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14-09-2023, 17:30
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 30
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Auto pilots
What auto pilots options exist (if any) are available for displacement sailboats with tillers that are over 10,000 lbs? Both Raymarine and Simrad say their tiller pilots top out at 10,000 lbs. Or... do they rely on wind vanes only besides hand steering?
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14-09-2023, 17:47
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,676
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Re: Auto pilots
Pelagic
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14-09-2023, 18:02
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 30
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Re: Auto pilots
thanks!
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15-09-2023, 06:14
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#4
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Moderator

Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 15,350
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Re: Auto pilots
The most common system for larger yachts is an under deck autopilot driving a bellcrank mounted on the rudder shaft.
This means any linear or rotary (with arm) autopilot drive can be used and the drive unit is out of the weather.
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15-09-2023, 07:13
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 30
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Re: Auto pilots
I've been reading about the pelagic system prior to yesterday I had never heard of them or an underdeck tiller pilot system. Are there any others that offer below decks auto pilot?
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15-09-2023, 07:24
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Lake Erie, PA
Boat: Jeanneau Tonic 23
Posts: 554
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Re: Auto pilots
The Raymarine EV-100 tiller pilot specs say it can handle 13,000 lbs. I'm not terribly impressed by the TP2000+ though.
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15-09-2023, 08:05
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#7
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Moderator

Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 15,350
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Re: Auto pilots
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerski
I had never heard of them or an underdeck tiller pilot system.
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It is not called a tiller pilot when it is an underdeck unit, as it is not driving a tiller. Look for a linear autopilot drive. There are many different models available. They are available in sizes to steer even 70+ foot yachts. Pictured below is a typical unit.
As well as the drive unit you will need a course computer, fluxgate or GPS compass, rudder sensor and control pad. These are often sold as package. Sometimes a MFD is also needed to commission the system.
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17-10-2023, 14:56
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Daytona Beach, FL, USA
Boat: Douglas 32, duh...32'
Posts: 176
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Re: Auto pilots
Ahoy Jerski:
Just remember the unwritten rule that the motor for the unit must be mounted UNDER the bunk of the owner's wife.
-That way when you're the crew member standing the midnight to 4am watch, the owner's wife will stick her head out the companionway and ever so politely ask if you'd mind hand steering so she doesn't have to listen to the drive motor.
-How do I know this? I hand steered ALL my midnight to 4am watches on a trans-Atlantic passage. <sigh>
__________________
I must go down to the shore again
to the lonely shore and the sea
And all I ask is a small ship....and a frontal lobotomy
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17-10-2023, 19:11
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 188
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Re: Auto pilots
I have a Pelagic tiller pilot on my 7000lb twin keel sloop, it has steered 95% of the miles I've sailed in the last six months including dead downwind in breaking waves. I've done at least 1500 nm in that time and the Pelagic has been great. They make a heavy duty version too.
I can't recommend Pelagic enough and the owner was very helpful when I had a hiccup installing it.
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19-10-2023, 03:33
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: On the boat, somewhere in Australia.
Boat: Swanson 42 & Kelly Peterson 44
Posts: 9,408
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Re: Auto pilots
Coursemaster is another good option for heavy boats. My old, old one (25:years) handles 14 tonnes without too much fuss.
__________________
Refitting… again.
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20-10-2023, 14:53
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USVI and Annapolis MD Season dependant
Boat: 1989 Gozzard 36
Posts: 126
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Re: Auto pilots
I have a spare autohelm 6000, complete except for the under-deck ram (I am still using that part). So if you want the whole rig fluxcompass, computer and two control heads let me know. I can offer a very reasonable price ("Cheap"). All you need to do is add the RAM to connect to your rudder post. The unit will drive either an electric or hydrophilic ram. Email me at dan (at) done-that.com
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20-10-2023, 15:51
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Olympia, WA boat is in Chicago
Boat: Jeanneau Sun Odessey 49 DS
Posts: 26
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Re: Auto pilots
Look into the CPT standalone autopilot. It will easily handle a larger boat,
and is all self contained and installs as a wheel pilot. Very reasonable price
for a brand new unit, they have them ready to ship.
only negative is it won't interact with any other unit or chartplotter.
it's a set and go unit.
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20-10-2023, 16:26
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Muskegon, Mi
Boat: Columbia 36
Posts: 1,298
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Re: Auto pilots
Quote:
Originally Posted by SV Zig Zag
Look into the CPT standalone autopilot. It will easily handle a larger boat,
and is all self contained and installs as a wheel pilot. Very reasonable price
for a brand new unit, they have them ready to ship.
only negative is it won't interact with any other unit or chartplotter.
it's a set and go unit.
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I had one of those on a previous boat, it performed very well. It's a beast. It's pretty old technology but that likely makes it more reliable. It still has it's course setting via a compass dial that the other makes stopped using 40 years ago. I never could get the dial to match my steering compass, they both are subject to their own deviation so it's probably not even possible. I just turned the dial till the boat went the direction I wanted and didn't really look at the numbers. Once set it would hold course forever.
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21-10-2023, 07:45
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Halifax, NS, Canada
Boat: 47' Steel Roberts Cutter
Posts: 492
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Re: Auto pilots
Quote:
Originally Posted by Enfant Du Vent
Ahoy Jerski:
Just remember the unwritten rule that the motor for the unit must be mounted UNDER the bunk of the owner's wife.
-That way when you're the crew member standing the midnight to 4am watch, the owner's wife will stick her head out the companionway and ever so politely ask if you'd mind hand steering so she doesn't have to listen to the drive motor.
-How do I know this? I hand steered ALL my midnight to 4am watches on a trans-Atlantic passage. <sigh>
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Omg. That’s mutiny fuel…
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30-10-2023, 04:31
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Currently in the Caribbean
Boat: Cheoy Lee 47 CC
Posts: 1,105
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Re: Auto pilots
I have a B&G type 3 autopilot on my 40,000 lb cruiser, after 10,000 sea miles it works just fine.
Its mounted below with a bell crank on the rudder post.
The most common mistake is using an auto pilot thats undersized for the boat, the original on this boat was undersized, it blew out ram seals on a regular basis, which id have to have repaired by a local cylinder repair company since the original vendor didn't offer replacement seals or rebuild kits for it. That vendor will remain nameless, but I'd had issues with that particular brand in the past.
When sizing an autopilot, be honest and get it right the first time. Check where you'll install it and make sure you can fit it properly.
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