tiller pilot with hydrovane

[mbay]

I'm planning on getting a tillerpilot to work in conjuction with my hydrovane, On the hydrovane web site it states that i only need a small tillerpilot even though my boat Weighs in at 6 ton 31ft. Has anyone ever retrofitted a tillerpilot or autohelm to work in this way. I'm thinking the pilot will somehow have to attach to the pushpit.
Also if anyone has tried this how did it preform? under engine alone?

 

[hightech]

This used to be something we did for the round the world boys before the days of solar panel and plenty of power for modern electronics.

You should have the equivalent of a tiller bar or somewhere you can install one to which the front end of a tiller pilot can be attached then rig a bracket up for the back end and you are set. If you make the tiller bar with holes every inch, then you can adjust the gain by experiment until correct.

Make sure you put a lanyard on the pilot and probably get a remote control for it too as it will be out of easy reach.

Good luck.

 

[Becky]

You will have to make up a bracket, possibly.

The Tillerpilot replaces the windvane, so it has a small load, and small current draw, and they work very well.

The weight of the boat is immaterial as the Hydrovane still does the steering.

'Course you will then be sailing a compass course, not one controlled by the wind direction.

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
Course you will then be sailing a compass course, not one controlled by the wind direction

[/ QUOTE ]
Unless you (can) plug your wind instrumet into your TP ... but then why would you be using the TP ?

 

[Bajansailor]

I am planning on doing the same with the Hydrovane on our Challenger 35, who is about 5.5 tonnes. I am sure that the simplest, cheapest tiller pilot will be fine, because there is very little load on the hydrovane rudder. I have made up a tubular aluminium tiller that fits over the stub tiller on the hydrovane, and once I get the tiller pilot, I will experiment re where to attach the pilot's arm on the tiller.
Although I have a feeling that it will probably work Ok if it is just attached to the stub tiller on the Hydrovane. But then I will have a problem re where to mount the tillerpilot (on the pushpit?)......

The ally tubular tiller is Z shaped, as it has to be cranked to go up and over the coaming (top hat section) at the aft end of the cockpit, hence I think in our case we shall probably try mounting the tiller pilot on the edge of the coaming. And I shall ensure that it is lashed on.....

I have used a similar set up before, but this was with a Monitor vane gear on a friend's S & S 34 - worked very well when motoring with no wind (the only times we used it), except that the tiller pilot (not naming brand name) got very fussy as soon as there was any hint of rain or spray - we had to wrap him up well in a stout plastic bag.....

 

[mbay]

Thanks for your input folks, all very helpfull.
still have the problem of making a bracket or some other fitting to attach the autohelm too.
Let me know how you get on bajansailor if you beat me to it.... i'll do the same.

 

[Bajansailor]

Righty oh, will do! Although I won't be getting my tiller pilot until I pay a visit to Southampton Boat Show next September, so you will beat me to it big time.
Please do post a photo or two of your arrangement when it is all finalised.