autopilots

[europasailor]

I have a Hunter Europa and would like to purchase an autopilot as I sail singlehanded most of the time. The boat has a Squib Rudder assembly and the tiller is made from alloy tube. I would like any comments on the effect of this on the compasses contained within both the Tillerpilot and Autohelm units.

 

[dickh]

As long as the tiller is wood or alloy it should have no effect on the compass.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Twister_Ken]

Is it aliminium alloy (in which case no problem)? If it is a ferrous alloy (and there ain't many you'd find on a boat except s/steel) that may be a different case. Why not wave a handheld compass around the tiller and see if it deflects the compass card?

 

[charles_reed]

Whilst the integral fluxgate compasses in either of the units mentioned are unlikely to be affected by your tiller assembly, I would warn against using such autopilots for serious single-handed sailing.

The reason for this is that no-one has yet been able to make a waterproof membrane keypad and all such units will fail when exposed to a real downpour.

If you are going to invest your hard-earned cash in an autopilot, get one where the control head can have some protection from the elements, such as the 6000 tillerpilot.
In any case don't be lulled by the marketing blurb about the size of boat the pilots can handle - all their techies will tell you to go to at least the next size up.

I do about 3500 miles a year single-handed and found out the hard way.

 

[LadyInBed]

I used to strip my AH1000 down each year and leave it in the airing cupboard for a couple of weeks, then apply liberal dollops of silicone grease around all the seals when reassembleing.

Though, when it was raining, I still used to use it inside a plastic bag!
They lasted about 6-7 years.

 

[dickh]

Yes, I agree, go for the next size to that recommended. I have an Autohelm 4000 on a 27' boat - highly overspecced but it has always worked fine - it must be at least 12/15 years old.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[VMALLOWS]

Totaly agree. Can't understand why anyone would buy an 'integrated' tiller pilot. Of course the manufacturers know that a) people are lazy and want the simplest installation option. b) they quite like selling a new one when the previous has given up due the water ingress. For the few that do realise the problem, they add a couple of thousand to the model number and jack up the price disproportionately.

 

[hylas]

I have been using a Autohelm ST 4000 W on my 12 meters 14 tons boat for about height years now, as a liveaboard sailor, sailing most of the time singlehanded..
I'm very satisfied with it..
The secret.. always perfectly equilibrate the sails before using the autopilot..