Lowest consumption autopilots?

[black hole]

What is the lowest consumption that anyone has had from an electronic autopilot?
The only windvane option for my 40 ft center cockpit yacht is an expensive hydrovane unit. I have an ST6000 with a hydraulic ram on the quadrant and a recent trip showed that to be excessive in terms of current. I also have a Navico Wheelpilot that I haven't tested much but promises lower current and I have my eyes on this

http://cptautopilot.com

which promises an average of 0.4A

Does anyone have experience of long passages on electronic autopilot and the current consumption?
I have 400W solar and a wind generator and would get 2 wheel pilots. I figure with 3 available I should be reasonably well covered against failure. I dont want to start a windvane vs electronic discussion, just want to know how these low current claims stand up.

Cant help but think you are going at the question from the wrong angle. The electric motors powering the pilots will all have much the same efficiency so what power is used is likely to depend on how hard the boat is to steer and how much steering the pilot does. The amount of correction the pilot does ( ie how wiggly the course it steers is) can usually be adjusted which leaves the major issue of trimming the boat to need as little steering as possible. Go back to your dinghy sailing days when you learned how to steer a boat without a rudder just by adjusting the trim of both sails.

 

[pvb]

The electric motors powering the pilots will all have much the same efficiency ....

No, that's not true, some are better than others. The "pancake" motor in the Jefa is very efficient.

 

[[70521]]

Yes, you can. However, some are in the aft cabin which requires a slave person to operate and others have an extended stock that goes up through either the aft cabin roof or the aft deck so the emergency tiller can be operated from outside.

You now understand why I would never have a center cockpit. I never sail with slaves and rigging up a sheet to tiller steering system would be impossible.

 

[pvb]

You now understand why I would never have a center cockpit. I never sail with slaves and rigging up a sheet to tiller steering system would be impossible.

My HR352 had an emergency tiller which fitted to an extended rudder stock at deck level. Perfectly manageable from the centre cockpit, although I never needed it.

 

[Tranona]

You now understand why I would never have a center cockpit. I never sail with slaves and rigging up a sheet to tiller steering system would be impossible.

That is not what you said in post#13 - you just mentioned an emergency tiller.


Centre cockpit boats are very popular (and entirely suitable) for long distance cruising. In that type of situation sheet to tiller steering is of limited use anyway.

 

[Polly1]

Thanks for the advice so far
I hadn't noticed the cpt autopilot couldn't include wind steering.
I would love a hydrovane type unit but I could almost get a new engine for that price.

 

[Polly1]

Just seen a Cape Horn would fit my boat
They are a bit less at 3.5k USD

 

[Brent Swain]

Using my autopilot to steer via the semi balanced trim tab on the trailing edge of my outboard rudder , reduces power draw, to tiny.

 

[yoda]

What is the lowest consumption that anyone has had from an electronic autopilot?
The only windvane option for my 40 ft center cockpit yacht is an expensive hydrovane unit. I have an ST6000 with a hydraulic ram on the quadrant and a recent trip showed that to be excessive in terms of current. I also have a Navico Wheelpilot that I haven't tested much but promises lower current and I have my eyes on this

http://cptautopilot.com

which promises an average of 0.4A

Does anyone have experience of long passages on electronic autopilot and the current consumption?
I have 400W solar and a wind generator and would get 2 wheel pilots. I figure with 3 available I should be reasonably well covered against failure. I dont want to start a windvane vs electronic discussion, just want to know how these low current claims stand up.

I have a very similar set up and although it can be power hungry I found that 3 things help significantly.
1) Balance the rig,
2) use the 'Sail to Wind' function,
3) minimise the response level.

Once I started doing these I found I could start to keep pace with power usage on the wind and solar charging.

Yoda

 

[Brent Swain]

Thanks for pointing that out. Clearly I missed it in my skim read yesterday.

Put me right off having a center cockpit as it appears that you cannot use an emergency tiller.

Silas Crosby had an aft cabin, no wheel ,but arranged a tiller steering arangement to bypass the problem. Worked out well.
Search Silas Crosby for photos of his setup.

 

[Pagetslady]

Why can't you use an emergency tiller on a center cockpit. My Westerly Corsair has one and I have used it, I also have an Hydrovane which I have used with a tiller pilot when motoring.
Mike

 

[Graham376]

Why can't you use an emergency tiller on a center cockpit. My Westerly Corsair has one and I have used it, I also have an Hydrovane which I have used with a tiller pilot when motoring.
Mike

Moody 346 and 376 CC boats (most likely other models as well) have emergency tillers but they have to be operated below in the aft cabin. Quite possible to couple to tiller pilot to control from cockpit by remote, in the unlikely event the steering cables and the quadrant mounted autopilot both fail.