autopilot - wheel drive versus tiller drive

[Dry Tortugas 2013]

I'm rigged with a $$ raymarine tiller pilot. Power actuator connected to stainless Mac steering arm. Electronics (brain) and extra goodies inside the boat. Steers well. Ditched the laptop with raymaine crap software. Serial to ethernet wifi adapter (connected to 85001 box pc out, nmea in) to serve up nmea data. Son's droid smart phone (& softwares) likes the wifi data, maybe I'll get a smart phone. Hummingbird 385ci depth chartplotter gps and whatever applicable chip/card in it, raymarine goodies for wind, it all talks.

[innervations]

Hi Kadet, picked up my new SPX5 tiller autopilot yesterday with p70 sail control head. $1,749 from Whitworths. Outback marine was cheaper but with freight and the wait it was better to go with Whitworths Have not been able to locate the 2inch extension bracket in Australia. Where did you get yours?

Thanks for posting this mod as I was never satisfied with the wheel pilot solution and I guess that is why I held off.

[BOAT]

wheel pilot sucks unless you can get it all inside the wheel house

[kadet]

Hi Kadet, picked up my new SPX5 tiller autopilot yesterday with p70 sail control head. $1,749 from Whitworths. Outback marine was cheaper but with freight and the wait it was better to go with Whitworths Have not been able to locate the 2inch extension bracket in Australia. Where did you get yours?

Thanks for posting this mod as I was never satisfied with the wheel pilot solution and I guess that is why I held off.

Your going to hate me http://www.outbackmarine.com.au/Tiller- ... pQod8XIAXQ

Got mine from Withworths as well, then had to wait for outback marine to post fitting

Also don't use the nut that comes with the bracket it always vibrates undone get a suitable nylock and use it instead.

[innervations]

Thanks Kadet. Brilliant.

[Cajun Mike]

Ordered a Raymarine tiller pilot TP1000 & wireless remote S100 , from well known national marine supply house , less than $800 including shipping.

[DaveB]

Today I bought at Yamaha 1300 delux Motorcycle that has the Garmin 665lm and can be used in most tiller and wheel auto pilot system.
Just transfer the quick release and add to boat with proper hookups.
Results is using same GPS with Blue and other products.
http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/mot ... 80416.html
Dave

[kadet]

Ordered a Raymarine tiller pilot TP1000 & wireless remote S100 , from well known national marine supply house , less than $800 including shipping.

Would like to heard how this goes, thought about going this way myself but the SPX looked more robust more like a ram drive and it's interface was NMEA 2000 comparable, like the rest of my electronics. Was worried that out little rudder arms only equate to about 30cm of tiller length and the extra grunt might be needed. But I am no engineer so 57kg vs 84kg of power might not mean a lot.

[Russ]

Ordered a Raymarine tiller pilot TP1000 & wireless remote S100 , from well known national marine supply house , less than $800 including shipping.

Don't you mean the ST1000 ?
Are you planning on keeping it connected full time like kadet?

Kadet seems to have a nice setup. I Seriously considering this vs. the wheel mount which seems bulky on our boats.

--Russ

[Russ]

So why not the SmartPilot SPX?

Is this the piece of junk I've heard about?

[JotaErre]

I have a wheel autopilot in my 26X (I think it's a Raymarine, but not sure). The boat came with it installed. The boat's a '98, so if the pilot was installed when the boat was new, it must be 15 years old now...

It has the black plastic "ring" in the back of the steering wheel, but it does not interfere with the finger. On short trips, I just use it when I have to leave the wheel (for example, for raising and lowering the sails), but on long journeis, I have let it work for a couple of hours...

It works fine with moderate wind and when motoring under 10 knots.

[SKIPPER2C]

Hi all.

I did the same autopilot instillation than "Kadet" and after years of using i found that the arm that the steering cable attach to, down under, bends badlie after a wile. My seclusion is to use the OB as a inboard, dis-connected to the rudders and if i use the OB connected i dis-connect the autopilot. I think the OB is to heavy with the autopilot motor . Wheel drive or tiller drive. The autopilot can do it but it seems to me the steering setup can not. That on my (Hope u understand wat i try to say. So Difficult to express myself in English. Have so a stupid computer, The spellchecker dus not even know the words or is it because its so far off. )

Renier

NB! Must say i have the 2007 Raymarine autopilot . New ones can be lighter on steering.

[seahouse]

BTW - Nice lines on that bagger, DaveB! And nav included with the machine that can serve multi-purpose for sailing too. It'll be perfect for Daytona Bike Week coming up!

-B.

[DaveB]

Ya...got my drift...see ya at Daytona...
Plan on useing that gps on the March WCTSS trip to Cayo Costa, FL
Nice Lines was last boat i was on calling a SOS that sank, not my boat.
dave

Dave

BTW - Nice lines on that bagger, DaveB! And nav included with the machine that can serve multi-purpose for sailing too. It'll be perfect for Daytona Bike Week coming up!

-B.

[Cajun Mike]

Installation not complete, near last step , glue wooden mount to inside of hull. Skipper2C may have a good suggestion about motor. TP seems to be working hard to turn motor & rudders while tied to dock. I do intend to leave tiller pilot connected as much as possible. Will comment when complete, have to work a 5 nite hitch.