Mirage 28 and tillerpilots - recommendations

[AFRANKS]

I am trying to get opinion on which tillerpilot to buy. I have decided that I want Raymarine but there is conflict in the specs. the ST1000 says up to 30ft but only 3,00kg the Mirage is 3,100kg but the ST2000 is to much and £100 more expensive. it sems to be a boarderline case, any advice would be apreciated as always. Boat is twin keels.
cheers

 

[simonfraser]

if she is light on the helm st1000 will do the job

if she is not maybe the trim can be sorted first

p.s. just bought a wifi remote for above, S100, THE BEST bit of kit, like having a crewmember by the tiller pilot 24/7

J G TECHNOLOGIES do a good deal for both

 

[RivalRedwing]

Buy the larger one if in doubt - do you really want a tillerpilot that could become over-stressed and fail if conditions get a bit fruity?

 

[Gunfleet]

It's to do with how the boat will balance. My boat - 4 tons, 26 ft, long keel - is easily balanced and easily controlled by the st1000. My last boat -24 ft 2 tons bilge keel - was uncontrollable when running. Can you balance the sails and let go of the rudder? Then the lightest autopilot will probably do. But if your boat is very heavy when running almost no autopilot will do on that point of sail.

 

[wooslehunter]

I bought the 2000+ for a Centaur last year. Looking at the specs the 1000+ would have done fine. But I had a problem with the speed of the old tiller pilot I had. It finally died & so I had to decide which one to go for. The old one responded quite slowly which meant when the boat was rolling, it tended to slew around all over the place. The 2000+ has a faster end-end speed than the 1000+ & hence responds faster when the boats rolling.

Also I prefer to run things well withing the spec & not at the upper end. The 2000 has a different drive.

You pays your money & takes your choice.

 

[aluijten]

I've had a look at the insides of a ST1000+ and can only say one thing; go for the 2000+. The 1000 is kids stuff. Too cheap mechanism. Mine lasted just over a year before it start ratteling it's gears.

Arno

 

[Guest]

OK my TP\'s are older versions but ....

I have a heavy 25ft motor sailer that has weather-helm ... The two Tillerpilots I have are the : AH800 and AH1000 ..... these are at the lighter end of market - the 800 for up to 26ft, 1000 up to 30ft ....

I can honestly say that both have survived my abuse for 6 years now and both perform well without discernible difference between them ... so I am at a loss to understand why one is better at it than the other !!

IMHO it all depends on the helm characteristics of the boat ... light or heavy, how much sailing you do and where ... what sort of weather you go out in ... do you sheet in and push the boat or let her sail light and balanced etc.

Tillerpilots do not like to fight the boat and weather so never expect them to be a 100% replacement for your own hand on tiller ....

Given above - its one of the best bits of kit I have ever had on a boat .... would not be without one again ....

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Athene V30]

Have you loked at the Simrad TP10? Says it is up to 9m - My boat is 27' 3" and coped perfectly in a F5 to windward last week.

Peter