Otto Died, Need a New Autopilot

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

i think any particular autopilot may have problems on any particular boat due to many factors like hull shape, keel, rudder, wind force and direction, swell height and direction, etc etc etc....

Oh so true. Different ships, different long splices. And as you pointed out (yes I had originally noticed but in the midst of the discussion lost track of the fact), capngeo has a Cal 28 so should be able to do quite will with an AP that could be underpowered for a bigger boat. The CPT might be ideal for him.

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

i've never had a problem with my CPT but i've also not made any extreme demands on it either. your friend seems to have a lot more open ocean time than i do so i'll defer to his experience. i sure would like to hear what he has to say about the CPT overall, if you can relay that to me someday.

The guy with the Pearson 424 and CPT just got back to Green Cove Springs a couple of weeks ago. Will probably be seeing him in the next 2-3 weeks but emailed last night to ask if he had any comments after a couple more years and miles with the CPT.

Again, my time at sea with the Pearson 42' is limited so far since I'm still finishing up a 4 year overhaul (back in the water this year if it kills me). The one time I was sailing off the wind in brisk conditions I was working the wheel pretty hard so the Pearson may just overpower the CPT where it would do fine with another boat.

[Panope]

I recently got a Raymarine EV 100 (with wheel pilot) up and running on Panope. I have no rudder sensor. I have no wind sensor.

For the initial commissioning, I disregarded the hopeless set-up manual and scrolled through every menu page by trail and error. Once the two necessary parameters were entered (total rudder deflection in degrees and hard-over time in seconds), the thing worked great.

Panope is the type of boat in-which weather helm increases dramatically during gusts that put the lee rail under water. Surprisingly, the AP copes pretty well with this in spite of it's wimpy wheel pilot actuating Panope's barn door rudder.

I bought the AP primarily for motoring but it as been a nice bonus that it will take care of things while under sail. The Crappy manual is my only complaint.

Steve

[onestepcsy37]

Originally Posted by Blue Crab

I did. I noticed it years ago. I cringe at how some of you read the first line of a post and jump right on in, reading no more, caring even less; rarely correct but never in doubt.

yeah, i've been guilty of that too, especially when i jump in after there are already 200+ posts on the topic. but i did join this one at the beginning.

some of the ap's proposed here are more suited to ocean liners. but what the heck. it's interesting to read the posts because personal observations based on personal experiences always contribute to your personal fount of knowledge.

the guys that impress me are the one's who mix and match components and seem to get good results. i don't i'd have the nerve to do that.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

some of the ap's proposed here are more suited to ocean liners. but what the heck. it's interesting to read the posts because personal observations based on personal experiences always contribute to your personal fount of knowledge.

the guys that impress me are the one's who mix and match components and seem to get good results. i don't i'd have the nerve to do that.

Just curious, but I haven't seen anyone recommend anything that was over-the-top for the OP's boat. Yes, almost all of the recommendations had capabilities that the OP does not want to use, but none of them were aimed at boats outside of his size bracket.

And for mix and match - no worries! Pretty much everyone has standardized their communications now, so you don't have to worry about connecting things or even worry about things like getting the Garmin wind sensor and GPS receiver just because you have a Garmin MFD.

Mark

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by colemj

Just curious, but I haven't seen anyone recommend anything that was over-the-top for the OP's boat. Yes, almost all of the recommendations had capabilities that the OP does not want to use, but none of them were aimed at boats outside of his size bracket.



And for mix and match - no worries! Pretty much everyone has standardized their communications now, so you don't have to worry about connecting things or even worry about things like getting the Garmin wind sensor and GPS receiver just because you have a Garmin MFD.



Mark

Where it that simple. Try setting up your Garmin AP from your simrad MFD. !

Dave

[colemj]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Where it that simple. Try setting up your Garmin AP from your simrad MFD. !

Dave

Are you using an extreme example to suggest that everyone should chose a single manufacturer and slavishly stick with only components from them?

If I have a Raymarine MFD, it is critical that I have a RM GPS, depth, and speed? And if I want to add DSC or AIS, that needs to be Raymarine?

Can you setup your Raymarine AIS from your Raymarine MFD?

Is having a component which needs to be setup using its own on-board control really not integration?

Besides, the OP does not want any integration...

Mark

[capngeo]

The CPT is a nice unit, I have delivered boats with them..... BUT, I hate the thought of having a wheel steered unit, and the easy theft thereof. As mentioned in post#1, I already have the entire system, it is just that the brain and human interfaces have gone over the hill, not from over use, but more likely the 28 lapsed years since new.

I want to keep all the magic below deck, save the interface. The only electronics currently exposed 24/7 are a cheap VHF and a small depth sounder read out, and both of those are flush mounted and harder to steal. Not at all that I live in a high theft area, but I sure do cruise into them!