NAVICO WP10

[pathfinder]

I use the wp10 on 32ft boat (long fin keel with skeg hung rudder),i find it works fine in flat water but even in the slightest chop the the pilot is constantly turning the wheel back and forth even if the boat has not gone off course.I have tried adjusting the seastate/gain settings but with no real improvement. The pilot is set up correctly ie. number of lock to lock turns.It seems to be really over working itself let alone the battery drain.Anybody with experience of this?would appreciate any advice.

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[JerryHawkins]

I have the WP30 on a 25', 4.5t long keel motor sailer and it does exactly what you describe - lots of small corrections most of the time. The most it seems to go without moving is 10-15 seconds! Like you I've tried adjusting sea state/gain/lock-to-lock setting all to no avail.

Despite this, it steers a good course and so far I haven't managed to complete a passage without motoring, so the battery consumption hasn't been a problem. However I also have a DuoGen to provide power whilst sailing (as long as there's enough wind to get me above 3 knots or so!).

I'd also be interested to hear if others have similar experiences.

Cheers, Jerry

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[pathfinder]

Thanks jerry,maybe i just have to put up with it.Looks like poor damping on the internal compass.By the way i think the wp30 has an nmea input if used this provides the reference for the pilot and might help in your case.

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[JerryHawkins]

Mine is already linked up in this way. I have a CP32 chart plotter and IS15 instruments in the equation; so I can steer to compass, waypoint or wind. I use the steer to waypoint most and the constant corrections are just the same! If I can ever afford a larger boat I will budget for a full in-board system - probably costing 4 or 5 times what the WP30 cost!

Cheers, Jerry

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

yup, I had put it down to slack in my morse cable steering, but it is interesting to find others suffering the same bzzzt bzzzzt bzzzt all the damn way. It is such a relief sometimes to turn the thing off. Don't get me wrong it keeps my course to within +/- 2°, I can just do it quieter if there is nothing else to do onboard.

I also put it down to my failings in setting my sails and balancing the boat, but when I turn it off she sails a good line with hardly any adjustment, which is why the thing annoys me so much.

I would be interested to hear if anyone has had some success calming it down.


<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Koeketiene]

Got a WP30 on an Etap38 - same thing, seems contantly "on the move". Keeps course OK - when steering to waypoint, always keeps within 2-3°.

Recalibrated, adjusted seasate, tried everything... all to no avail. It does the job, but since it's always doing something, I don't really "trust" it. I keep checking up on it every 4-5 minutes. Not exactly what you would call peace of mind.

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.