I'm looking for a autopilot for many years now and finally the admiral aggrees
Now the question becomes:
Wheel pilot? Small cocpit makes it even smaller with larger wheel
Tiller drive? Could be mounted below and hooked up to the stearing linkage. If pilot is not in use, set on standby
<600$ system? Drive mounted in stearing counsel - but not available.
I installed the wheel pilot on my 26M with the stock wheel. Works just fine for me. I was thinking about a larger wheel before I got the A/P. Now, I am happy with the original -- probably because I have so much less work to do.
Consider the Raymarine XP-5R. It's a wheel pilot but uses a hub wheel motor rather than the ring motor and will fit any size wheel.
While a tiller drive would likely be less expensive, you would only be operating it remotely for engage/disengage and mounting it will be more complicated. Also consider that a wheel pilot will continue to work should you ever go to a hydraulic steering system where a tiller pilot would have to be replaced.
I had a tiller pilot on my M25 and loved it. It was accurate and worked flawlessly.
I have a wheel pilot on my new 26X and dislike it a lot. It does not have the ring around the wheel, but has a motor in an "adapter" that fits between the wheel and the spindle. The adapter has built in play as if it has bad bearings. (it is new)
The wheel always feels loose as it rocks around the adapter. The wheel rim moves for and aft a little under an inch. It is annoying at best.
I am not sure how the cable / rack gear system will affect the forces coming backward through them if a tiller type actuator is used.
gyroplanes wrote:I have a wheel pilot on my new 26X and dislike it a lot. It does not have the ring around the wheel, but has a motor in an "adapter" that fits between the wheel and the spindle. The adapter has built in play as if it has bad bearings. (it is new)
The wheel always feels loose as it rocks around the adapter. The wheel rim moves for and aft a little under an inch. It is annoying at best.
What model is this? I'm considering the Raymarine but if it's loose its a no-go.
I have the Raymarine S1 Wheel Pilot. It is has the ring which sits on the backside of the wheel. I also bought an 18" wheel at the same time...but you can use it on the stock 15" wheel.
Don't think they make the S1 anymore...not sure. The X5 is very similar I think but it doesn't have the rudder sensor which is a good thing as that was the hardest part to install anyway. But I believe they are over $1000. Found mine on sale for about $700 back in 2009.
Mine has worked like a champ since 2009 when I installed it.
I have wondered a lot about the lack of a rudder sensor on the X%. (It is still an option) My X5 does seem to hunt a bit -- not a lot but enough to be noticeable. It would seem like the rudder sensor would provide for an inner loop for the control system. I am an old retread systems engineer and it would seem like this would make for a much improved design by closing a feedback loop around all the backlash and other nonlinearities in the rudder before getting the boat involved. BTW, this function would be virtually free in a tiller pilot. My question: does anyone have experience adding a rudder sensor to an X5? Or do you have experience with both the S1 and X5?
Dave
Although I don't use it that much, it does enable me to single-hand, and when my crew is taking it easy (sleeping again ), to do other tasks while the autopilot takes over.
Phil, do you not use it because it's not that appropriate for the sailing you do or because it's not that effective? Your situation and skills seem to be somewhat similar to mine so I place a premium on your experience, and this is my next major mod. I'd appreciate it if you'd wax prosaic on why you don't often use it.
I don't use the autopilot that much because I prefer to be at the helm. The autopilot gives me the freedom to do other things (grab a snack, get the anchor ready, furl the genny, have another look at the paper chart on the dinette table, etc.) while I am at the helm, but I do not use the autopilot to steer for me while just lounge in the cockpit staring at the wild blue yonder. I lounge in the morning with my coffee, and then lounge again in the evening with a medicinal beverage in my hand, but during the day I sail.
CampCook wrote:I have wondered a lot about the lack of a rudder sensor on the X%. (It is still an option) My X5 does seem to hunt a bit -- not a lot but enough to be noticeable. It would seem like the rudder sensor would provide for an inner loop for the control system. I am an old retread systems engineer and it would seem like this would make for a much improved design by closing a feedback loop around all the backlash and other nonlinearities in the rudder before getting the boat involved. BTW, this function would be virtually free in a tiller pilot. My question: does anyone have experience adding a rudder sensor to an X5? Or do you have experience with both the S1 and X5?
Dave
I'm also interested in the efficacy of adding a rudder sensor to one of these stand alone packages. If this simple addition reduces the computer overhead, and the amount of yaw experienced under sail, it could only result in a lower power drain and reduced hardware wear.
Or is it overkill, and my imaginative daydreaming?
hvolkhart wrote:
Tiller drive? Could be mounted below and hooked up to the stearing linkage.
Hello
I am thinking about a tiller pilot to (26m boat) to be linked in the stearing in the birth room.
But how will you solve the problem to get if off when the tiller pilot is not used? It is quite complicated to go under inside under the cockpit to get it started, especially when you are alone.
As the tiller pilot has no "neutral" position, so it has to be something mechanical.
I installed an octopus drive unit in the 26m binnacle after looking over the wheel pilot and internal ram options. You do need new cables installed too. Works very well but it is a tight squeeze to get it all in. It also came with a tilting hub so I can lift the wheel to get more leg room at anchor. Control for the octopus is all raymarine.
), to do other tasks while the autopilot takes over. 
