Decisions, decisions ...

B

Bru

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 Jan 2007
Messages
14,679
svpagan.blogspot.com
The dear lady wife, bless her, has graciously consented to my spending some serious folding stuff on a new toy for Brigantia

We need a new VHF anyway so I could buy an all singing all dancing Standard Horizon with the built in AIS receiver

Or ...

I could buy a tiller pilot (and a basic VHF)

Now I really want both of course but I can only have one or the other

But which! Arrrgggghhhh. I hate making decisions! :confused::eek::rolleyes:
 
Brigantia said:
The dear lady wife, bless her, has graciously consented to my spending some serious folding stuff on a new toy for Brigantia

We need a new VHF anyway so I could buy an all singing all dancing Standard Horizon with the built in AIS receiver

Or ...

I could buy a tiller pilot (and a basic VHF)

Now I really want both of course but I can only have one or the other

But which! Arrrgggghhhh. I hate making decisions! :confused::eek::rolleyes:
Click to expand...

chip in a few squids yersel to add to her wonga ;)
 
sailorman said:
chip in a few squids yersel to add to her wonga ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah right, it IS my wonga! But I got us into a spot of financial hot water (to put it mildly) years ago and promised never to spend more than pocket money without discussing it first

(Actually, quite a serious issue as I suffer from manic depression, aka Bipolar disorder, one of the symptoms of which is going on uncontrolled and ridiculous spending sprees. Been there, done that. Got the big pile of useless expensive junk to show for it :o)

I'm leaning heavily towards the tiller pilot and t'responses are pushing me further in that direction
 
Brigantia said:
Yeah right, it IS my wonga! But I got us into a spot of financial hot water (to put it mildly) years ago and promised never to spend more than pocket money without discussing it first

(Actually, quite a serious issue as I suffer from manic depression, aka Bipolar disorder, one of the symptoms of which is going on uncontrolled and ridiculous spending sprees. Been there, done that. Got the big pile of useless expensive junk to show for it :o)

I'm leaning heavily towards the tiller pilot and t'responses are pushing me further in that direction
Click to expand...

For me sailing short handed all the time my auto helm is just THE best toy EVER!!

So another vote for tiller pilot and a cheap VHF.

Ian
 
Brigantia said:
Yeah right, it IS my wonga! But I got us into a spot of financial hot water (to put it mildly) years ago and promised never to spend more than pocket money without discussing it first

(Actually, quite a serious issue as I suffer from manic depression, aka Bipolar disorder, one of the symptoms of which is going on uncontrolled and ridiculous spending sprees. Been there, done that. Got the big pile of useless expensive junk to show for it :o)

I'm leaning heavily towards the tiller pilot and t'responses are pushing me further in that direction
Click to expand...

short handed = A/p first ;)
 
how many times in the last couple of years have you really needed a VHF/AIS, and how many times an autopilot ?

Even a basic VHF is a good safety device, and an a/p will leave you free to contemplate the mysteries of the sea.
 
What make/models of tiller pilot, basic VHF and VHF with AIS are you considering?

What's your budget? How powerful does your tiller pilot need to be?

Perhaps someone can suggest a creative way of achieving what you want within your budget.

In the absence of a solution, I'm +1 for tiller pilot + basic VHF.
 
duo

I'm for the tiller-pilot too. Also the more I do this stuff, the more I realise the wisdom of what someone said to me years ago - don't get combination gadgets. Thus, if your radio goes down, you still have AIS etc. plus a dedicated unit is likely to be better? I have AIS hooked up to a net-book but don't think I'll use it much. I'm waiting for something affordable and low drain I can consult occasionally via a smart-phone or somesuch in the cockpit - and only when I need to. ("Eeeek WTF is THAT!"). Yeh. Satisfy your urges and get a really meaty TP with muscle. If you get an always-on AIS you'll only stare at the damn thing. Do too much of that already.:cool:
 
+1 for a tillerpilot. There are loads of second hand VHF sets advertised which will keep you going for a while.

Make sure you get a tillerpilot that is big and powerful enough to manage the boat. I have just upgraded from an ST1000+ to a ST2000+ for that very reason.

Fair Winds

Ian & Jo
 
Like everyone else, I would go for the tiller pilot. You only need AIS if you are going out in the dark on the big wide sea, or aiming to sleep whilst single handed, in which case you would still need the TP.

Does the combined VHF/AIS have its own GPS or is that another thing you would need to make it work?
 
Last edited:
Right, tiller pilot it is then! (Wouldn't dare do anything else given the overwhelming consensus of opinion :D)

It'll be the Raymarine ST1000+ as Brigantia only displaces 1200kgs (OK, she probably displaces nearer 1500kg with all the kit on board to be honest!) and the smallest Simrad unit doesn't have an NMEA interface

Overwhelmed with the offer of VHF sets, most kind gents! DSC is a critical factor as the big red distress button would really come into its own if my mate Rik needed to initiate a distress call (he has a fairly severe speech impediment)

I like the compact size of the smallest Standard Horizon VHF and it will do the job nicely. Sensible price too. I'll need to measure things up before purchasing the tiller pilot as it probably won't be a dead simple installation - the mounting socket would end up in the middle of a cockpit locker lid I reckon so I'll probably have to mount it back to the cockpit side

Cheers all
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

cyberkryten
We finally bought a boat - Merry Fisher 895s2
2 3
Replies
41
Views
2K
Cathy*
C

Share this page

Top