice.
But if it's a private beach, who built that tiki hut?
Part of me doesn't care. I want to go there now.

It is the private beach at the Rock Reef Resort where I met my family at for a couple days during a cruise of the upper Keys and Biscayne Bay for New Years 2012. Dave B is organizing a repeat cruise for this coming New Years.

Btw, here is one pic from Cayo Costa that shows part of my helm



Where the blue tape is under the white drink holder is a cutout that I used to have my Kenwood Stereo remote in. This had to be pulled out to install the A/P and I will position the stereo remote lower on the helm panel when all the A/P beta testing is done. Right now it gives me a good view into what is going on with the unit and I can also run wires through it. I have a ton of stuff on my helm...more than Victor had ever heard of. You can see I have the binocular box and two drink holders attached to the pedestal bar, below that is a sheet bag, below the autopilot are two more drink holders, and below that, there are two large speakers cut into both the side panels as well. This is in addition to all the normal stuff...throttle, tachometer, key, etc. I also have a remote Mic for my VHF mounted there as well as the 5 inch Garmin on top of the pedestal. I also still have the old sportpilot mount on there as well as a mount for a backup GPS as well (with my tertiary GPS being my iphone with Navionics software). I need to clean up some of that old stuff. And while parked at Cayo Costa on Saturday afternoon, I was also watching the VT-Maryland game on the pedestal TV (not to be confused with the larger TV that is mounted to the back of the head wall so that the kids can watch DVD's before bed). So its pretty crammed full of stuff but I was still able to install the A/P albeit a tight fit.

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa wrote:Where the blue tape is under the white drink holder is a cutout that I used to have my Kenwood Stereo remote in. This had to be pulled out to install the A/P and I will position the stereo remote lower on the helm panel when all the A/P beta testing is done. Right now it gives me a good view into what is going on with the unit and I can also run wires through it. I have a ton of stuff on my helm...more than Victor had ever heard of. You can see I have the binocular box and two drink holders attached to the pedestal bar, below that is a sheet bag, below the autopilot are two more drink holders, and below that, there are two large speakers cut into both the side panels as well. This is in addition to all the normal stuff...throttle, tachometer, key, etc. I also have a remote Mic for my VHF mounted there as well as the 5 inch Garmin on top of the pedestal. I also still have the old sportpilot mount on there as well as a mount for a backup GPS as well (with my tertiary GPS being my iphone with Navionics software). I need to clean up some of that old stuff. And while parked at Cayo Costa on Saturday afternoon, I was also watching the VT-Maryland game on the pedestal TV (not to be confused with the larger TV that is mounted to the back of the head wall so that the kids can watch DVD's before bed). So its pretty crammed full of stuff but I was still able to install the A/P albeit a tight fit.

All that on a white X and it still floats?

Seriously Vic you need to have your partner see the interest according to this thread then maybe he could be persuaded to with a little fire under his rear end to get some of the production done.

When is production predicted to start? I too would be in line to buy as soon as possible

sailor stan wrote:When is production predicted to start? I too would be in line to buy as soon as possible

Add me to the line!

Me too!
The line seems to get longer and longer...
...and Leon's getting fatter...

Don't call me Shirley

Hi Captain Victor,

Ever since I got 'boat' a year ago I wanted an auto pilot that would fit in the wheelhouse.

You told me that you would make one in the future that we could purchase so I'm still here waiting to buy one just like all the other guys.

Thanks for listening to our needs and making something for us. I hope it's ready soon so I can buy one.

m

Dimitri,
I have watched you many times come up to a anchorage and go forward (no one at the helm) drop the anchor go aft and go astearn to set a stearn anchor by yourself in wind conditions to beach your boat stearn to.
That with two or more children aboard.
You got the system down.
Yes the New Year trip is on and we Launch at South Dade Marina Dec.27 thru Jan.1 to cruise Biscane Bay.
Those who want to make the trip can e-mail me at Dbarnic126@aol.com
Dave

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa wrote:It is the private beach at the Rock Reef Resort where I met my family at for a couple days during a cruise of the upper Keys and Biscayne Bay for New Years 2012. Dave B is organizing a repeat cruise for this coming New Years.

Btw, here is one pic from Cayo Costa that shows part of my helm



Where the blue tape is under the white drink holder is a cutout that I used to have my Kenwood Stereo remote in. This had to be pulled out to install the A/P and I will position the stereo remote lower on the helm panel when all the A/P beta testing is done. Right now it gives me a good view into what is going on with the unit and I can also run wires through it. I have a ton of stuff on my helm...more than Victor had ever heard of. You can see I have the binocular box and two drink holders attached to the pedestal bar, below that is a sheet bag, below the autopilot are two more drink holders, and below that, there are two large speakers cut into both the side panels as well. This is in addition to all the normal stuff...throttle, tachometer, key, etc. I also have a remote Mic for my VHF mounted there as well as the 5 inch Garmin on top of the pedestal. I also still have the old sportpilot mount on there as well as a mount for a backup GPS as well (with my tertiary GPS being my iphone with Navionics software). I need to clean up some of that old stuff. And while parked at Cayo Costa on Saturday afternoon, I was also watching the VT-Maryland game on the pedestal TV (not to be confused with the larger TV that is mounted to the back of the head wall so that the kids can watch DVD's before bed). So its pretty crammed full of stuff but I was still able to install the A/P albeit a tight fit.

Hello,
Nice to hear, I've been patiently waiting for this auto pilot. My boat did not get wet this year (health problems) but I'm looking forward to the 2014 "get ready" season.

The first CNC cut of the remote control (also the wired control) case was amazingly perfect. No changes. The PCB fit exact. There is significant button support underneath the PCB. Missing component in the picture is a speaker.

Unit is very compact thanks to AutoCAD, InventorCAM and CNC.

The first set of pre-production electronics is begin assembled now. The remote powered up correctly.

Victor

is that a Susan B. Anthony Dollar?