MacGregorSailors.com

I am reposting this in a downloadable PDF File. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Leon,

Great pics...THANKS!

Muchas Gracias,
Jim

Some questions por favor.

1. Is the rudder sensor required?

2. What actually drives the wheel? I can't really tell from the pics. I have never seen an autopilot before (at least not on a boat).

3. Is the piece attached to the wheel actually 2 pieces? How does it rotate?

4. Is only one of those cables for the autopilot? Seems like 4 of them (2 black and 2 white) are going up to your chart plotter.

Thanks,
Jim

I hope I don't get a speeding ticket, since my actions were taken for "the greater good"

Jim,

The rudder sensor was eliminated in the latest model. Not sure why/how, but it is required on the S1. Per product literature and manual, it greatly improves the AP's performance. Not sure how they got around it on the successor model.

The wheel drive is two pieces which snap together. The front part is just a cover and mount. This part mounts to the spokes of the steering wheel. The back half contains the belt and is attached to the motor tube and engagement clutch. This back part is stationary and is held in place by the bracket per pictures. The front part roates around the back part. When in use, the AP drive unit basically turns the wheel.

The cable feed is for the AP and many cables for the A60 plotter. Only one cable for the AP motor. The installation manual is reasonably good, so between that and these pix, you should have no problems. the most difficult part is the rudder sensor. I won't kid you. This was a lot of work... but if someone like myself who is mechanically challanged can do it, anayone can

Cheers,
L.

Thank you Leon, should be getting mine in a week or so and your pictures will make the difference in my install!
Merci Beaucoup,

Bertrand Q1





p.s. My pics are just a bit of boat porn from my last photo shoot

Yes, this is too many photos for a post. If you feel you need more than three photos please put them in a MS Word or OpenOffice document together with the description and send it to me as a Featured Article that I can put in that section of the website.

A reminder too that modifications can be submitted in the Mods section. By default you are allowed three pictures for a mod, but if you need more, just send me the mod number and I can increase that limit.

Heath

Sorry. Won't happen again.
Leon

Way to go Leon

Nice to see I'm not the only one who gets a little over exuberant

J

Darn, I missed Leon's pics , so I'm hoping for a repost using links instead of images.

I'm not sure how Raymarine have managed to do away with the rudder sensor, but I gather that the SPX course computer is a lot smarter than earlier versions. I it think it might be because the course computer puts the boat through some quite complicated manoeuvres during commissioning sea trials and memorises the results. However it is achieved, mine tracks to a pre-set GPS or compass-bearing course with astonishing accuracy.

Not having a rudder sensor with my version of the wheel pilot certainly made the installation a lot easier than the other installations I've seen posted here.

Leon,

Nice pictures, I got to see them before they were removed and I will be installing my Wheel pilot in the next few weeks, so I appreciate it. Off topic but I noticed you have the same throttle/shifter as I do, how far forward do you have to move the throttle before you get some gas? It seems I have to go a full 90 degrees before it really kicks in.
Thanks,
Mark

Mark,

Yes, my throttle works pretty much like what you describe. Doesn't bother me in the least but some guest skippers I've had on board thought it was a bit odd. The one nice thing (at least for me) is the throttle is within easy reach while standing under the dodger... something I do when there is chop to stay dry. The boat runs on AP and it's nice to know that if a hazardous situtation appears suddenly, I can throttle back to neutral quickly.. at least much quicker than reaching the AP control head.

I sent Heath the text and image codes from my original post. I guess they will come up in a different format or what not.

One suggestion, and I mean no offense by this at all.... Is anyone out there really on dial-up? I just don't understand the whole "not posting too many pix so the folks on dial-up don't have to wait all day." If you are on dial-up, you're used to waiting all day anyway. We're talking $30/mo for high-speed internet vs. $10/mo dialup. Is all that wasted time and frustration really worth saving $20/mo??? To each his own, I guess, but again, for anyone on dial-up, they're waiting for all kinds of stuff, considering that most web sites are heavy with graphics, etc. If we're talking band-width costs from Heath's standpoint, I certainly understand. If that's not the case, however, I would suggest the policy be re-evaluated. Again, not trying to ruffle any feathers. Just my honest take on the issue. I'm no web designer but I would make a semi-educated guess that threads that are heavy on graphics might be marked as such to help those on dial-up. Of course, there's always the "back" button on the browser for those who don't want to wait.

OK, fine, I'm annoyed. I'll just come out and say it. I posted this thread with the sole intention of providing useful information for those who wanted it, and judging by the responses, there are more folks than I was even aware of. For that, I get reprimanded like a child. Again, I 'm not picking a fight with anyone, just speaking my mind. At the end of the day, it's Heath's site and Heath's rules (as it should be.)

fair winds,
Leon

I received my S1 autopilot today but missed seeing the installation photos. I hope they will appear in the Mods section soon. I'm anxious to see what they look like.

There's no reason why the links to the photos could not be posted here in this thread, and you can even post up to 3 photos. We really do appreciate your posting, Leon, and if any of us responded inappropriately, as a Moderator I apologise for all of us. We're just trying to provide a balance of utility and usability.

As to accessability, it's not just dial-up we're concerned about - though there are many older folks who do indeed still access the site that way - but one has to keep in mind that there's a growing number of folks who access this forum via iPhones and other internet-capable mobile devices, and as noted, lots of pictures really does slow things down.

Have to ask this - don't we usually just post a link to an album in cases like this? We do it all the time here. Seems to work fine.