Autopilot - when do you use?

[AntarcticPilot]

Ah! The joy of a wind gen

Got one. Still uses too much power - the wind generator doesn't generate much when off the wind, and at most it generates a few amps; I don't know the power requirements of the tiller-pilot, but I'd imagine that it is not insignificant.

Anyway, I'd rather steer; I really don't understand the people who say it's boring To me it's about keeping the boat sailing as well as I can, reacting to wind and wave on a moment to moment basis. I can bear up or bear away as required to react to gusts or lulls. I can pinch her to windward to avoid an extra tack. Downwind, I can surf down the waves and take the short way up the back of them. I can do all these things; the tiller pilot can't. I feel connected to the boat when I'm steering; if the tiller pilot is on, I might as well be on a ferry.

You'll note that I don't have a pet name for mine - as far as I'm concerned it is a very useful piece of equipment, but it isn't part of the crew!

 

[GrahamM376]

I really don't understand the people who say it's boring To me it's about keeping the boat sailing as well as I can, reacting to wind and wave on a moment to moment basis.

Different kinds of sailing perhaps. Living aboard 9/12, it's very rare we go for a day sail unless visitors aboard. Most often, we are going somewhere else rather than just going out sailing for the fun of it.

 

[jbweston]

My autopilot is called Keira, after Keira Knightly who seems such a useful crew member in Pirates of the Caribbean.

One of my (human) crew thinks that the radar/chartplotter ought to have a name too. He suggested Samantha or Sven, after the naughty scorekeepers in I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue, because the device 'keeps score' of where we are and what other vessels are doing. But that hasn't caught on in the same way as Keira.

But in answer to the question, Keira steers unless we are manoeuvring, in a close quarters situation, the wind is particlarly flooky, or one of the crew enjoys steering or I think he/she needs the practice.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I have had my new old boat for a couple of months now. First boat I have had with an autopilot which works well.

I now find myself switching it on for every trip and adjusting course whenever necessary. Although this is great when short handed and doing sail work, I find my reliance/addiction on it disappointing.

I just wondered how others view their relationship with the autopilot - is it one of those things rarely used or one that is just there to be used at every opportunity?

Tony

All the time on passgae and occasionally sneakily, briefly during a race.

I dont see why the disappointment. There is nothing clever or macho or manly or whatever about sitting tiller in hand and bored daft. Its an attitude that reminds me of the Morgan drivers who drive in mid winter with the hood down and boasting about it. Or the bikers who use their bikes when its freezing. To put it another way, do you turn off your central heating in winter?

Next thing you'll be wanting deadeyes and blocks and tackles rather than winches, and sailing onto a mooring rather than motoring.

Maybe I can offer you some birch twigs with which to flagellate yourself?

 

[Tranona]

Its an attitude that reminds me of the Morgan drivers who drive in mid winter with the hood down and boasting about it.

One of the great joys of owning a Morgan. Nothing better than a ride through the Dorset countryside on a crisp clear winter's morning with the heater keeping the lower parts warm and the ears tingling a bit. Don't tell people about it normally as don't want everybody doing it.

 

[LadyInBed]

as far as I'm concerned it is a very useful piece of equipment, but it isn't part of the crew!

Yes, a valuable bit of kit but in my case, I'm the crew!
I cruise, so don't pinch or aim for the perfect wind bearing and my ST5000+ seems to have managed 99% of the conditions that it has been subjected to so far in twelve years of use.

 

[maby]

Currently never - 'cos we haven't got round to fitting one on the new boat.

On the previous boat, Pugwash was mostly reserved for when we were raising or lowering the sails and to give me time to make a hot drink and sandwich on a longer passage when the rest of the crew (SWMBO) was asleep.

 

[KellysEye]

Only when there isn't enough wind to sail.

 

[prv]

Only when there isn't enough wind to sail.

That surprises me, knowing some of the long passages you've done. So you and the missus hand-steer watch and watch about for days at a time? Seems like excessive purism to me

Pete

 

[Old Troll]

One must have a name for the autohelm. Mine is called Gollum (my precious). Even Joshua Slocum used to have long conversations with the pilot of the Pinta who used to steer the Spray for long periods of time.

 

[jac]

Ours are Albus.

Originally Albert the autopilot but about 10 years ago about the time of Harry Potter we came across Albus Dumbledore who was a wizard. As the autopilot did magical things it seemed appropriate.

 

[TonyBuckley]

I have decided to come up with names for the autohelm, the radar and the plotter. And I think the heads - I like this! lol

 

[johnphilip]

When single handing "George" is used to keep the boat into the wind when raising or lowering the sails.

And for steering when I need a pee.

And when I want two hands to eat
And when motoring

 

[duncan99210]

it eats too much power.

We've just acquired an Aquair towed generator; it provides enough power to keep pace with the autopilot. One of those "why didn't we fit one of these before" moments.

 

[Heckler]

I have had my new old boat for a couple of months now. First boat I have had with an autopilot which works well.

I now find myself switching it on for every trip and adjusting course whenever necessary. Although this is great when short handed and doing sail work, I find my reliance/addiction on it disappointing.

I just wondered how others view their relationship with the autopilot - is it one of those things rarely used or one that is just there to be used at every opportunity?

Tony

Always use it, asap
stu

 

[Heckler]

"Bellinger and many other pilots would take to calling the Sperry Autopilot system “George” — a colloquialism for the seemingly magical, invisible copilot that had joined them in the cockpit of their aircraft. To this day, the term “George” is used unofficially to represent the autopilot system."

Extract from http://fly.historicwings.com/2012/08/george-the-autopilot/

I had a conversation recently about why I call the tillerpilot "George" - I knew it came from aviation but this thread made me look it up and now I know - ta.

Mine is Vera the Steera!
Stu

 

[Cardo]

Having had a lengthy discussion with the prettier half, we have decided our autopilot shall be named Sulu.

 

[bbg]

I don't feel so alone now lol.

But I don't have a name for the autopilot - clearly where I have been going wrong. I will correct that!

Tony

There is only one appropriate name for an autopilot. Britney.

Britney Steers.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

If alone,
When making a brew and something to eat.
When washing up after the above brew.
When going for a shart, which is sometimes after washing up the dishes from the above brew.
And finnaly after all the above, when hoisting the main or if just pottering about, when trolling a lure for macks.
Not always in the above order.
C_W

PS I call mine "Captain Nemo"

 

[Daydream believer]

Use electrical " george" when motoring to hoist sails etc but as soon as i can connect "Uncle Claude" - my Aeries then i do so
Can use it for quite short legs, quick to engage & fascinating to watch
Sails better than me to windward. I set it, then trim sails to optimum performance & sit back & admire the view