Current thinking on Autopilot for 26M?

[c130king]

Looks like the "tiller" part of the mechanism underneath the cockpit is only about 8-10" long and the travel distance from stop to stop is probably only a foot or so. I guess a tiller pilot might need more travel than that.

Jim

[delevi]

Here's my AP setup with 20" destroyer wheel & Raymarine SP40 wind system









Wind system:

Display


Rotovecta transducer:

[beene]

That M, what with all its many holes, mods, etc, is starting to look a lot like Highlanders toy.......



G

[Oskar 26M]

I finally finished installing and commissioning the SPX-5 Wheel Pilot on my . It is hooked up to my Seiwa Seahorse GPS's NMEA.

I've only done about 30 nm using the pilot so far and since I've never had an autopilot before I probably I have a lot to learn about it, but so far its performance has been awesome! It is definitely my 3rd best toy (after the and GPS).

An absolute must for the solo sailor.

[puggsy]

I just watched the U tube video on the autopilot...It was doing a good job...but no way is that wind at 45 knots. Maybe 25 - 30, but even then there was hardly any white water...
It looked to me like an ordinary sea breeze off Fremantle in November...What we call the FREMANTLE DOCTOR...

but not 45 knots. Puggsy

[Oskar 26M]

I agree about the winds in the video Puggsy. The 45 degree heel was real, but the water disturbance suggested much lighter winds and/or little fetch on the waves.
I tried my auto pilot in 22 -25 kt winds and it did well under power.

I also found the same issue Leon mentioned when it tracks to a GPS Route. What the SPX5 seems to do first is take you back to intersect the exact path the route has determined. So if you have a XTE (cross track error - I hope I'm getting the jargon right) because you were not exactly on the path when the autopilot was engaged, it first heads back towards the path determined by the GPS route. This alarmed me at first because it seemed to take me in the wrong direction entirely .
However, as soon as the boat crossed the route path, the autopilot came round to exactly follow path. And I mean EXACTLY! On today's 6 nm trip to the island (admittedly under power and in fairly mild conditions), the planned route path and the track the boat followed were literally superimposed upon one another on the chart plotter. I would never have been able so precise when steering by hand. Meanwhile I pottered around, put the bimini up, made coffee... and relaxed (but yes I did keep watch).

On the way back, I wanted to check out the fish around a small submerged rock that was marked on the chart about 4 nm away. ( 4 metres under water, from a 10 m depth so I was in no danger from it), so I pointed to it on the GPS, clicked "goto" on the GPS and let the autopilot do the rest. Sure enough, it took me straight there, and the rock duly reared up on the depth sounder plot. No fish tho.

I'm having a blast with this gadget.

[delevi]

I just watched the U tube video on the autopilot...It was doing a good job...but no way is that wind at 45 knots. Maybe 25 - 30

You are correct. Beene just got a little excited. Winds were around 30-35 kts. Heel was mostly around 30, though we hit 40-45 now and again. We were in southern SF Bay where waters are shallower and the bay is narrower, so the waves weren't like you would see in open ocean with those wind velocities. Still the AP held a nice course. Now that I have a 3rd reef in the main, I'm looking forward to spring time when the winds pick up again. Hoping to set some new speed records in the heavy stuff.

Leon

[delevi]

Oskar,
Congrats on your new toy. Glad to hear you're enjoying it

[Oskar 26M]

Thanks delevi. It is truly a wonderful toy.

Yesterday was one of Western Australia's "perfect" boating days. Everyone who had anything that could float was on the water.

The winds for most of the day were moderate and steady, so I had the opportunity to give my new toy a thorough test under sail.

No, my sailing was not like beene's video... it was much more sedate, but my new "helmsman" held such a steady course under sail that I found it hard to believe.

For the first time since I got Oskar, I had two hands free to concentrate on sail trim, and had a wonderful time tweaking the lines whilst keeping an eye on the SOG from the GPS, and the speed through the water from the transom triducer. I might not have gone very fast, but I had the time to learn a lot.

My "helmsman" (who definitely needs a name) even tacked the boat flawlessly while all I had to do was work the jib sheets.

If there was any downside, it was on the long downwind run back along the Sound. It was such a relaxing sail that I could easily have dozed off, and I had to keep reminding myself that I was still the skipper and responsible for maintaining watch!

[delevi]

My "helmsman" (who definitely needs a name)

I call mine Otto. Original, I know

[2BonC]

Hallo Oscar (or who ever might be concerned )

As I have ordered a SPX5 autosteering system for my and You have experience with it now please answer some questions about Your impression of it.

1. Do You have a rudderposition sensor installed, do You think it is needed?

In the MG-forum somebody stated before that he had bought a used MG with an autosteering (perhaps an older one) installed and he was very unhappy with it. He stated even with the autosteering deselected he had to apply extra power to overcome the resistance of the AS-mechanic. In addition he had lost the rudder pressure feeling at all.

2. Do You feel something like resistance from the SPX5 when it is disengaged?
3. Do You still have some rudderfeeling?

Any answer wouldn´t change my decission to buy one however it is good to know. I´m looking forward to get the system around end of January

Rainer

[Oskar 26M]

Hi Rainer
As you will see from my earlier posts, my experience is still very limited so I can make no claim to being any form of 'expert'. However, I can tell you what I installed.
I purchased the SPX5 SmartPilot WheelDrive kit. The kit comprises:
* Smartpilot X-5 Course Computer
* Wheel Drive and spoke clamps
* SmartPilot ST6002 Controller
* Fluxgate Compass
* pedestal bracket, cables, cable ties, drill bits, screws etc.

There are pictures of earlier versions that others have installed earlier on this thread.
To answer your questions:

1. I did not buy the rudder position sensor, although it remains an option. The SPX5 course computer "learns" how much helm it needs to apply during the sea trial undertaken during commissioning of the pilot on the boat. On the advice of the Raymarine guy I spoke to, the rudder sensor is not really necessary and a difficult part of the installation was eliminated. The pilot seems to work fine without it.

2. The Wheel Drive has a mechanical clutch lever. When the clutch is disengaged, the wheel turns very freely. Although you can 'feel' that there is a free-wheeling cog present there is no resistance.

3. I have FULL rudder feeling when the pilot's clutch is disengaged. The presence of the pilot made no difference the helm feel at all.

I think the person who reported problems had a SportsPilot, not a WheelPilot. SportsPilots are designed for power boats, although some people have them fitted to their Macs and seem to like them. They look very different in pictures I've seem. The Sportspilot looks like a collar, whereas the WheelPilot looks more like a doughnut embedded in the spokes of the wheel. Perhaps the Sportspilot has a less effective clutch-release mechanism?

I hope this helps

[2BonC]

Hallo Oscar,

this helped very much, thank You, now I´m satisfied .

Rainer

[JimCate]

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.

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I have a Sports Pilot (?) plus on my 2004 Mac 26M, and I have been more than pleased with it. Particularly when sailing single-handed, it solves a lot of problems re hoisting, adjusting, and taking down sails. Also, it's great to leave the helm to the SP while going below or simply sailing an extended course.

Jim

[2BonC]

Yesterday I got my SPX 5 from a British boat supply dealer. When I inspected the content of the box I discovered that in the housing of the fluxvalve a bigger part is loose, it gives a knocking noise if shaked. I´m not familiar with the construction of a fluxvalve, can that be by purpose? For all who had a raymarine fluxvalve in hand did You experiance something similar?

Rainer