Photos of tillerpilot installations?

[joe17]

Hi,

I finally bought an ST1000+ tillerpilot and I am not planning to install it.

Does anyone have some pics to share of a final installation? It doesnt seem too complicated, but thought it would be easier to see how others have done it.

Has anyone installed it with the tiller pin under the tiller? it looks like someone has earlier installed a pilot on my boat as I have a pin already in the tiller, but it is on the underside.

Any other hints, tips or recommendations??

Thanks.
Joe.

 

[Cloven]

Sorry no pics but mine has the pin under the tiller. The base plate for the unit is on the cockpit seat. Because the tiller is higher than the cockpit seat, the pin is on the end of a cranked bracket attached under the tiller in order to get the unit horizontal.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[Spyro]

Not a great pic of the installation, It's not actually attached at the time the pic was taken but you can just see the pin on a bracket under the tiller. You can also see the plug that the power cable goes into behind the gear lever.
As said previously you have to keep the TP level this will determine if you need to mount the pin under or on top of the tiller. You can get various attachments to fit the pin onto and various parts to raise the level of the TP you can also get extension arms for the TP if required. I have also seen them fitted on top of blocks of wood to raise the level.

If you look close you can also see an old socket from a previous TP. The new one required a new position.

 

[joe17]

Thanks for the pic. I assume thte TP is not in use in that pic?

Forgot to say that the existing pin on my tiller is actually coming out the bottom of the tiller pointing down to the bottom of the boat not on the little attachment "the right way up" like yours.

Need to do some measuring and get the TP and the boat together and try and see how to get the thing horizontal.

Thanks.
Joe.

 

[Pye_End]

If it is an existing tiller pin then are you sure that your tiller is the right way up?

 

[joe17]

[ QUOTE ]
If it is an existing tiller pin then are you sure that your tiller is the right way up?

[/ QUOTE ]

It has a tiller extension on top!

I have never thought about it actually. 1st thought was it must be as it just wouldnt fit the other way, but then I am not so sure! Will have to look at that next time I visit the boat.

Certainly the pin doesnt look like it would work pointing downwards. Not enough to grip the TP

 

[Spyro]

Correct it's not in use.
I can't see how your set up would work as the Tiller Pilot arm just sits onto the pin and stays there with gravity. It also means it can be disconnected quickly if needed.
Mine's a Simrad but the brackets are also available from Raymarine.

 

[agreenacre]

Hello Joe,
Sorry no photo,
I installed the 1000 st on my cape cutter 19 last season.
My set up is similar to the example Spyro has submitted with the tiller pin under the rudder .
I set the brass holder in a block of wood on the inside of the cockpit and had to fit an extension piece to the ram as the tiller pilot would not have tacked the boat on one tack without it.
The distances as given in the instructions are important as they have an effect on the efficiency of the unit.
Try the position first as the extension attachments if required are not cheap
Regards

Alan

 

[VicS]

This shows the original Autohelm (from Nautech's instructions) The mounting system has not changed dramatically. Your manual should give details of brackets pedestals, extensions etc that are available. Mine is mounted on the coaming but I have a 4" extension on the operating rod.

 

[joe17]

I took another look at my existing pin and it is clearly the wrong way up.

One other question. How is the mounting at the other end in your setup? Does it go through the cockpit seat or do you still have a pedestal? Its hard to see from the pic.

having measured mine up again then the existing fittings are in the wrong place. The pin is too far along the tiller and the hole in the coaming would mean a very long reach for the pilot which might be too big even with the extension rods.

Now I look at it I get a better idea how the whole thing will work and i should be able to get a nice compact setup which would be similar to the 2 photos in this thread i.e. tiller pilot low down with the bracket under the tiller (but with the pin the right way up!)

Thanks for the help.
Joe.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
a very long reach for the pilot which might be too big even with the extension rods.

[/ QUOTE ] Unless they have changed the design, you can screw two or more extension rods together if necessary. The original end piece, with the socket for the pin, is refitted on the end of the extension(s).
Quite a versatile system for mounting the unit and connecting it to the tiller. Almost certainly more than one solution to any situation.

There are a variety of methods of mounting the unit. The simplest is just a socket which you can use if the cockpit seats or coaming is just about the correct height. Aren't they all shown in the manual? The pic I posted from the old AH 1000 manual is using just a socket without doubt. I would guess spyro's is on a pedestal screwed to the face of the coaming.

 

[joe17]

[ QUOTE ]
Unless they have changed the design, you can screw two or more extension rods together if necessary. The original end piece, with the socket for the pin, is refitted on the end of the extension(s).
Quite a versatile system for mounting the unit and connecting it to the tiller. Almost certainly more than one solution to any situation.

There are a variety of methods of mounting the unit. The simplest is just a socket which you can use if the cockpit seats or coaming is just about the correct height. Aren't they all shown in the manual? The pic I posted from the old AH 1000 manual is using just a socket without doubt. I would guess spyro's is on a pedestal screwed to the face of the coaming.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I have the manuals. There are plenty of options for doing this so i am interested to see/hear how people have done it.

Also found this one when googling. Looks like the only practical solution with that kind of tiller but kind of cuts the cockpit in half. My rudder is hanging on the back of the boat and the tiller comes directly over the transom, so it seems I can get my tillerpilot very far back (and low down!).
http://brabon.net/Balboa26/autopilot/autopilot.htm