Advice on Autohelm 3000

[TonyMills]

Hi

When I bought my current boat it came with an Autohem 3000 wheel steering device. The previous owner hardly used it and inherited it with the boat about 15 years previous. I am having difficulty making it work reliably, for two primary reasons. Firstly too much slack in the steering linkages and secondly no clear understanding of how the machine is operated.

I have tightened up the linkages and the steering is much better leaving me with the lack of operating instructions. By trial and error I have made it work on a three hour motor sail from Rottnest Island but I'd appreciate some assistance from someone who may own one, or have owned one previously.

The top of the control device has a compass dial which can be adjusted to a particular course. The top also has a lifting tab for which I can find no purpose. The bottom has a rotating switch with the following settings: OFF, SET, 1, 2 AND 3. Also on the bottom is a dial marked 'Rudder' with the numbers 1-10 enscribed on its perimeter (I've left this set at its mid point 5).

I got it going by putting the boat on a steady course with the rotating switch on SET and twisting the compass dial to align with my compass course. I then switched the dial to '1' and off she went for the next three hours, whilst I made tea and kept a sharp lookout!

I have a number of questions: Is this procedure correct? what are settings '2' and '3' used for? What does the 'Rudder' dial do? Are there any clearer instructions for its use?

I have been unable to find anyone locally (in Western Australia) who nows anything about it. I've seen the device once before on the front cover of PBO 248 (Aug 87) given the other attractions of that photograph I was surprised I remembered it!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Regards
Tony Mills

 

[Boathook]

The 'tab' alters course by 10 degrees to the set course whilst you hold it to one side or the other (gives port & starboard). The switch with off, 1, 2 and 3 allows for sea state and dampens the unit. 1 is for smooth seas and keeps a good course whilst 3 is for rough seas and allows the boat to 'swing' with the seas rather than try to correct for every small error. The dial on the bottom marked 1 to 10 was for (I believe) some relationship over how many turns the wheel took from lock to lock. It can also be used alter the way the autohelm controls the boat and can act as some dampener as well.
I think that I have thrown my old instruction book away when i replaced the unit 2 years ago for the lastest 3000!

 

[oldsaltoz]

Peters comments (Above) are I believe correct from what I remember, However I would add, the rudder control 1 to 10 controls how far the rudder is moved when a correction is made, 1 being the smallest movement and each number going up increases the amount the rudder moves / corrects to return to the selected course; hope this helps
Andavagreatnewyear. Old Salt Oz……….
PS I did a fair bit of sailing in the west, mainly the north west HHB&SC.