SportPilot Plus autopilot?

[Gerald Gordon]

How fortunate!!!
I'm about to install my autopilot+! Now, what's this about the keys?
What size steering shaft does the have?
What key goes where?
In the guide the keys are referred to as "Original key" and "Raymarine key" So, what's the step by step?

And what about the gimble?
Thanks

[aya16]

No big deal its a little confusing in the installation manual about what key to use where if you study the manual youll be fine.....The Mac has a 3/4 inch steering shaft you must use the adapter supplied with the unit before you install the pilot and use their key at that point. Use your old key when you reinstall your steering wheel


I made the gimble it isnt from ray marine the compass DIRECTIONS that comes with the pilot doesnt say anything about mounting a gimbal but I did anyway. Inside the compass is gimbaled all the raymarine manual said is point it to the front of your boat away from metal. Raymarine takes into consideration that boats rock from side to side.
But the pilot is designed for a powerboat and I want no surprises when Im heeling over allot. So I gimbaled.

[richandlori]

aya,

you seem to be happy with your SP+, do you have the optional rudder sensor? The SP+, does look like it was made for the M, and that is the unit I am leaning to purchase. Looking forward to a Catilina trip report on the SP+ performance.

Rich

[aya16]

Rich it works great on the trailer played with it for half an hour or so. no rudder sen.

when you going to Catalina?

[Jack O'Brien]

Although I installed the transducer over a year ago, I really don't know if it makes a difference or not. I plan to follow the advice shown below, someday. I also plan to study the manual first.

Autopilot Rudder Position Sensor
Model MacGregor 26X Year 1998 Date Posted July 16, 2004 Name Michael Caswell
Email (Click to email mod author) Categories Instruments, Electrical

IMPORTANT NOTE: if you are adding the rudder sensor to an
existing autopilot installation (in other words, one that has been
turned on previously WITHOUT a rudder sensor attached), the
control/display unit will not recognize the sensor until a master
reset is performed. To do a master reset, enter dealer setup
pages (see manual), switch the unit from 4000 WHL to 4000 TIL (
think you have to exit the dealer setup mode for this to take
effect), then repeat the process to switch it back to 4000 WHL.
Your custom settings will be lost, and you'll have to "swing the
compass" again. But it must be done in order for the unit to see
the rudder sensor.

[richandlori]

aya,

I've darn near been slobbering over myself to get out to Catalina Island. Unfortunately, I still dont have a tow vehicle yet to tow down to Long Beach, so I would have to sail/motor from Oxnard to Catalina. Ya, I know, I know, that is why I have a boat, BUT that would be a LONG trip for a weekend and I dont want to have the same fate as Capt Bligh on the SS Bounty!

So until I get a tow vehicle, I can only dream of Catalina.Im working on it, but just cant decide on buying a NEW tow vehicle, but is MUST be capable of comfortably seating four, a Lab, and all our gear, (IE $$$$$$) or a quality used vehicle that meets the above criteria and save me tons of $$$$$$$$$$.......dilemma



Rich

[aya16]

Rich uhaul rents trucks for a couple days, just a thought

[delevi]

Interesting controversy, especially since an autopilot is on my wish list. The ST 4000 looks extremely clumsy and clunky, and worse yet, has a 14" diameter donut clamped on to the wheel which seems very awkward, even with a larger steering wheel. An 18 wheel may be an issue in the small (narrow) cockpit of an The Sport pilot, looks like it's perfect for the Mac, but I would seriously hesitate buying an autopilot designed for a powerboat to use on a sail boat. Does anyone know if either model is compatible with a Garmin GPS? If so, how do the two work together?

[Chip Hindes]

Both are compatible with any GPS which communicates in either Raymarine Seatalk (i.e. Raymarine proprietary) or NMEA formats. Don;t know about all Garmins, but both my GPS276C chartplotter and my Geko backup communicate in both Garmin proprietary and NMEA formats.

However, all is not great. You can only run one NMEA output into the the Raymarine AP input as shipped. So, if you have two NMEA devices which you might like to communicate to the AP, for example GPS and Windex, you must purchase a rather expensive NMEA to Seatalk adapter (I believe $150).

