Autopilot backup options - wheel steering

[KeelMe]

Some people do but I wouldn't rely on a tiller pilot to steer me across an ocean if it were connected to a tiller.

My TP22 is connected to the top of the windvane and the windvane moves the wheel. The TP22 has virtually no load and only moves about 1.5 inches in and out. We only use it when motoring; mostly in and out of the marina. I have had the same TP22 in service for at least 10 years. I open it up once a year and clean everything and lube up the mechanical parts.

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Let’s try that again with speel check OFF:

Agreed about the RM tiller pilots EXCEPT when driving a wind vane input they have near zero load and then the small motor is fine. And at the cost you can buy 3 as backups.

I have killed a RM and a Simrad TP with water ingress. The seals aren't very good, and the units can pump water inside as the rams go in and out, Not much water, but it seems that it doesn't take much salt water to fry the circuit board. So a good water resistant cover makes sense even if it has light duties on a windvane.

I've had some success attaching a TP directly to the wheel. The range of helm is limited, but enough for low wind motoring conditions.

[seandepagnier]

Autopilot uses lines like windvane so can share some hardware and works on tiller or wheel.

Total cost for autopilot is < $200. Including windshield wiper motor. Possible to use 2 wiper motors instead of one and a bearing for more torque.

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=ZaLBRRelT-M

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

I've had some success attaching a TP directly to the wheel. The range of helm is limited, but enough for low wind motoring conditions.

Piccy of the crude proof of concept. Worked extremely well.

[olaf hart]

There is a mass of 12v linear actuators with or without clutches on the internets, eBay or alibaba.

Anyone used one as a replacement for a raymarine linear drive?

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by boat_alexandra

Autopilot uses lines like windvane so can share some hardware and works on tiller or wheel.

Total cost for autopilot is < $200. Including windshield wiper motor. Possible to use 2 wiper motors instead of one and a bearing for more torque.

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=ZaLBRRelT-M

https://youtu.be/ZaLBRRelT-M

This link worked better for me. Very clever Sean. I'd love to build one.

More info here http://pypilot.org

[KeelMe]

Originally Posted by olaf hart

There is a mass of 12v linear actuators with or without clutches on the internets, eBay or alibaba.

Anyone used one as a replacement for a raymarine linear drive?

I am all for saving money and I don't believe everything has to come from the big marine electronics companies. But I do believe you get what you pay for.

You could buy 30 of these or two of these for the price of one Raymarine Type 1 Linear Actuator and odds are very good that it would steer your boat. But is it worth it? I suppose that's up to you.

[Snowpetrel]

The kicker with a lot of these cheap linear Actuators is the travel speed. Eg the £48 one linked to above has a travel speed of 10mm/sec. Others on ebay have 4mm/sec. This is not fast enough to drive a boat.

[bensolomon]

I have had a CPT autopilot now for 5 years. I absolutely love it. Below or some videos I shot on my sailboat in a few different conditions.

The power draw is extremely low. I would have to say less than 10 hours in a day. I have been out with my CPT in 20-plus knot winds. It does require sail balancing, however. In that type of wind.

Here are the links to the videos:

https://youtu.be/BzqWCvYMs14

https://youtu.be/RyBtTZZPhus

I have a few other videos that show essentially more of the same where I am single handling and the CPT is driving the boat.

Jeff and his son who own CPT are absolutely phenomenal. I've had numerous questions over the years and they get right on the phone and help me. They were on the phone as I was installing it because there were questions. I can't say good enough things about them and CPT.

I was at having a problem with the autopilot that turned out to have nothing to do with the autopilot but had to do with the breaker panel. They shipped me a free replacement just in case so I wouldn't have any down time.

Ben

[terah]

I really like the idea of the Hydrovane, but they're not cheap. Were also planning to put an arch on which further complicates self-steering. If we were going further afield then it might make more sense.

CPT looks interesting, and quite a bit cheaper than a full RM backup. I'm back out to the boat in a couple of weeks so will measure it up and look into it further if it would fit.

Simplest option does seem to be straight replacement parts for the RM system. So that's the linear drive, control unit and heading sensor? Is the display head required?

[anotherT34C]

Snow, If you're using a tiller pilot as a backup attached to your wheel, why not attach it to your emergency tiller? Seems like it should work better there...

(oops, just realized the thread date... doh!)

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

The kicker with a lot of these cheap linear Actuators is the travel speed. Eg the £48 one linked to above has a travel speed of 10mm/sec. Others on ebay have 4mm/sec. This is not fast enough to drive a boat.

Look at the one Pelagic is using, wxhongba.com

http://wenjian.wxbantian.cn/英文版/HB-DJ809英文版.pdf

Speed from 5 to 55mm/sec as requested
200nm