Current thinking on Autopilot for 26M?

[Oskar 26M]

Hi all
I'm starting to think seriously about an autopilot for my 26M (circa late 2006/early2007 model) and wondering what the current collective wisdom suggests might give the best value for money. I'm currently thinking about a Raymarine SPX Wheel Pilot.
Any thoughts about suitability, performance adequacy, likely complications, difficulties with installation, amandatory "extras" needed to make it work, or other advice would be greatly appreciated.

[bubba]

Here is a U tube of a wheel type autopilot at work : http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=PxmDYpj_lo8
I want one too for my

[James V]

Autopilot - God's give to the singlehander!

Get the remote with it. Put the controler inside out of harms way and easy to reach. Use the remote outside. I have used my Raymarine S1 with the remote for 5000+ miles, remote on always.. The wheel play is hard to program in. Do a search on threads on this. The hardest thing it to get an 18 inch wheel and remove the old one.

[Boblee]

We have a Raymarine wheelpilot and it works great under sail but with power it is not responsive enough especially with the slackness in the Mac steering.
We left the original wheel to see how it would go and now don't even notice that you can't get your fingers right round the wheel, would now rather have the small wheel and ease of getting round the cockpit than the small advantage of a larger one at extra cost.

[Oskar 26M]

Thanks for the information Boblee, especially about the wheel. I was hoping it might be possible to use one with the standard wheel. Any further tips would be most welcome.

Did you fit it yourself or get a dealer to fit it for you?

[Boblee]

Pretty easy to fit, you just need to make a separate bracket on the pedastal (easy) and another to hold the rudder indicator which is easier, if you buy new the instructions are easy to follow.
Not sure if the purchase was warranted but it certainly makes it easier if you need to do other things, I still need to sort mine out a bit as I didn't even bother with the sea tests, with nine weeks on the water.
May have a play with it down the Gippsland lakes shortly if I don't get distracted.

[Terry]

One of the more important steps (IMHO) with installation of an AutoPilot is placement of the fluxgate compass. The instructions recommend between 1/3 & 1/2 way along the waterline. Measuring from the transom to the daggerboard this distance lies right exactly at the bottom of the companionway ladder. They also recommend the lowest position closest to the hull bottom and to also be mid abeam. Again, just below the bottom of the companionway ladder close to the cabin floor is the ideal location function wise, but it happens to be right where you would most likely plant your heel on the way below. Perhaps a thermostat cage would help protect it. Also, there may be a problem with the batteries being situated in the hold under the ladder which may contribute to some deviation. I do not have any battery there in my '03 model so this is not a problem and the location adds considerably to accurate operation, so for me this worked out well. A well placed fluxgate will add considerable accuracy to operation. As in my case you can also mount the compass facing aft and when out for sea trials to swing the compass you can correct for 180 degrees to compensate for an aft facing compass. Since I had nothing but an empty space below the ladder I mounted mine on the aft side underneath the cover so that I would not step on it.
I cannot see any need for a remote in such a small cockpit. I have my control box mounted on the port bulkhead opposite the fuse panel for easy wiring. I can sit right beside it and control the running lines and operate the autohelm control functions without any need for a remote, which in my opinion is quite a useless extra expense.
I concur with Bob Lee about the steering wheel, it works fine with the oem one and I have no problems with my fingers on the wheel.

[delevi]

Hey, I know the guy in that video

Oscar,
I have the Raymarine S1 which I guess was replaced by the X series you're considering. Only diff is probably a smarter computer. I read from other owners that responsiveness under power is not good. That is not my experience. The pilot does an excellent job under sail and power. It only doesn't work well when motoring slow without fins down, but same can be said steering manually. The trick is proper installation and setup. There are many computer settings and tweaks. I'm a tweaker so after various configs, I think I got it just right. It also works better with gps connect via nmea or seatalk. This way the computer can read not only the heading via its electric compass but the actual course from gps, using both pieces of info for steering accuracy. I installed everything myself. The tricky parts are the rudder sensor and bracke for the back side of the wheel drive. This may be most challanging for the new pedestal style (07 M or newer.) Mine is an 05, so I didn't have this to contend with.

I am very happy with the unit, and believe me, I put it through plenty. Number of videos posted on this site with Rusalka's AP doing its job, and doing it well. I would also recommend getting an ST40 wind system... I believe you can get them for a song now days. This unit can interface with the AP and steer to the wind i.e. lock in a wind angle and the pilot follows it. Nice way to take a break from sheeting the sails. I also enjoy seeing exact wind velocity and direction.

PM me if I can answer any specific questions.

Cheers,
Leon

[Boblee]

May have a play with mine over the next couple of weeks if I can get away and may contact you also Leon for some tweaking advice.
I note Terry says that the fluxgate compass should be 1/3 to halfway along the water line well by my measurements 1/2 way should be on the rear end of the dagger board which is almost perfectly in the middle of the boat, mounted at the highest point behind the well it is right on the waterline.
We do have batteries below the ladder so that is not an option but would have thought where I put it it would be better?
Will try and find the photo's of the brackets for the wheel and rudder sensor as when I did ours the mod pages were down.
Bob

[delevi]

Bob,

My compass is mounted right in front of the daggerboard trunk, bolted to the wall of the head, wedged between the wall and the trunk, approx 6 inches above the cabin sole. It bulges the wall out just a bit, but no biggie. It is backwards, of course, (facing aft) but I called Raymarine prior to installation and they told me it is perfectly fine, since you adjust the compass upon setup. The rudder sensor took some creativity. I used a plastic plate which I attached with screws and epoxy to the cabin liner adjacent to the starboard rudder arm. The thickness of the plate allowed for the sensor arm to be parallel to the rudder arm, as it should be. It was only possible to mount upside down, but per installation manual, this is ok too, as long as you reverse the two wires. Getting the hitch-ball installed on the rudder bracket was a pain, since there is no room to drill. I had to remove it to drill the holes, mount the hitch ball and reinstall. Lots of work, but well worth it when all is said and done.

Leon

[delevi]

[Boblee]

Found my photo's so maybe I had better put it on the mods section now they are in the bucket.

[delevi]

Bob,
Nice work adapting that bracket to your ped. May I suggest a 20" 6-spoke destroyer wheel. I got one from KH at a great price. Just no comparison to the stock 14 or 15" especially with the AP wheel drive behind it. Feels more "yachty." My preference, of course. I know some prefer a smallar diam wheel.

[Boblee]

Leon
Gunna get that bracket powder coated one day then it will blend a bit better, the standard wheel allows the max room to get past but a larger one probably would be better probably another gunna job, bigger wheel would probably allow a better view of the guage below as well.
Bob

[Oskar 26M]

Wow!
Thanks very much for all the helpful installation advice and excellent pics Guys

Unfortunately, my work has gone a bit berserk lately, so I cant see much opportunity to progress the autopilot idea until some time in the new year

But I'm now confident about which way to go. Its just a case of finding the time to get there.