What is the most popular/Best auto pilot installed on 26X

[sailor stan]

Hi All,
I know you are probably getting tired of all my questions since I am new to the forum and also a new 26X owner, but what are you guys for if I cant abuse you?? I finally got my boat to the water and check for leaks and sure enough a through hull (for a speedometer no less) is seeping. Dropped the motor in the water and ran it for a while. Nissan 50, no water stream out the back like I am used to seeing, Not sure if that is a problem, but I am guessing new impeller is required. So after sitting in the water I got the urge to take her out for a spin, but then I realized that the wheel did not turn. Dis connected the motor and it turned freely, disconnected the rudders and they turned freely, so It looks like I have a bad steering linkage !! Figure that while I have to do that I might as well have an auto pilot installed. Any thoughts on the best/ most popular models that have proven to work well wioth the MAc 26X please sound off !!
Thanks

[JohnCFI]

Having recently replaced the steering on my 98 if I had to do it again I would install a hydraulic system instead of another cable..

[1-Tntimbo]

I am another new owner of a 26x.

Mine is a 2000 model with 50 Honda.

I am in Memphis, not that far away.

What year is yours? I would like to hook up and share thoughts on our boats.
T

[Russ]

I finally got my boat to the water and check for leaks and sure enough a through hull (for a speedometer no less) is seeping.

Leaks are not good. Make sure it's repaired correctly. Don't use silicone based sealant on thru hulls.

Dropped the motor in the water and ran it for a while. Nissan 50, no water stream out the back like I am used to seeing, Not sure if that is a problem, but I am guessing new impeller is required.

I know nothing of that motor, but it could be just a clog on the discharge hole. Try a toothpick or something in there.
Still, you may want to inspect the impeller anyway and if you are in there, replace it and call it insurance.

It looks like I have a bad steering linkage !! Figure that while I have to do that I might as well have an auto pilot installed. Any thoughts on the best/ most popular models that have proven to work well wioth the MAc 26X please sound off !!
Thanks

I'd take it apart and see what's up. Maybe just lube, but if there is doubt, just replace it. Cheap enough. I would advise to NOT use a hydraulic system on a sailboat. It removes any tactile feedback from the rudders.

As for autopiliots, seems what most use are those Raymarine dealios that mount on the wheel. I don't really like that system, but it's probably the only option. There is a new model out. Mastreb just installed it. Read this http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =8&t=22520

[sunshinecoasting]

I have the same motor as you and can tell you they are a very good motor, however you must not run that motor for more than a few minutes without a water tell tail coming out the back, it should stream very well, even at idle, it could be blocked and that's fine, just unblock it, wasps are a nuisance for this, however it could also not be pumping water and without that you will cook your motor in no time. Address it before it gets horribly expensive, look after these motors they are worth it.

Sorry can't help on the auto pilot, I just use my daughter.

[bartmac]

Fitted second-hand Raymarine sportspilot....mounts between the wheel and the steering bezel??...works great but is discontinued so not sure whether you buy one anywhere other than Ebay???...just googled and the new model is SPX 5R

[sailor stan]

Thanks for the posts guys !!
I will definately replace the impeller. Finally someone that has my motor and can tell me that there should be a stream out the back !! Thanks !
I find the whole auto pilot thing just so coonfusing !! It seems like you should be able to hook up an actuator to a GPS and be done with it !! There seems to be many parts to the auto pilot........

[bartmac]

Tell you what....autopilot is one of my favourite mods on our Mac...gives you freedom to do things other than steer

[Chinook]

Regarding the lack of stream coming out of the motor, the problem could very well be a clogged tube. I ran a Nissan TLDI 50 on my 26X for 8 years. This engine is known to develop a clogged Pee hole outlet. It too small a diameter, and grit, encrustations, salt deposits or such can easily plug it up. I regularly had to disconnect the rubber tube from the plastic fitting at the outlet end and clear it with a narrow piece of wire. As I understand it, even if the Pee hole is not emitting an indicator stream, the engine is likely still circulating cooling water, provided that your impellor isn't shot. If you're not sure when the impellor was last changed, it's a good idea to replace it, but do check the Pee tube to see if it's clogged.

[mastreb]

Thanks for the posts guys !!
I will definately replace the impeller. Finally someone that has my motor and can tell me that there should be a stream out the back !! Thanks !
I find the whole auto pilot thing just so coonfusing !! It seems like you should be able to hook up an actuator to a GPS and be done with it !! There seems to be many parts to the auto pilot........

They aren't all that complicated. They have a display head, a motor controller, a sensor, and the actuator/motor. The latest models hook up via NMEA-2000 which is pretty simple. By far the hardest part of my install was getting the wheel off.

If you're redoing your entire steering system, consider hydraulic. Crikey did an install using a BayStar kit that only costs $500. If you do this, you can use a hydraulic motor and avoid the "bagel on the wheel".

[sailor stan]

Thanks for the great info guys !!
I thought about Hydraulic steering, but seems like that is just something else for a battery drain right? Dont you need a pump to keep the system operational? If you lose power you lose steering? Am I right about that?
Stan

[JohnCFI]

Thanks for the great info guys !!
I thought about Hydraulic steering, but seems like that is just something else for a battery drain right? Dont you need a pump to keep the system operational? If you lose power you lose steering? Am I right about that?
Stan

Not at all, the Baystar kit (I was also looking at that) is fully manual.. the only power bit would be the pump for the autopilot (if you went that route)..

[Russ]

John,

How does your hydraulic steering "feel"? Don't you lose the feel of the rudder in the wheel? That seems to be the biggest con to this type of system. I've also read that it's stiffer and more tiring to pull the wheel back and forth on long trips.

[JohnCFI]

Russ, see my comment at 2, sadly I decided to replace the cable, I wish now I had gone hydraulic, many advantages and few cons by all accounts. I am probably going to revisit this after our summer season (starting now).... I will be keeping an eye on this post as I also would like an autopilot..

Anyone with it already fitted care to comment??

[Russ]

Russ, see my comment at 2, sadly I decided to replace the cable, I wish now I had gone hydraulic, many advantages and few cons by all accounts. I am probably going to revisit this after our summer season (starting now).... I will be keeping an eye on this post as I also would like an autopilot..

Anyone with it already fitted care to comment??

I should read more carefully.

The biggest complaint I've heard from hydraulic is the lack of "feel" from the rudders. It does facilitate a pump driven autopilot without the "bagel wheel". I really dislike that bagel wheel look. Our small wheels look silly enough.

BOAT gave me an idea for autopilot. Use a tiller drive with some kind of solenoid to engage/disengage it from steering linkage. No bagel attached to the wheel. I might work on engineering something this winter off season. Got a few ideas already.

--Russ