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neelie · 02-02-2014, 09:46

I have a B&G autopilot and was thinking of redundancy and backup without sinking mega $$$ into it.

I also have a Monitor WV. I note that it's possible to hook up a tiller pilot to the vane bracket. That's the theory anyway.

So, to the practice : Has anyone done this and used it successfully?

My idea is to mount a TP-10 in a cockpit locker and run a morse cable up to the WV.

A dumb idea? Or practical proposition?

demacsea · 02-02-2014, 10:04

It's not a dumb idea, it's practical and it does work.
But the prop-wash will cause the servo pendulum blade to shake, which will do the bearings no good at all over the long term.
May I suggest you take a look at Has Windvane Self Steering Gear Been Outdated by Electronic Autopilots? for more info?

neelie · 02-02-2014, 10:49

demacsea... Thank you... I have some questions.

How did you set it up on your boat? To a stub or the counterweight? Did you consider using a morse cable and mounting it in a locker, out of the weather?

How did the electronics cope with the slow response of the boat?
How does it work downwind in big seas?

Thanks

Travelaxel · 02-02-2014, 11:02

I had this set up for a long time: Worked great, specially in light winds and under motor. In medium and higher winds I always used the wind vane only.

demacsea · 02-02-2014, 12:09

Hi Neelie, I seem to have accidentally mislead you.
I don't have a Monitor, I use an Aries, but a pal of mine (Andrew Simpson, the author of the eBook 'Secrets of Windvane Self-Steering') uses a Monitor and decided against connecting a tiller pilot to it because of the 'shake itself to bits issue'...
Some manufacturers provide a connection point on the vane gear for a tiller pilot, but I don't think Monitor is one of them. Perhaps you should contact Scanmar (manufacturers of the Monitor) at http://www.selfsteer.com/contactUs/index.php and ask their opinion on what you propose?

neelie · 02-02-2014, 12:58

Demacsea....OK.. No worries.. I already knew how the vane works.

On their web site, Scanmar say its possible along with the same point you made about excessive wear due prop wash when motoring. Through the school of draining wallets, I have long learned that "possible" and "practical" are not always convergent.

neelie · 02-02-2014, 13:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelaxel

I had this set up for a long time: Worked great, specially in light winds and under motor. In medium and higher winds I always used the wind vane only.

Ah ha!... So it works!. Great News!

Some questions:

1) Did you mount it onto a stub or onto the counterweight?
2) Did you consider using a morse cable to allow you to mount the tiller pilot out of the weather? If so, how did the morse cable stand up to wear and tear?
3) Did you have reliability issues due to excessive bearing wear because of vibration due to the prop wash when motoring?
4) Was it easy to mount? Do you have any details on how you mounted it for easy installation and removal?

Thanks

niels

ps.. surely you didn't have the Monitor on your Catana?

Travelaxel · 02-02-2014, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by neelie

Ah ha!... So it works!. Great News!

Some questions:

1) Did you mount it onto a stub or onto the counterweight?
2) Did you consider using a morse cable to allow you to mount the tiller pilot out of the weather? If so, how did the morse cable stand up to wear and tear?
3) Did you have reliability issues due to excessive bearing wear because of vibration due to the prop wash when motoring?
4) Was it easy to mount? Do you have any details on how you mounted it for easy installation and removal?

Thanks

niels

ps.. surely you didn't have the Monitor on your Catana?

1.)Either end is O.K. I mounted on the counter weight because I wanted to mount the unit as horizontal as possible.
2.)I didn't use morse cable.
3.) No issues at all during usage.
4.)I mounted it to the pushpit stainless with a bracket.

Cheers
Axel
P.S. I had an Islander 36 before.