"Sub $600 Autopilot" Progress

[BOAT]

Uh oh, I think I'm in trouble - as you look at this picture the long rack thing for the steering is on the left side of the wheel shaft in this picture:

[vkmaynard]

Uh oh, I think I'm in trouble - as you look at this picture the long rack thing for the steering is on the left side of the wheel shaft in this picture:

Not sure what you are worried about. The AP should fit. The emergency release is on a cable so it can be moved around.

We put about 6 hours on the production electronics this weekend. Worked great overall. No problem higher currents.

Victor

[BOAT]

Thanks Victor,

I thought the rack had to be on the Starboard side to mount up the AP correctly - Still, cptron says that moving the rack from port to starboard is not hard so I guess it's not a problem.

It sounds like the production stuff is working out great! Can't wait to see the product!!

Thanks

[sailor stan]

I would be happy if we could just get an honest date. "Sometime in 2014" seems like a never ending carrot in front of the horse. I wish nothing but success to your product. I am very jealous and wish I could work under the relaxed circumstances that you do in my own business. You are fortunate to have such a following here in his forum, because In my business, "sometime in 2014" would send my customers running to another product.

[BOAT]

Guys, normally a start-up puts out a web page to announce the development of something and then takes pre-orders - I have bought cameras this way. Victor has done NON of this and has never set a production date so I think it's really jumping the gun to expect an availability on this product before he has even done the paperwork!

Victor has not put out anything to the public and has not solicited pre-orders nor even published a web-site!! The IDEA of this item does not even exist yet in the real world! Just because Victor is letting us witness the development process here on the blog does not constitute a public offering of any kind and I think Kevin made that quite clear when he said he would move this thread to the normal advertisers banner when it becomes a legitimate enterprise. I would expect to see that first before I would expect an availability date or ability to purchase.

In the meantime read for entertainment and be grateful for the opportunity to present opinions about the design to Victor. This is a very rare experience.

It's like the T22 thing, a lot needs to happen in a particular order. We should be so lucky as to get as much info on the development of the T22 as Victor has given us on the AP. (Or any other new product for that fact).

Just my opinion - no one get mad at me - (seems like my opinions always make people mad).

[March]

BOAT wrote:
Just my opinion - no one get mad at me - (seems like my opinions always make people mad).

That's very nice, BOAT. The only reason why some people would get mad at you might be something of a more subtle nature. You see, Victor tested the waters first to see whether there would be potential customers interested in an auto-pilot for under $600. That's how the oldest thread began, months ago, if memory serves. Turns out that plenty of people showed interest--more than enough to establish a lucrative side-business, once this complicated project was debugged, tested, and properly put in production. Several people were lucky enough to do the testing, which went well. Other people rushed to volunteer "to test" the auto-pilot even more -- but there was no need for them. Others yet offered to pay in advance, just to make sure that the project will reach them asap. Slowly but surely, a virtual line (or, like our brethren overseas would say, "a queue") was beginning to crystallize, even though the product was still being benchmarked, debugged, and tested...

Now what?

When the auto-pilot begins to be mass-produced (barring all the complications you have fairly outlined) who are the lucky first who will get it asap? Will it duplicate the Walmart approach on Black Friday? Is there a list already established, ready to be activated? Evidently, the demand exceeds the supply....

Or is there another way to go straight to the head of the line?

People are hardwired to respond very strongly agains anyone who tries to get to the head of the line, one way or another. Or even merely seems to be trying.

Just saying... don't get mad at me...

[vkmaynard]

I would be happy if we could just get an honest date. "Sometime in 2014" seems like a never ending carrot in front of the horse. I wish nothing but success to your product. I am very jealous and wish I could work under the relaxed circumstances that you do in my own business. You are fortunate to have such a following here in his forum, because In my business, "sometime in 2014" would send my customers running to another product.

Actually my partner and I have full time day jobs and families. There is well over 2,000 collective man hours in this project over the last many years. Ask the beta testers how much time they've added to the project. We had two setbacks last year that greatly delayed the initial launch this year, a major job change for my partner last June and the loss of our local machine shop last May. The weather also has not allowed much testing in NC since November.

Even at our relaxed rate, we've pushed our spouses to the limit.

