sportpilot autopilot on single outdrive boat

[duncan]

as anyone got experience of one of these steering wheel /shaft based units on a single outdrive / planning hull setup?
My concern is around the low speed displacement chareristics - manually is a seesaw job most of the time so is the unit going to be working flat out or will it let the boat move from side to side significantly?
Anyother comments /suggestions as usual welcomed....

 

[Chris771]

Hi Duncan,

The nearest I can get is having had one on my last boat a Skibsplast 700 Hardtop.
24ft planing hull, but shaft drive with small skeg. Worked perfectly on that for four years up to nearly 30 kts.

At displacement speed the gain required increasing from the lowest setting which I normally used when on the plane. It did work quite hard at displacement speed, but seemed to keep the boat generally straight with less helm movements than I did manually, once the gain was at the correct setting - set the gain incorrectly and it was all over the place - like a mad woman's bits. It was just a matter of setting the response characteristic to the response time of the hull, only four settings to try so it was hardly a chore. Once speed dropped below about 4 kts it struggled, but doubt if you will ever want to go that slowly anyway. Anything over 5 knots and it was fine.

I thought it was a wonderful toy, hardly ever used to touch the wheel except when coming alongside. I just used to leave the autopilot to it, it steered a far better course than I ever could. On passage even for course alterations I just used to use the trim to nudge it round a few degrees at a time till it settled on the new course.

Now, when the weather warms up a little I just need to work up the enthusiasm to fit one to the Beneteau 760 I now own.

Chris

 

[duncan]

thanks sounds similar use to that I propose except that trolling for bass at 3-4 knots is one of the biggest uses I envisage. Don't mind a bit of too and fro though.
That the Antares 760 with an ad41? - v similar to mine 'cept s drive.
regards and thanks again.