Balancing Act . . .

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

So, that'll be a no on the Beneteau for self steering then

Sea Life holds course for 3 seconds.... sometimes 4.


Actually I've never tried.

[capn_billl]

A backup plan is good, (didn't we just discuss a boat running aground due to autopilot failure?). But I wouldn't want to depend on a "balancing" act.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Actually I've never tried.

You RTW sailors

[noelex 77]

My yacht has a longish fin keel and I was surprised when following the loss of my autopilots to lightening it would happily maintain its course for close to hour. (52 mins was the best)
Conditions at the time were good at the time on a shy reach with 20k breeze in offshore conditions.
The autopilots are now replaced and I haven’t tried since, but to those owners of fin keeled yachts give it a try you may be surprised.
I can see how a long keel yacht could sail for hours, but I still feel self steering (and a backup if possible) is essential for an yacht offshore with a short handed crew.

[otherthan]

once in a blue moon we encounter a remarkable person that leave an imprint on us. This fresh 82 years old chap is shurly one of those.

I beged him all night to come sail with me, and all night he avoided anny respons. Then he said and trust me it was real poetry compared to my crapy writing.

She was my mistress most of my life, iv grown old and fatiged if I go back to her I int comming back.