Auto Pilot for Edson Worm-Drive Steering

[Geoduck]

I'm sailing a 70 year old classic with Edson jack screw steering and I wonder what kind of advice I can get on an autopilot installation.
I wonder if a cpt wheel steerer has enough power to handle it?
I'm sure I can make an old Wood Freeman work but the install would be pretty tough to keep it out of the weather.
Any ideas out there?

[marc2012]

Basically what I have ray. 6000 attached with ram.Do they still make wf,still seeking/hunting?marc

[xsboats]

Will your rudder shape and location facilitate the installation of a trim tab? I steer my 25 ton , 50 foot ketch using a small tillerpilot to control my trimtab through a morse shifter cable. I assembled this system to avoid the cost of purchasing a system designed for use with hydraulic steering but have also used it on an old gaff topsail ketch with rack and pinion steering, a trimaran with cable steering and many others.

[Blue Stocking]

In my experience, the buttress-style thread on screwjack steering does not lend itself to ram and tiller like adaption.
Worked on a Herreshoff once that used screwjack, to which a split, chain sprocket had been clamped to the steering wheel shaft, and driven by a Centek unit, IIRC, .
I recall it was a pretty husky motor that drew some amps.

[Geoduck]

Yes -Wood Freeman is still alive.
Good idea - on the trim tab idea. I've given some thought to a wind vane but the boat pretty much steers its self and the cost of it is staggering but what else is new?
I need a pilot more while under power than under sail but a trim tab type wind vane would probably kill two birds with one stone because a trim tab rudder could easily be driven by a tiller pilot such as a Raymarine 1000 or it's equal.
My other problem is a canoe stern.
Who builds what I need?
More info out there?

[xsboats]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

Yes -Wood Freeman is still alive.
Good idea - on the trim tab idea. I've given some thought to a wind vane but the boat pretty much steers its self and the cost of it is staggering but what else is new?
I need a pilot more while under power than under sail but a trim tab type wind vane would probably kill two birds with one stone because a trim tab rudder could easily be driven by a tiller pilot such as a Raymarine 1000 or it's equal.
My other problem is a canoe stern.
Who builds what I need?
More info out there?

I am currently building one on "Angelica", a canoe stern 50 ft George Buehler Dragonfly cutter. I also did a similar arrangement where the tillerpilot controlled a Monitor during motoring on a canoe sterned Dreadnaught . Feel free to contact me for more info.

[Geoduck]

xsboats-
After looking around, I need to find some plans for an auxillary rudder type wind vane that I can hang a Ray 1000 or Simrad tiller pilot ( which I have on my Nimble 20 trailer sailor)
Im capable of building one myself, I have the skills & equipment to do it and I can't afford 5 grand for a Hydrovane - how can this be so expensive? There isn't that much to it!
My old boat sails by itself mostly with trimming the sails, full keel & heavy she is - motoring is where the pilot is most needed.
Any good plans out there?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by marc2012

Basically what I have ray. 6000 attached with ram.Do they still make wf,still seeking/hunting?marc

except we don't have the worm gear steering..........I think the princess does though.