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07-05-2019, 11:47
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Boat: Fabola Diva 39ft
Posts: 16
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Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
For a sail boat, does it exist such thing as an autopilot that keeps the boat at constant angle with the wind direction?
(I am not referring do those bulky ancient rudders that mount on the back of the boat. More looking into a electronic input of the readings from the wind vane on top of the mast that would connect to a regular autopilot.)
If anyone could point in the right direction, that would be great thank you all "newbie here"
Thanks in advance.
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07-05-2019, 11:49
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Currently cruising in SE Asia
Boat: Catana 47 hull no 1 ex Leopard 40 (2009) & Crownline 250CR
Posts: 383
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
Yup most modern auto pilots can be set for wind angle or compass bearing. I like the wind angle for open sea . I have a Raymarine unit
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07-05-2019, 11:52
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Boat: R&C Leopard 40
Posts: 864
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
This is a standard thing. Without this feature, I can't imagine using for sailing, just motoring. I would say I use wind mode 95% or more of the time.
11 year old Raymarine AP. You press both red buttons to put in "wind" mode. If it doesn't go into "wind" mode then something is missing (ie wind data).
Then it shows degrees to the wind in either port or starboard. IE, you set the AP to 50P it will keep the wind 50 degrees off the port bow.
Download and read any autopilot manual for more info.
__________________
-Chris
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07-05-2019, 11:55
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Oakland, CA
Boat: Freedom 38
Posts: 2,503
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
Has the potential to chew through battery power, but it's just a mode setting in the AP.
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07-05-2019, 12:07
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Boat: Fabola Diva 39ft
Posts: 16
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
Wow, that is pretty cool. My autopilot is Raytheon ST4000+ and I am dont have a wind vane yet. I am considering to buy a Raymarine i60 with short arm wind vane (link below). Do you think it will work?
https://seatronic.no/elektronikk/ins...ard-mastegiver
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07-05-2019, 16:22
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran
Posts: 7,145
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
My 24 year old ST4000 does that.
__________________
The question is not, "Who will let me?"
The question is,"Who is going to stop me?"
Ayn Rand
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07-05-2019, 16:25
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Boat: Beneteau 423 43 feet
Posts: 850
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
A real cool feature...... love my auto pilot.
Greg
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07-05-2019, 22:59
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Boat: Fabola Diva 39ft
Posts: 16
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
Quote:
Originally Posted by senormechanico
My 24 year old ST4000 does that.
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Ok, we have the same then Do you think if I buy a new Raymarine i60 pack with wind vane, will it "talk" to the ST4000+? (I am new at this, sorry)
The new raymarine i60 says: "interface with plug and share information using the NMEA 2000 and SeaTalk systems"
... and this is how it looks on the back of my very old Raytheon ST4000 AutoPilot: (see photo attached)
It does have one connection SeaTalk that is not in use. Is that it? will it work if I buy this Raymarine i60, wind?
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07-05-2019, 23:48
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New Zealand
Boat: 50’ Bavaria
Posts: 1,809
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
Quote:
Originally Posted by zuzullo
For a sail boat, does it exist such thing as an autopilot that keeps the boat at constant angle with the wind direction?
(I am not referring do those bulky ancient rudders that mount on the back of the boat. More looking into a electronic input of the readings from the wind vane on top of the mast that would connect to a regular autopilot.)
If anyone could point in the right direction, that would be great thank you all "newbie here"
Thanks in advance.
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You’ve had the answer, but don’t forget that those “ancient rudder” contraptions aren’t replaced by an electronic autopilot. They have the advantage of being much more capable in ocean conditions, they use no power, they are usually more reliable, and the better ones give you a backup rudder. If I were making a long passage I would always pick a wind-driven autopilot over an electronic one, although obviously having both is the best solution.
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08-05-2019, 02:06
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#10
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,423
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
The interface plug isn't cheap, you might be better off buying the older ST60+ wind instruments which would plug straight in. Still not cheap but simplier.
Are you using a RM wheel pilot on that boat? whilst quite light, it is a big boat. Are you planning on cruising offshore with it? or sticking to the Nordic / EU coasts?
Pete
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08-05-2019, 03:32
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Boat: Fabola Diva 39ft
Posts: 16
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete7
The interface plug isn't cheap, you might be better off buying the older ST60+ wind instruments which would plug straight in. Still not cheap but simplier. Pete
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But both i60 and ST60+ uses SeaTalk, no?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete7
Are you using a RM wheel pilot on that boat? Pete
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I am new at this, its a wheel, yes See photo attached.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete7
whilst quite light, it is a big boat. Are you planning on cruising offshore with it? or sticking to the Nordic / EU coasts?
Pete
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I sail only on the shore of Norway and only on good days if I can. Having this setup is mostly for me to be able to hoist sales when I am sailing alone.
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08-05-2019, 04:04
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#12
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,423
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
Ah, yes the i60 has Seatalk and a converter to connect to the more modern SeatalkNg (New generation) Raymarine network system. So you could go either way, ST60+ or i60 depending on the budget.
Your black wheel drive probably has brass gears in the motor gearbox which if in good condition are stronger than the plastic gears in the later Mk2 grey wheel drive. So worth keeping hold of, unless you want to sell it to me
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08-05-2019, 09:24
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Fort William, Highland, Scotland
Boat: Bavaria Cruiser 40
Posts: 917
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
Quote:
Originally Posted by gamayun
Has the potential to chew through battery power, but it's just a mode setting in the AP.
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Reduce the sensitivity to 1 as the default is 5 then drop the backlight from 100% to 1% and you will see a huge drop in the amp burn.
In fact you should reduce the backlight on all the instrument screens to reduce energy drain anyway.
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08-05-2019, 09:29
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Canada
Boat: Catalina 355
Posts: 6
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
My Raymarine has it, and my previous 20 year old Raymarine had it. Use it a lot.
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08-05-2019, 09:36
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Raleigh, NC
Boat: S2 35C
Posts: 66
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Re: Autopilot with WIND instead of compass
SeaTalk is NMEA0183, SeaTalkng is NMEA2000.
Raymarine uses proprietary connectors for it's NMEA data. They have interfaces to convert, say NMEA2000 to NMEA0183. Dealers and techs use them to get other products to play nice with Garmin, B&G, Simrad, etc.
So it is possible to get functionality out of different Mfgs and protocols, though the new stuff is definitely slicker.
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