It gets a little worse. Some of the higher priced Garmin GPS can communicate both Garmin proprietary and NMEA at the same time. Neither of mine can, so I have to set them on NMEA to talk to the AP. However, I also like to run the GPS output into the laptop for real time tracking inside the cabin, but the primary navigating firmware from Garmin, the Bluecharts, can only do realtime tracking with the Garmin proprietary format; NMEA is limited to the rather primitive and essentially useless basemap.

My recommendation, if you're going to get a Raymarine AP, other things being equal consider a Raymarine GPS to go with it.

[Gerald Gordon]

aya,
I installed the pilot+ to the helm. I followed the steps you sugested. Still, there is noticable wheel wobble. It comes from that shaft to which I attached the wheel. It's curious, some people claim there is no wobble!!! How can that be??? Is my pilot defective? Don't some people know a wobble when they see one?

Any sane person would say "what the ?!@?!?!? is wrong with this stering wheel? Is it gonna fall off?

[delevi]

Chip,

Thanks for the info. I already have a Garmin GPS/Depthfinder, which cost me around $650 last year, so I would hate to replace it with a Raymarine model.

More talk of wobble with the SportPilot+ Perhaps the scale is shifting.

Gerald, it sounds like something is quite wrong if you feel like the wheel is about to fall off. Can't speak from experience, though. Good luck.

[aya16]

gerald, Not sure what your getting at.. you say the wobble comes from the shaft that is attached now to your steering wheel? That would be a 3/4 inch tapered shaft exactly like the shaft you took your wheel off of. If there wasnt wobble before you installed then there shouldnt be now.....A 3/4 inch tappered shaft is a 3/4 inch tappered shaft....Now maybe you didnt tighten the wheel enough or you didnt screw the new shaft onto the
auto pilot tight or the key your useing is worn to much to use or could be you didnt use the adapter that came with your unit on your og shaft..I dont know but I have no wobble or play other then the play I started with before the install.

If the key that you installed in the ray marine shaft that goes to your steering wheel doesnt fit snug and you can move it side to side when its in place then the key would cause the wobble I would guess.

with out seeing it I cant tell for sure.

No there is no way your going to get a wobble at the wheel and the new shaft if its tight.

remember the ray marine unit is a 1 inch hole that is now going onto your 3/4 inch steering shaft, without the adapter it will never fit right.

give me more info and ill try to figure it out for ya...

Another reason might be ..when you installed the wheel you pushed the key out of place and now the wheel is only riding on the shaft, you need the key not only to keep the wheel from spinning on the shaft but it also gets tighter and deeper into the wheel as you tighten the wheel nut.

By the way if you didnt use the adapter that came with your unit you just pushed the washer past the tappered shat on your og steering and as you spin the wheel it will get lose. But now the washer is stuck on the shaft inside your ap. youll have to pry it off carefully.

[Gerald Gordon]

aya,
Here is what I did.
1. removed the steering wheel.
2. attached the Raymarine Adaptor sleeve onto the shaft and inserted the Raymarine Woodruff key.
3. attached the autopilot
4. attached washer
5. attached nut. (did not torque to 25lbs as book recommends

Before attaching the steering wheel adaptor, a split washer is called for according to the book. I did not have one.

6. attached the steering wheel adaptor with the four allen head bolts to the motor unit.
7. inserted my original woodruff key into the adaptor and attached the steering wheel.
8. attached the nut to hold the wheel
9. tightened up the wheel.

when I wiggle the wheel from side to side, I can see the steering wheel adaptor (item 6 above) wobble

According to the book, there is supposed to be a split washer under the steering wheel adaptor. I'll have to get that washer at Ace Hardware.
It may act like a spacer and keep the steering wheel adapter from wobbling.

Any ideas?

[aya16]

Ok can you wobble the raymarine shaft without your steering wheel?
I know it calls for a split washer but you dont need it. When you didnt tighten the raymarine to 25 # you have the nut sticking out to far for the raymarine shaft to seat. you need to tighten the raymarine unit pretty tight. then the raymarine shaft should fit the unit perfect. with no play.

I didnt use a split washer either but made the unit tight on my old shaft.

let me know how it goes ok

I guess you flying me out to help you fix it is out of the question?

[Gerald Gordon]

Well aya16,
Regarding the torque---I'll try that today
Regarding flying you out here to Hawai'i nei, wouldn't you rather sail your boat out here and make HISTORY!!