Posted by Alan (akusinitz@…>)
I have a simrad 20 that mounts on the wheel and it has died (several
deaths actually). I was wondering if anyone had figured out a way to
use an autopilot with a mechanism that sits below the teak board and
connects to the quadrant. Or perhaps this is not possible or requires
too much torque. If anyone has I’d appreciate the details and whether
its worked out well.
Thanks,
Alan F-33 Hull #51 1982
Posted by Brain Guptil (sailordude@…>)
Alan
On Cayenne, a Freedom 44, I have installed an Autohelm 7001 system driving a hydraulic cylinder attached to the quadrant. Stainless mounting fixtures were fabricated for both ends of the hydraulic cylinder. the most difficult part is figuring how to mount the cylinder and fabricating the necessary parts.
I have not seen any auto-pilot system or configuration that I would consider better then the system already aboard.
I would be glad to share, but prefer to do so off of the group as the description could get a little wordy and need a few photos.
Brian sailordude@…
-----Original Message-----From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of AlanSent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 10:45 PMTo: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.comSubject: [freedomyachts2003] Freedom 33/35 cat ketch autopilot?
I have a simrad 20 that mounts on the wheel and it has died (several deaths actually). I was wondering if anyone had figured out a way to use an autopilot with a mechanism that sits below the teak board and connects to the quadrant. Or perhaps this is not possible or requires too much torque. If anyone has I’d appreciate the details and whether its worked out well.Thanks,Alan F-33 Hull #51 1982
Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)
Alan, I had a simrad 30 on my F33/35 ck, and it really sucked. Simrad
wheelpilots are bad news; I heard nothing but trouble. I still have it
at home; looks to new to just throw it in the bin. It had to be
repaired after each sail. It just could not cope with the pressure of
waves against the rudder and burned itself. Later, I switched back to
the old autohelm that this not cope either, but kept itself alive. I
added a Voyager windvane.
I studied a lot on how to construct a hydraulics system, but never got
to that because of the vane, which copes with everything. The autohelm
3000 is for motoring and light winds.
You can mount an hydraulic cylinder in the cockpit or through the
transom. Look for a size cylinder that needs a comparable quadrant as
the one in the F33/35, that is about 8" to 10" heart-to-heart between
rudder axis and quadrant axis (mounting point of the cylinder). Then
you don’t need too many alterations to the steering setup.
You will need watertight throughhulls to feed the hydraulic hoses
inside. Make sure the pump is big enough to have an acceptable
hardover time.
Good luck
michel
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Alan” <akusinitz@…> wrote:
I have a simrad 20 that mounts on the wheel and it has died (several
deaths actually). I was wondering if anyone had figured out a way to
use an autopilot with a mechanism that sits below the teak board and
connects to the quadrant. Or perhaps this is not possible or
requires
too much torque. If anyone has I’d appreciate the details and
whether
its worked out well.
Thanks,
Alan F-33 Hull #51 1982
Posted by Alan Kusinitz (akusinitz@…>)
Thanks. I spoke with Simrad and they have
a redesigned clutch/belt mechanism they claim resolves many issues. They have a
special price for retrofitting to the WP30. Its I think around $100 so I’m
considering it. I know this kind of unit is not fully adequate. I am
considering the voyager windvane for the long haul but still want an autopilot
as well. Not sure if its worth the cost of a better autopilot as well as the
windvane.
Alan
From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of michel.capel
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006
11:43 AM
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Re:
Freedom 33/35 cat ketch autopilot?
Alan, I had a simrad 30 on my F33/35 ck, and it really
sucked. Simrad
wheelpilots are bad news; I heard nothing but trouble. I still have it
at home; looks to new to just throw it in the bin. It had to be
repaired after each sail. It just could not cope with the pressure of
waves against the rudder and burned itself. Later, I switched back to
the old autohelm that this not cope either, but kept itself alive. I
added a Voyager windvane.
I studied a lot on how to construct a hydraulics system, but never got
to that because of the vane, which copes with everything. The autohelm
3000 is for motoring and light winds.
