tiller pilot

[Birdseye]

Got myself a Sadler 290 which has a tiller operating directly on the rudder shaft. I dont like the Raymarine tiller pilot that the boat has and wondering is it is possible to fit a decent hydraulic system under the deck. I suppose I am looking for someone who has done this on a similar boat. Anyone there?

 

[KompetentKrew]

From these pics it doesn't look like it has a quadrant. From the layout of the cockpit and photo of the aft cabin it looks like the rudder shaft runs through a pipe at the foot of that berth.

My tiller-steered boat is similar, and I couldn't see an easy way to do it.

May I ask what Raymarine tiller pilot you have at present?

 

[Tranona]

Think the answer is no because you don't have access to a clear bit of exposed rudder stock to mount an arm. Some more recent boats with tiller steering from the same designer do have steering arrangements such that you can install a below decks autopilot in the same way as a wheel steered boat.

Afraid you are stuck with a ram operating directly on the tiller, either an all in one ST2000 or Simrad TP32, or the much more sophisticated and expensive EV100 tiller pilot which uses the electronics from the wheel steered systems but with a ram operating on the tiller. This is more than powerful enough for your boat, but is less satisfactory than the equivalent under deck ram because it does not have a clutch so needs to be attached when needed and of course the ram is exposed. Otherwise functionally in terms of features and integration with the rest of your system it is the same. Not cheap though at nearly 3 times the price of an ST2000.

Choice depends on your expectations.

 

[John_Silver]

Old thread I know @Birdseye .......and I think you had a much longer thread on a similar topic. But can't find it. Just happened on this installation video for B&G's nac-2. Fully below deck, with an actuator cable emerging to link to tiller. And......said cable can be left connected, to the tiller, whilst the boat is manually helmed because of a built in clutch. Which removes the need to drive a ram to match the tiller position, in order to 'engage' pilot. Which slows the process down, on Raymarine's EV100 system. (In fact, I think that the time taken to engage the pilot had allowed your Sadler 290 to wander off course, and was the subject of the thread that I can't find). Plus, on the EV100 the ram is exposed to the elements - and does fail, with time, because of it. Whereas everything, except the actuator cable, is below decks on this nac-2 set up. If you are still looking for a below deck pilot, that does not require a quadrant, or an exposed section of rudder stock below deck, this could be a solution:

 

[garymalmgren]

The OP has asked about a hydraulic steering system.
This is to overcome the biggest problem with fitting an electric tillerpilot below deck, which is how do you disengage it?
As mentioned, without a length of rudderstock to clamp to no off the shelf tillerpilot can be fitted below.
That leaves the very expensive system in the video posted by John Silver.


RE: I don't like the Raymarine tiller pilot that the boat has

Can I ask why?

gary

 

[thinwater]

Got myself a Sadler 290 which has a tiller operating directly on the rudder shaft. I dont like the Raymarine tiller pilot that the boat has and wondering is it is possible to fit a decent hydraulic system under the deck. I suppose I am looking for someone who has done this on a similar boat. Anyone there?

Look into Pelagic. Technically they are tiller pilots, but MUCH better in terms of both ruggedness and software/function. Many options. Suitable for much bigger boats, depending on what you get.

 

[Tranona]

There is a much longer discussion here forums.ybw.com/threads/autopilots-for-tiller-steering.598614/ on the subject which explains more about using the B&G solution which may well be possible for the OPs boat, although not sure he pursued it.

 

[John_Silver]

The OP has asked about a hydraulic steering system.
This is to overcome the biggest problem with fitting an electric tillerpilot below deck, which is how do you disengage it?

As stated, in post and video, the nac-2 has a clutch. Therefore it remains physically connected to tiller at all times. Like an hydraulic system.

 

[garymalmgren]

Yes, John. I realize that system is detachable by de-activating the clutch.
What I was getting at is that if you fit a simple tillerpilot (ST 2000 or Simrad TP) below deck, the only way to disengage it is to clamber below and pop it off the fitting.

gary

 

[englishrobs]

I have the EV100 on a Contessa 32. It’s a fabulous piece of kit.