Unreliable autohelm- it worked perfectly for a change...

[NickRobinson]

I've got quite used to my erratic autohelm, Marvin.

It usually deigns to work for an hour on departure which gets the fenders in and the first coffee made.

Then he loses interest and like a reverse lemming, tries to throw himself up cliffs..

Now I'm unsettled because today, Jura to Crinan, 5 hours plus, he never put a foot wrong...

What am I doing wrong..... At least a stopped clock is right twice a day


http://britainbyrivendell.weebly.com/

 

[lustyd]

I've got quite used to my erratic autohelm, Marvin.

It usually deigns to work for an hour on departure which gets the fenders in and the first coffee made.

Then he loses interest and like a reverse lemming, tries to throw himself up cliffs..

Now I'm unsettled because today, Jura to Crinan, 5 hours plus, he never put a foot wrong...

What am I doing wrong..... At least a stopped clock is right twice a day


http://britainbyrivendell.weebly.com/

My auto tiller was like that, turned out to be a poor connection making it lose the course setting when the power went off and back on

 

[liftkeel]

Just think yourself lucky. Our aged tiller pilot has a mind of its own. It will work perfectly for hours but if your daft enough to go for a pee i will immediately go round and round in circles.

 

[neil_s]

Another vote for a poor power connection - my Autohelm2000 used to do that. It slowly got worse until I replaced the cockpit plug and socket and the wiring to it. Suddenly it's all OK again!

Neil

 

[strudders]

Plus one on power feed. This was a problem on our previous boat. Either low volts or loose connection. In the end I ran a separate thick wire just for the autohelm with its own fuse. Problem solved

 

[Spyro]

Got your mobile phone anywhere near it? Mine plays havoc with my st2000

 

[Mrnotming]

Got your mobile phone anywhere near it? Mine plays havoc with my st2000

Strudders advice is a likely solution too!
In addition I rerouted the feed wires away from the battery cables, as the Vhf current draw caused a 90 degree bend in the vessel's track!

 

[tillergirl]

Just think yourself lucky. Our aged tiller pilot has a mind of its own. It will work perfectly for hours but if your daft enough to go for a pee i will immediately go round and round in circles.

I've got one of those!