Autohelm installation on a swan neck tiller

[conks01]

Hi,

I'm struggling with an Autohelm installation for my Westerly.

The tiller is low positioned in the cockpit near the floor and includes for a Swan neck type tiller. The tiller is pivoted so can be raised up, and down

I know that the Autohelm arm is to sit square and horizontal onto the tiller and you can get brackets to assist with this but as per the pics below I don't think this will work.

If I fit the tiller pin to the top of the tiller the angle of the tiller is quite steep so I'm confused as to the best path/option.

Any help appreciated.

 

[andsarkit]

You can get an extra long pin so that it goes deep enough into the tiller and projects out far enough to keep the pushrod clear.
long pin

Alternatively you can use an offset bracket and bend it to accommodate the slope. It is only aluminium and will bend in a vice if you are careful. Even cheaper, buy a suitable piece of stainless or aluminium strip and make your own bracket.

 

[Blueboatman]

Edit : the following suggestion is more or less as described by ansarkit?

Well I might start by replicating something like this
Raymarine Autohelm Tiller Pilot Bracket 76mm 3" Offset D011 Tillerpilot 723193101971 | eBay
and fitting it in reverse on the top of the swan neck ie facing aft .
Basically - I think -you want a bent aluminium plate bent, angled and arranged so that when you attach the pin to it, it is level with the autopilot @horizontal

 

[LadyInBed]

Maybe twist the AH servo arm through 180° and connect it to a long pin under the tiller with a Velcro strap to hold it in place.
OR
Put a bracket for the pin on the side of the tiller.

 

[KompetentKrew]

Raymarine publish a manual, 87279-1-EN, which shows mounting suggestions for quite a variety of tiller arrangements: PDF archive

Their pedestals and brackets are both available in a range of rises: Accessories

 

[davidmh]

I have fitted that type of Autohelm/ Raymarine to two boats over the last 30 years, both had swan necks and I used one of the bent brackets from Autohelm/Raymarine. Similar to Andarskit. To get it to fit nicely on the top of the tiller, or or the bottom of the tiller in one case, I used a shaped wood block between the plate and the tiller. I through bolted it using long studding, you need a strong fixing and I was not happy using screws. Design depends on the geometry you have. Never had any problem. Mock it up using a thin metal strip that you can easily bend to make sure it
it does not foul anything when the tiller goes full lock on the autopilot or full lock without the autopilot.

David MH

 

[Tranona]

Have you asked on the WOA site? You can't be the first person fitting an Autohelm to your model Westerly.

 

[conks01]

Thanks all!

 

[Daydream believer]

Screw & glue a triangular piece of hardwood to the tiller such that the top is horizontal and at the required height. The back edge sloping & rounded. Then fit the pin to that. A metal bracket is an option, but one has to be careful that it will not hook any ropes such as a loose mainsheet in a gybe etc