Best tiller pilot?

[david_e]

Is there much to choose between the Raymarine or Simrad tiller pilots?

My instruments are B&G, the plotter is a Navman so am not sure that either will be 100% compatible.

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[Metabarca]

Do a search on this forum as some time past there was some talk about just this point. For what it's worth, I have the Simrad and it works fine, but I've no idea about compatibility issues.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>

 

[Gunfleet]

Are you dead certain you want to link the tiller pilot with other instruments? I've always avoided this, preferring to keep responsibility for the last bit of course setting in my hands. The pilot will take you over shallows to your waypoint and doesn't give a damn! An easy mistake to make with a chartplotter or computer.

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[david_e]

Not entirely sure for the reasons you state, but might want it later.

More interested to learn of peeps experience of each one, such as is it reliable, is it powerful enuff, warranty etc?

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[Gunfleet]

Okay, David. I misunderstood your question. I think which one you get depends on your boat. How easily does it balance? If it's quite near to being balanced all the time you can steer a heavy yacht (mine is 4 tons) with the very basic tiller pilot, though the manufacturers will recommend bigger. I use the bottom of the range Raymarine and have had four years service out of it with no probs. Equally if you're carrying tons of weather helm there isn't a tiller pilot on earth which can control it.

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[Gunfleet]

Okay, David. I misunderstood your question. I think which one you get depends on your boat. How easily does it balance? If it's quite near to being balanced all the time you can steer a heavy yacht (mine is 4 tons @ 26 feet) with the very basic tiller pilot, though the manufacturers will recommend bigger. I use the bottom of the range Raymarine and have had four years service out of it with no probs. Equally if you're carrying tons of weather helm there isn't a tiller pilot on earth which can control it.

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[Gunfleet]

Okay, David. I misunderstood your question. I think which one you get depends on your boat. How easily does it balance? If it's quite near to being balanced all the time you can steer a heavy yacht (mine is 4 tons @ 26 feet) with the very basic tiller pilot, though the manufacturers will recommend bigger. I use the bottom of the range Raymarine and have had four years service out of it with no probs. Equally if you're carrying tons of weather helm there isn't a tiller pilot on earth which can control it.

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[starboard]

I use an Autohelm 1000plus, now Raymarine....have used and abused for the past 5 years and never misses a beat on my Albin Cirrus 7.8mtr LOA. I interface it to my Furuno GPS31 and very usefull too. I spend 80% of my time at sea singlehanded so probablly the best piece of kit on my boat.

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[david_e]

Thanks John, the boat is a Ben/First 31.7. 9.5m long and 3,800 kg. I would say that she is light on the helm although under motor there is pronounced propwash which sends the boat quickly off to stbd the minute you lose concentration. To be safe I suspect that the more powerful Raymarine 2000 would be the one but it is on the borderline between the that and the 1000.

Are they easy to fit? My local dealer has quoted £100 labour and whilst he is OK I have heard a few stories (not sealing units, incorrect wiring connections) of mistakes which make me want to do it myself.

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