Auto Pilot Failure. What would you do

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by Time2Go

I'm sorry you old salts but on a modern brand new boat (50')
With Radar and AIS and AP there should be no need to stand out
Exposed in the Rain at Night

Except, you know, it is required by internationally recognized regulations to have a physical watch on deck.

[gjordan]

Timetogo, you say money wasnt an issue, yet you complain about the daily fee(however much that was). If you have owned many boats, I dont understand how you could be surprised at having to steer on what sounds like daytime conditions. If you are so knowledgeable you could have gotten off of this , what you call sometimes unsafe boat, at any time. I recently bought a bunch of charts from a cruiser that left Mexico, and 2 days out his autopilot blew. He returned to Mexico and it took a month to get it sorted out. Left again for SoPac, and it blew again. Took a few more weeks to get it fixed again, and the season was too late for a safe passage, so he gave up on the cruise of a lifetime. Getting stuck waiting for un-essential gear would have been stupid on the part of your skipper. If you complained like this while you were onboard, the skipper probably would have saved you from the UNSAFE? conditions by putting you on the nearest dock. Good Luck on your next crew position. ______Grant.

[rwidman]

I'm going to post it again but slower:

The owner did what I would have done, waited until he was at his destination so he could have the autopilot serviced by the proper people and people who would be around if it wasn't fixed correctly the first time.

And of course if the repairs were going to take more than a few hours, it's better to have it done at the end of the journey than to have to stay in one place (and pay marina fees and other expenses) for an extended time.

Take your issues up with the boat's owner.

[Kenomac]

The OP sounds like a crybaby. Poop happens... get used to it.

[neilsty]

I was looking at installing a Jeffa AP with B&G controller, and was told by a B&G rep that i would need a relay as the B&G controller under certain conditions may not supply the amperage required by the Jeffa drive.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Time2Go

<snip>

Try this force 7-8, Heavy Rain, Nighttime, Bay of Biscay, Take your hands off the wheel for 1.5 seconds. What Happens?????

You make it sound like this is an abnnormal thing. What are you supposed to do in force 7 and rain?

Set the autopilot and go below for cocoa?

I wouldn't have the autopilot steering in these conditions anyway.

Originally Posted by Time2Go

<snip>

Buy a boat in Germany then depart for the Far East on a two year cruise
and what, Bring it back to Germany for Warranty Work?

No, I take it to where I want to take it for repairs. I don't let the crew vote as it is not a democracy.

The issue is the guy with the $600k gets to make the rules.

You don't seem to understand the concept of crew.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by neilsty

I was looking at installing a Jeffa AP with B&G controller, and was told by a B&G rep that i would need a relay as the B&G controller under certain conditions may not supply the amperage required by the Jeffa drive.

The rep doesn't know what he is talking about. The Jefa clutch needs 0.7A, and the B&G AP supplies 2A on the clutch line. The Jefa drive itself requires 10A max. The smallest B&G AP supplies 12A, while the larger one supplies 30A.

Jefa would be a better source of info on this than your rep. They list the two B&G (Simrad) units right on their website as suitable AP control.

More likely, your rep was steering you to a B&G drive solution for $ reasons.

Even if you did need a relay, they cost $4 and are available everywhere world-wide.

Mark

[IslandHopper]

Auto Pilot Failure. What would you do.....

......popping the EPIRB is the recommended course of action to take these days....








<sarcasm>

[sbrin]

Originally Posted by neilsty

I was looking at installing a Jeffa AP with B&G controller, and was told by a B&G rep that i would need a relay as the B&G controller under certain conditions may not supply the amperage required by the Jeffa drive.

Did exactly this 2 years ago. You DO need the relay. No problems with the simrad or the Jefa (knock wood) and enjoy the combination very much. I recommend this combination highly.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Autopilot? Wow a luxury item, just got my first one,

Congratulations. What did you get?

[nhschneider]

Originally Posted by colemj

Update your control head firmware. Navico recognized and fixed this problem last November. It was an erroneous timeout on the control heads - both B&G and Simrad.

Mark

We had that done by a Simrad technician in Sydney, Australia. We still have the same problem. Even though it's kind of dangerous, we've learned to live with it. But thanks for the suggestion, just the same.

[Saltyhog]

Originally Posted by colemj

The rep doesn't know what he is talking about. The Jefa clutch needs 0.7A, and the B&G AP supplies 2A on the clutch line. The Jefa drive itself requires 10A max. The smallest B&G AP supplies 12A, while the larger one supplies 30A.

Jefa would be a better source of info on this than your rep. They list the two B&G (Simrad) units right on their website as suitable AP control.

More likely, your rep was steering you to a B&G drive solution for $ reasons.

Even if you did need a relay, they cost $4 and are available everywhere world-wide.

Mark

Mark, do you have personal experience with the Jeffa, or are you quoting their specs. I'm considering the Jeffa for my drive, but this is the third time I've heard of problems. The other two were due to water ingress in the drive, but this was mostly due to how/where the drive was installed. My understanding is they want to stay as dry as possible. I'm also getting conflicting recommendations as to which drive is appropriate for my full keel barn door rudder. If I need the DD2, I'm not sure the power savings are there relative to my other choice, the L&S hydraulic. It seems that the hydraulic drives are more robust, but I'm drawn to the low power needs of the Jeffa. Hoping to hear from some happy (or unhappy) Jeffa DD1 owners.
-Tom

[Saltyhog]

Originally Posted by sbrin

Did exactly this 2 years ago. You DO need the relay. No problems with the simrad or the Jefa (knock wood) and enjoy the combination very much. I recommend this combination highly.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Which Jeffa drive? I'm guessing the DD1, but thought I'd ask.

[giant]

Have seen Auto Pilot fail in similar way due to loosing calibration on the flux gate compass. Fix was reset flux gate compass by pressing reset and doing approximately 250 meter diameter loop.

Owner makes the rules but personally I would rather have the choice to hand steer, probable he didn't trust the crew warranted or not who knows.

As crew you just have to make the best of the situation you are in until you can get off if need be.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Greenhand

Except, you know, it is required by internationally recognized regulations to have a physical watch on deck.

no it's not

There's another thread open on that at this time though