Auto Pilot: Looking for input

[CSY Man]

[QUI tend to think that the Raymarine is a cleaner installed unit,OTE][/QUOTE]

Not so, the WP 32 installation is much easier.

On the Raymarine ya got to remote mount the flux gate compass.

A Pacific Seacraft 34 at my dock had a Raymarine wheel pilot installed last year.
It took 8 hours by an experienced technician, I watched the whole process.
(There was some snags because of the boat design/age, but in general the WP 32 installs easier and cleaner)

[Charlie]

Don't mean to steal your thread but what about the Alpha 3000. It is old technology but seems to have a low amperage draw and heard storeies of people having them for more than 15 years? Anyone have experience with them?

[Doghouse]

CSY, You are correct the WP32 is an easier install, but once installed, I think the Raymarine equiptment looks less intrusive.

But is it worth the hassel of the install? I am not sure yet.

Charlie, you are not stealing my thread, I am looking for input and ideas. Tell me what you know about the unit!

[CSY Man]

I think the Raymarine equiptment looks less intrusive.

Well, it may look less intrusive to you, but in my eyes, having lived with the WP 32 for a year, it is not intrusive at all:
As a stroke of luck, my diameter of my steering wheel is exactly the same as distance the compass/control panel on the WP 32 sticks out from the axle. (28" Destroyer wheel)
A good match for my boat anyway.

The price was also a factor in my decision making: The Raymarine wheel pilot cost around $1,200 last year, the Simrad $800 or so.

[Charlie]

Doghouse:

There is an Alpha 3000 on the 1985 boat that I am buying. It was not operational so we sent it to Alpha to see what was wrong. Turns out the compass is bad $600 fix. if you google Alpha Marine 3000 it gets you there propaganda page. BOC round the world race, singlhanded trophies. Pretty good references. It is old technology but if it lasts 21 years and then needs a $600 repair job to give me another 5 years of service I think that is pretty good value. New they are around $2k.

[Doghouse]

CSY, Do you have a lewmar or edison pedestal? I have Lewmar and my only worry is that the trottle will be in the way. Could you send a pic?

Thanks
John

[rtbates]

Will your boat heave to? If yes, than that's a much easier and safer way to reef, especially if singled handed and if you sail with a partner it's much better to set all systems up as if you were alone. Think about the results if one of you gets sick or hurt or the autopilot quits. All of a sudden you're a single hander w/o anyway to self steer.
I also advise against motoring into the wind while you go forward to deal with the sails IF you're alone. Learn to heave to. It's one of the handiest things there is. Of course I sail a full keel Cape Dory that heaves to like a duck with it's head under it's wing, but others have told me that their modern fin keel boats will also heave to.

Happy sailing

randy

[Talbot]

John,
If you decide on the S1, pay the extra money and get the S1(G), it will make a big difference to the capability of the unit by the addition of the rate gyros. These can be added later, but there is a financial penalty for doing it that way.


Randy, Heaving to is an answer tha works well for some craft - particularly long keelers, but considerably less well for others. My cat refuses to stabilise and will stall, pay off, then accelerate while turning up into wind and then stalling. This oscillates quite quickly, meanwhile the boat is making about 4 knots of leeway sideways through the water, and thats in a relatively light wind. Not something I would attempt in bad conditions!

[CSY Man]

CSY, Do you have a lewmar or edison pedestal? I have Lewmar and my only worry is that the trottle will be in the way. Could you send a pic?

Edson: See pic on link below.




http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...500&userid=308

[Doghouse]

looks good, I think you have me sold. <>