New Autopilot Installation.

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DJE

DJE

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Nearly done. That was a tight fit!

Autopilot01.jpg


Shiny aluminium bracket by our local fabricator. Rough plywood and epoxy bracket by yours truly.
 
I recommend getting fabrications done in aluminium where it's difficult to get precise measurements. I had to make a few modifications after I first offered up the bracket but the aluminium was easy to saw and file.
 
Looks good. One question, as I'm planning on installing a Raymarine Linear Drive, too:
The installation guide says the rudder needs to have a "mechanical stop" at 35 degrees on either side, to prevent the linear drive running into it's drive ends. How did you achieve this?
 
micha571 said:
Looks good. One question, as I'm planning on installing a Raymarine Linear Drive, too:
The installation guide says the rudder needs to have a "mechanical stop" at 35 degrees on either side, to prevent the linear drive running into it's drive ends. How did you achieve this?
Click to expand...

Hasn't, unless there's some stops that have not been re-mounted in the photos.....or they could be hung under the cockpit sole and act upon the primary rudder lever that you see right at the top.
 
micha571 said:
Looks good. One question, as I'm planning on installing a Raymarine Linear Drive, too:
The installation guide says the rudder needs to have a "mechanical stop" at 35 degrees on either side, to prevent the linear drive running into it's drive ends. How did you achieve this?
Click to expand...

The stops are in the Whitlock pedestal on my boat. The upper tiller arm takes the drag link from the pedestal and if I remove that link then the rudder can swing until it hits the hull. Not sure exactly how the stops work as I've never dismantled the pedestal but the rudder certainly comes up against something solid in there.

The linear drive has about 15mm of travel left at each end when the rudder hits the stop.
 
Last edited:
micha571 said:
Looks good. One question, as I'm planning on installing a Raymarine Linear Drive, too:
The installation guide says the rudder needs to have a "mechanical stop" at 35 degrees on either side, to prevent the linear drive running into it's drive ends. How did you achieve this?
Click to expand...

FWIW in my case I installed a couple of blocks of timber, faced with rubber for a little shock absorbtion, screwed to handy cross-members either side. The pilot tiller hits these shortly before the end of travel of the ram.

The original installation, before the pilot, didn't appear to have any particular rudder stop except presumably for the eye on the end of a cable coming up hard against its fairlead, which seems less than ideal.

Pete
 
pvb said:
Maybe I didn't explain that very well, although I know you're well aware of what I meant.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I genuinely wasn’t. Thinking about it, I guess you mean effectively having a shorter tiller than Raymarine specify? That doesn’t seem very desirable either as you will reduce the available steering force.

The only real solution is as Raymarine say - ensure there are stops to limit the rudder angle to the specified range, and fit some if the boat doesn’t already have them.

Pete
 
I seem to remember fitting a rudder reference unit and setting limits on the course computer to address this issue
 
prv said:
I genuinely wasn’t. Thinking about it, I guess you mean effectively having a shorter tiller than Raymarine specify? That doesn’t seem very desirable either as you will reduce the available steering force.
Click to expand...

There would be a minimal reduction.
 
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