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12-02-2009, 23:15
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#16
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Long Range Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,822
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hampus
If they didn't have time to disengage the pilots, they were too close.
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I agree. My autopilot never fails Touch wood etc But when I am that close I may have the auto pilot on but my finger is close to the button. In some manouvers its good to have the autopilot on as it keeps a good course where I may flinch... but I actually have my pinkie hovering over the standby button.
Mark
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13-02-2009, 01:48
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#17
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,242
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I have had an Autohelm 3000 do full right rudder unexpectedly. Culpit was closing a steel hatch near the flux valve. - my bad installation.
I have to agree with those who say never have autopilot on when in close quarters, after all it is just an electronic / magnetic device that can fail anytime, antwhere.
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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13-02-2009, 14:49
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Georgian Bay, Canada
Boat: Catalina 34 - "Points North"
Posts: 493
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David M
I have had mine do some very bizarre turns. The problem was a fluxgate that wore out. I had no idea before then that a fluxgate could wear out....but changing out the fluxgate for a new one cured the problem. It is a ComNav 1001 unit.
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I'm starting to get some hiccups from my ST4000. (A very exciting 90 deg turn while having breakfast up top on a dead calm day. Somewhat disconcerting. ) How was the fluxgate diagnosed as the problem?
__________________
Dave
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13-02-2009, 15:54
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 223
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Does anyone have a link to a news story on this incident? I am tempted to call BS. They must have been pretty close to the BC ferry, and I would never go far from the helm, autopilot or not, if I were near one of those huge ferries. If true I would call operator/skipper error.
Having said that, the old Tillermaster I had (that finally died a couple years ago) always kept the boat straight. The ST4000 we replaced it with has been even better.
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13-02-2009, 18:41
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Canada
Boat: Corbin 39 Special Edition
Posts: 909
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chief Engineer
Two rules we go by (among many) on the vessel that is my Avatar......NO AUTOPILOT Near Bridges and NEVER EVER EVER EVER use a buoy as a waypoint.
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Thanks for that "NEVER EVER EVER EVER use a buoy as a waypoint.". I'm a new sailor and perhaps I'd of figured that out but thanks to you mentioning it, I don't have to.
Oh ya, I'll also be keeping a close eye on my auto pilot.
Cheers,
Extemp.
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13-02-2009, 19:01
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NY
Boat: Panda/Baba 40
Posts: 868
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I think I'll rename my autopilot "Crazy Ivan".
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13-02-2009, 19:08
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#22
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Hayes, VA
Boat: Gozzard 36
Posts: 8,700
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Quote:
I have asked the Transportation safety board, the media , the Mounties and the Coast Guard to warn the public of the danger. My suggestions have been met with indifference or sarcasm.
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I'm not seeing any real information in all this. If there is anything to this story I can't see how you have it first hand. You don't even claim to know anything first hand or even someone that knows someone. Brent, why do you make these conspiracy stories up?
The bottom line is the captain is always responsible. "Honest officer it was the auto pilot that was responsible."
__________________
Paul Blais
s/v Bright Eyes Gozzard 36
37 15.7 N 76 28.9 W
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13-02-2009, 19:17
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#23
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,406
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave the Canuck
I'm starting to get some hiccups from my ST4000. (A very exciting 90 deg turn while having breakfast up top on a dead calm day. Somewhat disconcerting. ) How was the fluxgate diagnosed as the problem?
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I called Comnav and they asked me a few questions. I wish I could remember more details but it amounted to changing the boats heading and seeing the fluxgate heading remain the same, and then jump.
__________________
David
Life begins where land ends.
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13-02-2009, 19:25
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#24
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Hayes, VA
Boat: Gozzard 36
Posts: 8,700
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On our CSY 33 the Simrad hydraulic auto pilot had a poorly installed fluxgate compass. It could do great so long as the weather was calm. But if it got rough could not do anything right. The PO before the PO that we bought the boat from chased up and down Maine to the Bahamas. Could not find the problem. I found it with the aid of a great boat guy. The fluxgate was installed in the wrong location. Nothing should have been there to interfere with the compass, but there was. Once we figured that out and moved it. We went out in 30 knot gusts and the auto pilot was true as anything. You can screw up the fluxgate in the wrong location.
The part that pissed me off was we owned the boat for the whole time we did and never figured it out. I got it fixed the day before we closed on the contract to sell the boat. The Simrad computer beats the heck out of the ST7000 we have now.
__________________
Paul Blais
s/v Bright Eyes Gozzard 36
37 15.7 N 76 28.9 W
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14-02-2009, 11:17
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: 49-29 N, 124-44 W
Boat: Beneteau 305
Posts: 69
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All interesting points,...however I would be interested in finding out more about this incident involving a BC Ferry, were can I find any information on this incident? I live on Vancouver Island and take the ferry twice a week, I have not heard of any such incident happening, and beleive me, there would be major news coverage, as we on the island have many bones to pick with the great BC Ferry Corporation.
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14-02-2009, 11:54
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran
Posts: 7,141
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My ST4000 did a few things like that when I first got the boat.
It turned out to be an intermittent +12v. connection.
Steve B.
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14-02-2009, 13:55
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#27
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St. Georges, Bda
Boat: Rhodes Reliant 41ft
Posts: 4,131
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Another T34C,
I could run "Thors Twins" with my eyes closed
David M
When I was doing marine electrics full time I represented ComNav here in Bermuda. Have not looked lately, but think I am still listed as their rep here. Lots of 1001 and 1101 models. Their adjustability for yaw and course correction I thought was very good.
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14-02-2009, 17:18
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#28
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CF Adviser
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sausalito
Boat: 14 meter sloop
Posts: 7,260
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It's not the autopilot that should be blamed here...
...it's the fluxgate compass.
The rule here is that the autopilot should be disengaged anytime you're within a hundred meters of a solid object. Any solid object.
__________________
cruising is entirely about showing up--in boat shoes.
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14-02-2009, 19:39
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#29
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Long Range Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,822
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bash
The rule here is that the autopilot should be disengaged anytime you're within a hundred meters of a solid object. Any solid object.
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Dunno if I agree entirely. Certainly have the finger hovering.
Coming through breaking water into river bars (as previously discussed over the last few weeks) where Nav needs to be quite precise to the meter - or within say 5 meters- I use the auto pilot unless a surfable wave actually comes up behind. This is with breakwater walls a few meters off the side. I find it works better as it take my subconscious desire to turn early away from my hands.
Another situation where I have used auto pilot was where another yacht was coming along side at sea to transfer a catch of fish and I wanted to tell the other skipper that he was in controll of the final manouver - we were both going about 6 knots - so I put the auto pilot on and held my hands up to he so he could see. He then moved in to our side and we made the transfer.
So now I will do that if someone is manouvering and I have right of way etc.
I think there are creative ways to use the new technology that 'break' old rules. The new ideas however must be properly considered.
In conclusion... I'll use my auto pilot in close quarters, but my hand will be very very close to dat 'lil red button
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17-02-2009, 13:15
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#30
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cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,167
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This was BC ferries several years apart, one couple from Port Angeles Washington were killed this way in Swartz Bay 17 miles north of Victoria and the other was a father who lost his wife and kids just south of Horseshoe bay, 8 miles west of Vancouver..
Brent
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