Wheel Auto-pilots

[dick_james]

Does anyone know of an auto pilot that can be hooked up to the conventional wheel/cable steering on my 32ft motor sailor (presumably via chain and clutch) and GPS? I want to bury it in the steering console and I think the Auto-Helm one has an exposed belt arrangement

 

[jimboaw]

Autohelm ST 4000 would be your best bet. There are other wheel pilots 'Simrad' but Raymarine is the dominant player. If I were you I would consider a 5000 core pack leaving you with the alternative of adding a linear drive direct to your steering quadrant. pm me for best price.

 

[charles_reed]

Very wise to eschew the wheel-drive autopilots - those who have tried to use them in anger have nothing but denigration for them.

Nearly all the main manufacturers make direct-to-quadrant auto-pilots - the best are Robertson, who are part of Simrad.
The lower quartile of manufacturers, where value-for-money is best, include Raymarine and Navico. The old Navico brand is now part of Simrad.

On the whole, I've been disappointed in my recent dealings with Simrad - their customer service is lacking, QC suspect and knowledge base poor.

Raymarine on the other hand, having bought themselves out from Raytheon are now a total contrast to Simrad and their previous incarnation.
Mainly for that reason I'd recommend looking at the Raymarine range.
It would be worth going down there to have a look - they've got a permanaent display and lots of willing explainers.

Their address is:
Raymarine Service Centre
Robinson Way
Anchorage Park
Portsmouth PO3 5TD tel 02392 693611 contacts Ruth Willett/Jane Curtis on xt 1230 or Alastair Hall on xt 1342

On a technical level - I guess the Raymarine autopilots are slightly more robustly engineered than Navico, but the software hasn't, in the past, been up to Navico. Raymarine prices tend to be slightly higher.

A few comments - don't take an autopilot which is just adequate for your boat, the marketing people are always over-optimistic - do make sure the quadrant-to-rudderpost connection is beefy and unworn - make sure the fixed end is well reinforced, the shock loads without the gear to damp them are considerably greater - put a circuit-breaker.
Whilst a clutch is not essential, but a good idea - you can get, in the US, an electro-magnetic dog-clutch which is in the same circuit as the autopilot on/off switch and automatically disengages the wheel.
Unless you are a good, practical engineer I would also advise getting a professional to fit it, rather than DIY.
As good professinals tend to be as common as hens' teeth in the leisure marine industry...

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Hi
I bought a Simrad Wp 30. thought it would be okay in light conditions in the Med . HOW wrong ,trouble from the start would not hold a course vered 10-15deg .And no after sales service because I was daft enough to buy in Greece .
cheers bob t

boss1