Can i adapt an autohelm 3000 wheel pilot to tiller steer???

[trouville]

Im looking for an old Autohelm 800, or any other model,which has a round compass rose to set the heading, and not the new super accurate push button digi model.

If i find an old AH3000 or any other small boat wheel steering system can i adapt it to my tiller steering (Folkboat)?
There pretty feeble things, i once tried one on my Hillyard,it almost couldent turn the wheel at all!!!

On another boat i bought and fitted an old sharp which had string well wrapped around a drum i added a pulley on the other side hooked the string on the tiller and it worked quite well!!

Now the autohelm has only a very small diameter drum and toothed belt and relys on high gearing and fast reving engin!

Any suggestions how it could be adapted,if the belt moves 6 feet how could i reduce that to a 1 foot tiller movement????????????????????????????????????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Talbot]

The old 3000 has no set amount of rudder, it just revs up and continues turning until the boat starts swinging back the other way. I see no physical reason why you could not set it up with a continuous loop of rope from tiller through blocks on each hull and then back to the motor. However I would be worried about the stress on the motor, as it is not designed for this.

 

[trouville]

What your saying is the motor would turn a wheel untill the set course is reached?Then if she was a slow boat to turn wouldent the rudder end up full over for every course correction?

The stress on the motors a problem hence the gearing question.

Are the newer ones any better?

I was hopeing that once the autohelm senses the new course it would move the tiller back to the streight ahead possition, and keep it there with minor corrections??

 

[Anonymous]

AH 800 etc.

[ QUOTE ]
Im looking for an old Autohelm 800, or any other model,which has a round compass rose to set the heading, and not the new super accurate push button digi model.

[/ QUOTE ]I know how irritating it can be when you post a message asking for, say, corn flakes and someone answers that you would be better off with all bran, but I really don't understand where you are coming from on this, and I'm curious. The AH800 that I know has no compass display and no LCD display. You simply engage it when your heading is where you want it. After that, you can dodge +/- 10 degrees, but that's about it. It works very well and is much simpler in engineering terms than a dial that has to rotate. It is nowhere near powerful enough for your boat, though. You really need the ST2000+, I think.

 

[Talbot]

No- motor would turn until it sensed that the boat was turning towards the new course. Big course changes with these old units tend to mean a big overshoot as t they dont have rudder position sensors, and dont anticipate a rudder change. basically you get what you pay for.

 

[trouville]

Re: AH 800 etc.

Its for my new boat which is a Folkboat and just 2 tons of fun!

The autohelm to which im refer was being made up to about 1986/7 in 1987 the 1000 with push buttons became the new 800.All very annoying when trying to explain which model you have,
More so as in 1987 the old and new "800" were being sold side by side as old stocks were sold.

Then i thought as you that the new is better, but now,and for my new crusing area an analog system will be better for me!

 

[trouville]

yes! i had an idea it might not work out! Pity sharp dont make autohelms for small boats anymore as they were really solid and had trim yaw and rudder?? i think? three knobs!

Now what? a new simrad? or autohelm,and stop eating for the rest of the year to pay for it??

I dont think i need sea talk or nema??? Im only going to have a garmin 72 windex wind indicator!and depth sounder nothing else,except an auto helm to take over when im motoring along a channel or sailing anddont want to steer, i will have a tiller clamp, a toothed support,to use for parking!

 

[kandoma]

I have sailed around the world with a AH3000, using mostly the tiller to save on energy and rudder cable. Having a Fisher, I also have a wheel. I believe, that the actuators for the tiller are still available. The control box is the same for wheel or tiller. The feedback is generated by a small resistor, messuring the current drawn by the 12 volt motor. (if I remember correct)

Peter /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[trouville]

I wonder as you live in Switzerland, if you would know where i could look for an old autohelm,as there people change their systems and pay to dispose of, or bring back to a shop their old material.

I would be more than happy to collect an autohelm,GPS VHF Or boats stove,i could be there on any day at any time!I would even be happy to pay somthing.Im also looking for a repacement laptop for the boat and seires landrover ohne mfk that i could move the next day.

Further id be happy to take over a whole boat on land on afloat, i could move it within a week ar less if need be