I can guarantee that our day jobs combined hourly software/hardware development rates on side projects would have earned far more profit than this project over the next many years. We both seem to be overly interested/blind to make this happen.

In all honesty we have no way to gauge risk/reward until we finish the production testing, set a final initial price and see who actually strokes a check (not interested in preorders). I found this out the extremely expensive way with "My First Keyboard". Beyond the initial limited units launch we will still have to spend many hours trying to make this worth our time in full production. We both have zero delusions of grandeur about how "rich" we will be.

We are now on hold for the next two weeks while we work on necessary "paperwork".

We don't blame anyone for not waiting. Mat on this board moved on and bought Wheelpilot, one of probably two options. The Sportpilot is now $1800 without remote and an odd fit.

Units are running now in the field. Dimitri was sailing his AP last weekend.

We hesitated to repost due to this perceived over promised delivery.

Really sorry about the delay. This is fast as we can move and turn out a quality product that we will stand behind.

Victor

[BOAT]

Go figure, way back when they announced closing the Costa Mesa plant people got all bent when I said the T22 was no where near production.

[SENCMac26x]

Vic,
I wouldn't worry about the grumbling on this board, in fact I'd take it as a good sign that your work will not be in vain.

I'd personally rather wait for a quality product.

I look forward to writing a check to you next year

[Ixneigh]

I'm willing to wait for a product designed for my boat by engineers who sail and love the boat. It sounds like this is a labor of love. Can't be rushed.
Ix

[BOAT]

From me here on 'boat', Thank You SENCMac25! If I had the talent of being "subtle" I would say exactly what you said. I don't think Victor has mislead us on the AP anymore than Laura has on the T22.

It's like the T22 - I would rather see a real finished design with all the kinks worked out than a rush to sell anything. (Remember Apple Maps? the Pontiac Aztec? Windows Vista? Betamax? Obamacare?)

Still, like I said before, people got mad at me when i said the T22 was still a LONG way away from production (like just shoot me for being right) and people are gonna get mad at me if I say that the AP is still a long way out. These things take a lot of time. I have followed at least three start ups over the past 5 years on stuff that I wanted to buy and two of them never even made it to production, that's just the way it is.

I have faith in Victor, but I don't expect him to walk on water.

[Obelix]

Ixnigh,

My thoughts exactly
I looked closely at Dimitri's prototype and I'm certain, it is worth waiting for.

Obelix

[sailor stan]

Hey Guys,
Neven meant to sound like grumbling, but as I re-read my post it does sound like grumbling. Musta been a lousy day at work that day. Sorry if I offended, but will still poke you often until you get one of your units in my hands !!!! I am a low tech sailor anyways. For now my auto-pilot is my wife. She holds a course good, but doesn't last very long.......w have already agreed that the true way to test your AP is to go below for an hour and "rock the boat" then come up for air and see if we are still on course. So.....in the name of all that is good, and in the spirit of improving marriages all over the world, for goodness sakes hurry up man !!! You think your spouses will buy that line??? Your not ignoring your spuoses, your doing it for humanity !!!!

[DaveB]

Well I hold a good course on the helm and 1st mate on the Anchor , love those butt movements hauling anchor aboard.
Probably why we anchor so often.
Gives me the chance to go down below and ck out the berth.
Dave

Hey Guys,
Neven meant to sound like grumbling, but as I re-read my post it does sound like grumbling. Musta been a lousy day at work that day. Sorry if I offended, but will still poke you often until you get one of your units in my hands !!!! I am a low tech sailor anyways. For now my auto-pilot is my wife. She holds a course good, but doesn't last very long.......w have already agreed that the true way to test your AP is to go below for an hour and "rock the boat" then come up for air and see if we are still on course. So.....in the name of all that is good, and in the spirit of improving marriages all over the world, for goodness sakes hurry up man !!! You think your spouses will buy that line??? Your not ignoring your spuoses, your doing it for humanity !!!!

[mrron_tx]

Victor: I want this AP as much as I want the waitress at the Chinese buffet I go to.... My bet is that I get the AP first As anxious as We all are for the AP, You take as much time as it takes for it to be right Ron. Dauntless.