Autopilot: How Important?

[Jim Wilson]

Just got the bad news from the marine electronics tech that my old Autohelm 5000 is shot. He quoted me a ball-park replacement with a new one at around $6500. Ouch! (I have a 41 foot, 22k displacement ketch, so I guess it needs to be an internal/linear style drive). That amount of money would kill my emergency cruising kitty, and possibly delay my departure (back to work? yuck!).

The plan is to go south from San Diego soon. First to Cabo (via the Baja Haha), then eventually on to Panama, east through the canal, and then ??? Anyway, if I always have at least 1 crew member, am not on a time schedule and can thus anchor/moor/dock as often as possible, and, at least for the leg south have the wind behind me, how important is it for us to have an autopilot anyway?

PS: I'll have in place most of the other navigational gadgets; radar, gps, ssb, vhf, etc.

[svquest2]

I consider an autopilot one of the most if not the most important things to have on a cruising boat, but I cruise with my wife, and the autopilot makes it happen. But if it were me I would look for a used replacement unit that could be installed for a lot less. That cost amount would shock me too.

Joe S

[Dockhead]

On a long passage you will often not have any place to "anchor/moor/dock". Hand steering for days on end sucks completely and totally, even if you have a few crewmembers. It's actually dangerous, because the helmsman is tied to the wheel and can't do anything else. I think you'd be crazy to go on a long trip like that without some kind of self steering device.

[imagine2frolic]

You will regret it immensley if you don't have one. Why not get a windvane for less than half? There are other options......i2f

[Cheechako]

very important...

[slomotion]

I agree. Even a few hours of manually steering a sailboat completely changes the experience and can be mentally exhausting even in benign conditions. Sometimes when conditions are just right and the boat is well balanced, it will more or less hold course on its own or with little intervention. But, how often does that happen?

[iona350]

Jim,
As you state:
1. Not on a sked
2. Always have at least 1 crew mwmber
3. Can anchor as often as possible
4. Leg south has the wind aft.

All these things are wonderful, BUT crew members get sea sick, have illnesses along with many things YOU have no control over. Hand steering is awful when offshore. You have no refrence, it's boring and it ties one person down. With an auto pilot you can enjoy time with crew, get more rest, especially in an emergency. Bad stuff happens no matter how well you plan. Get an auto pilot. The idea of a wind vane is great. They use no power amd cost considerably less than the electronic ones. An auto pilot is like having another crew mwmber along. My advise! Bite the bullet and purchase an auto pilot. We had one during the 7 years we sailed full time. It was wonderful. My wife only steered 3 hors during her Atlantic crossing.

Jack KB8RJ
s/v Iona
Camper Nicholson 35

[Hud3]

I'm in the minority, because I prefer to steer the boat by hand when sailing, even on long offshore passages. Why let the autopilot have all the fun?

But I agree with the previous posters, if you can find a way to afford it, it's an extremely handy piece of equipment for a cruiser.

[David M]

As far as keeping crew fatigue to a minimum...very important. A fatigued crew is a more dangerous crew. Its especially true the fewer people the number of people you have onboard.

[Pblais]

Well. I'm spending a fair amount to replace a course computer. It's important. Very would be the word. It steers longer then you could every hope to steer in conditions you may not steer as well. If it can't do that then it's not a real autopilot. Many of the wheel pilots installed on large boats are just a toy for fair weather not an auto pilot.

The $6,500 sounds close with installation. Installation has details that have to be exactly right. Done well it might take several days to run all the wires and get the install just right and calibrated. All boats are a little different. Experience matters and being factory authorized would be not nearly enough of a reference. You can be authorized and screw it up. Moving up to the bigger version would cost the same for installation. At 18,500 displacement we use an ST7000 and it takes a serious beating.

[Rising Star]

My wife loves taking the helm and will do so several hours at a time, BUT, she won't go offshore without the autopilot!

[Talbot]

If your name is Slocum, and your boat is a Spray, then it is not necessary.

However, if you are a mere mortal like the rest of us, it is probably the most important piece of gear on board.

[roverhi]

Hmmmm, my self steering vane hasn't asked for one electrical fix since I installed it. Buy a self steering vane and get a cheap autopilot to input course to the vane for those few times the Self Steering doesn't work.

Just out of curiosity, do you have a way to feed the autopilot other than running the engine??

Aloha
Peter O.

[Pblais]

Buy a self steering vane and get a cheap autopilot to input course to the vane for those few times the Self Steering doesn't work.

Wind vanes require one element an auto pilot doe not - a balanced helm with properly trimmed sails. Without properly trimmed sail a wind vane is not very good. When sails are trimmed the wind vane uses no electrical power. Thi is the sweet spot with wind vanes.

[44'cruisingcat]

Do you really need to replace everything? Course computer, drive, fluxgate, control head - is it all really shot? Maybe you can just replace the bit or bits that really need replacing for a lot less.

Another option: http://www.coursemaster.com/

Very good quality pilots, widely used by the commercial side, and depending on the type of drive you need, you might get one for around 1/2 the price you've been quoted.