You can mount an hydraulic cylinder in the cockpit or through the
transom. Look for a size cylinder that needs a comparable quadrant as
the one in the F33/35, that is about 8" to 10" heart-to-heart between
rudder axis and quadrant axis (mounting point of the cylinder). Then
you don’t need too many alterations to the steering setup.
You will need watertight throughhulls to feed the hydraulic hoses
inside. Make sure the pump is big enough to have an acceptable
hardover time.
Good luck
michel
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com,
“Alan” <akusinitz@…> wrote:
I have a simrad 20 that mounts on the wheel and it has died (several
deaths actually). I was wondering if anyone had figured out a way to
use an autopilot with a mechanism that sits below the teak board and
connects to the quadrant. Or perhaps this is not possible or
requires
too much torque. If anyone has I’d appreciate the details and
whether
its worked out well.
Thanks,
Alan F-33 Hull
#51 1982
\
Posted by geraldfreshwater (freshwater@…>)
Alan,
We have just crossed to Norway using a Windpilot vane steering, which can be
used with a
Simrad Tillerpilot, or similar, in virtually any wind or sea conditions. It
takes a while to set
up, but has the power of the servo pendulum to turn the wheel.
Our raymarine Autohelm 4000, rather old but with a new motor, works well under
power,
but only handles light airs under sail. We stretched several drive belts trying
too hard in
the past.
If you are thinking of a windvane (zero battery drain!), then check with the
makers to see if
you can use a low power push pull electric autopilot to replace the wind vane,
when course
is more important than progress, or seas are too rough for any other device.
Brian Chapman, new to this group, has a large (?electric) ram mounted on a
platform
beside the rudder, and thus out of the water, as well as out of the cockpit. I
don’t know
how well it works. but it is an alternative solution.
Gerald & Lynda Freshwater
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Alan Kusinitz” <akusinitz@…> wrote:
Thanks. I spoke with Simrad and they have a redesigned clutch/belt mechanism
they claim resolves many issues. They have a special price for retrofitting
to the WP30. Its I think around $100 so I’m considering it. I know this kind
of unit is not fully adequate. I am considering the voyager windvane for the
long haul but still want an autopilot as well. Not sure if its worth the
cost of a better autopilot as well as the windvane.Alan
From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of michel.capel
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006 11:43 AM
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Re: Freedom 33/35 cat ketch autopilot?Alan, I had a simrad 30 on my F33/35 ck, and it really sucked. Simrad
wheelpilots are bad news; I heard nothing but trouble. I still have it
at home; looks to new to just throw it in the bin. It had to be
repaired after each sail. It just could not cope with the pressure of
waves against the rudder and burned itself. Later, I switched back to
the old autohelm that this not cope either, but kept itself alive. I
added a Voyager windvane.I studied a lot on how to construct a hydraulics system, but never got
to that because of the vane, which copes with everything. The autohelm
3000 is for motoring and light winds.You can mount an hydraulic cylinder in the cockpit or through the
transom. Look for a size cylinder that needs a comparable quadrant as
the one in the F33/35, that is about 8" to 10" heart-to-heart between
rudder axis and quadrant axis (mounting point of the cylinder). Then
you don’t need too many alterations to the steering setup.
You will need watertight throughhulls to feed the hydraulic hoses
inside. Make sure the pump is big enough to have an acceptable
hardover time.Good luck
michel
Posted by Alan Kusinitz (akusinitz@…>)
Thanks very much. Do you have any pictures
of the mounting arrangement of your windpilot?
Alan
From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of geraldfreshwater
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 4:09
PM
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Re:
Freedom 33/35 cat ketch autopilot?
Alan,
We have just crossed to Norway
using a Windpilot vane steering, which can be used with a
Simrad Tillerpilot, or similar, in virtually any wind or sea conditions. It
takes a while to set
up, but has the power of the servo pendulum to turn the wheel.
Our raymarine Autohelm 4000, rather old but with a new motor, works well under
power,
but only handles light airs under sail. We stretched several drive belts trying
too hard in
the past.
