Tiller Pilot on Steel Boat

[raven]

I have recently acquired a (second hand) Simrad TP10 tiller pilot for use on my 28' steel boat.

I have wired the device in and it appears to function okay in terms of the standby port / starboard operations but I have not yet tested / calibrated it.

Reading through the manual it talks about siting the unit away from radios and electrical cabling / engine alternators.

I wondered if any other forumites have experience of fitting this unit to a steel boat and if the internal fluxgate compass worked correctly or if a remote fluxgate compass was required.

Any thoughts / advice gratefully received.

 

[srm]

Many years ago I used an Autohelm tiller pilot to work the wind vane rudder on a 42 ft steel boat. Worked OK by setting on required heading and engaging pilot. There was obviously deviation but it was a simple unit that did not need calibrating and kept a reasonable course. As it was on the wind vane it was also a couple of feet above the deck.

 

[michaelmooney]

Wondering if anyone has used a TP10 tillerpilot successfully on a steel boat?
MM.

 

[JVL]

you can use either the simrad or raymarinr tp on a steel boat forget all the fancy steering from "external " inputs it is point and shoot ,calibrate and for best results run through a trim tab (steel is heavy)

john

 

[SteveSarabande]

How heavy is the boat? Tp10 might not cope with 28' depending on weight

 

[jwilson]

Wondering if anyone has used a TP10 tillerpilot successfully on a steel boat?
MM.

If you use it on a trim tab (not straight to the tiller) it should work on any boat, almost no matter how heavy. Compass unlikely to be accurate, but should steer holding existing course and with +/- buttons.

 

[SteveSarabande]

If you use it on a trim tab (not straight to the tiller) it should work on any boat, almost no matter how heavy. Compass unlikely to be accurate, but should steer holding existing course and with +/- buttons.

Agreed if just a trim tab.

Otherwise 32ft, 3.7tons max

I had to upgrade my st1000 to a st2000 to cope in heavier seas

 

[macd]

I'd imagine that on a 28-foot steel boat a TP10 could be somewhat over-pressed, although it should work OK in light conditions, including motoring, and will be handy for reefing, making a cuppa, etc if sailing short-handed. Regular extended use could knacker it in short order.

Re compass, agree that it should probably hold a course once set, although its idea of where it's heading might not be very accurate. Handbook has this to say:
The use of an external compass is particularly important on a ferrous-hulled boat...as the hull will affect the bearing read by the internal fluxgate compass.
On a steel...boat, the correct location for the external compass would be on the mast, between 1 and 2 meters above the deck.

Probably wise to jury-rig it first to see how it performs, before cutting holes and installing wiring.

 

[earlybird]

AFAIK, the TP10 cannot accept inut from an external compass anyway. The larger versions do.

 

[JVL]

Further to my last, i use a tp on a steel boat you can use the beefer models if you want but without a trim tab they will soon die(probably will any way they are carp) but as i stated earlier they are just point and steer

John