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Old 08-04-2013, 12:12   #1
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Trim tab controlled by tiller pilot

HI guys I have a Dudley Dix 35 currently steered by windvane connected to a trim tab and would like to try fitting a tiller pilot direct to the tab. Has anyone experience of this set up?
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Old 08-04-2013, 12:21   #2
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Re: Trim tab controlled by tiller pilot

Have an Alan Pape 43' cutter that I drive with a tiller pilot connected to an Aries. Also have a 33' Ted Brewer cutter that has a aux rudder vane with a trip tab. That has a little stub to accept a tiller which could be used. Force seems to be pretty moderate.

I gotta believe it is doable if you can work out the linkage and support for the tiller pilot.

I have had some bad luck with RayMarine tiller pilots, but perhaps it was just bad luck.
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Old 08-04-2013, 12:23   #3
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Re: Trim tab controlled by tiller pilot

I tried it with an Auto-Helm auxiliary rudder with trimtab set up. It would work in flat calm conditions while motoring, but took quite a big of tweaking to perform well. Unfortunately, the small tiller pilots available today are not all that well made.
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Old 08-04-2013, 17:01   #4
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Re: Trim tab controlled by tiller pilot

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kettlewell View Post
I tried it with an Auto-Helm auxiliary rudder with trimtab set up. It would work in flat calm conditions while motoring, but took quite a big of tweaking to perform well. Unfortunately, the small tiller pilots available today are not all that well made.
My limited experience would agree with that statement about how well they are made. I now have two spares.

They do work pretty well on the Aries.
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Old 08-04-2013, 17:12   #5
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Re: Trim tab controlled by tiller pilot

wouldn't the compass in the tiller rotate with the main rudder?
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Old 08-04-2013, 17:17   #6
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Re: Trim tab controlled by tiller pilot

The compass is on the end fixed to the boat. Well up here, but...

Down under?

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Old 08-04-2013, 18:27   #7
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Raymarine stuff is good enough but they leak. (Comes from having zero boaters at the company) point the business end of the Tillerpilot downward so that the water that gets in drains out.

Should drive a trim tab just fine. Getting the gain set could be a problem. Gain will be controlled by both the linkages and the settings in the unit.
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Old 08-04-2013, 18:34   #8
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Re: Trim tab controlled by tiller pilot

I've taken to wrapping mine in cling wrap, until I figure out something better. Maybe a KING SIZE condom!
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