If you are thinking of a windvane (zero battery drain!), then check with the
makers to see if
you can use a low power push pull electric autopilot to replace the wind vane,
when course
is more important than progress, or seas are too rough for any other device.
Brian Chapman, new to this group, has a large (?electric) ram mounted on a
platform
beside the rudder, and thus out of the water, as well as out of the cockpit. I
don’t know
how well it works. but it is an alternative solution.
Gerald & Lynda Freshwater
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com,
“Alan Kusinitz” <akusinitz@…> wrote:
Thanks. I spoke with Simrad and they have a redesigned clutch/belt
mechanism
they claim resolves many issues. They have a special price for
retrofitting
to the WP30. Its I think around $100 so I’m considering it. I know this
kind
of unit is not fully adequate. I am considering the voyager windvane for
the
long haul but still want an autopilot as well. Not sure if its worth the
cost of a better autopilot as well as the windvane.Alan
From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of michel.capel
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006 11:43 AM
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Re: Freedom 33/35 cat ketch autopilot?Alan, I had a simrad 30 on my F33/35 ck, and it really sucked. Simrad
wheelpilots are bad news; I heard nothing but trouble. I still have it
at home; looks to new to just throw it in the bin. It had to be
repaired after each sail. It just could not cope with the pressure of
waves against the rudder and burned itself. Later, I switched back to
the old autohelm that this not cope either, but kept itself alive. I
added a Voyager windvane.I studied a lot on how to construct a hydraulics system, but never got
to that because of the vane, which copes with everything. The autohelm
3000 is for motoring and light winds.You can mount an hydraulic cylinder in the cockpit or through the
transom. Look for a size cylinder that needs a comparable quadrant as
the one in the F33/35, that is about 8" to 10" heart-to-heart
between
rudder axis and quadrant axis (mounting point of the cylinder). Then
you don’t need too many alterations to the steering setup.
You will need watertight throughhulls to feed the hydraulic hoses
inside. Make sure the pump is big enough to have an acceptable
hardover time.Good luck
michel
\
Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)
Alan,
As Gerald describes, the combination of an inexpensive tiller- or
wheelpilot and a windvane gives you all the flexibility you would
ever need. And because the forces on the tillerpilot connected to
the pendulum and steering lines are small, it remains alive for
years. Costwise, you end up in the same ballpark as with a large
inboard hydraulic pilot like a Robertson-Hynautics combi.
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Alan Kusinitz”
<akusinitz@…> wrote:
Thanks. I spoke with Simrad and they have a redesigned clutch/belt
mechanism
they claim resolves many issues. They have a special price for
retrofitting
to the WP30. Its I think around $100 so I’m considering it. I know
this kind
of unit is not fully adequate. I am considering the voyager
windvane for the
long haul but still want an autopilot as well. Not sure if its
worth the
cost of a better autopilot as well as the windvane.Alan
From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
michel.capel
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006 11:43 AM
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Re: Freedom 33/35 cat ketch autopilot?Alan, I had a simrad 30 on my F33/35 ck, and it really sucked.
Simrad
wheelpilots are bad news; I heard nothing but trouble. I still
have it
at home; looks to new to just throw it in the bin. It had to be
repaired after each sail. It just could not cope with the pressure
of
waves against the rudder and burned itself. Later, I switched back
to
the old autohelm that this not cope either, but kept itself alive.
I
added a Voyager windvane.I studied a lot on how to construct a hydraulics system, but never
got
to that because of the vane, which copes with everything. The
autohelm
3000 is for motoring and light winds.You can mount an hydraulic cylinder in the cockpit or through the
transom. Look for a size cylinder that needs a comparable quadrant
as
the one in the F33/35, that is about 8" to 10" heart-to-heart
between
rudder axis and quadrant axis (mounting point of the cylinder).
Then
you don’t need too many alterations to the steering setup.
You will need watertight throughhulls to feed the hydraulic hoses
inside. Make sure the pump is big enough to have an acceptable
hardover time.Good luck
michel
— In freedomyachts2003@ <mailto:freedomyachts2003%
40yahoogroups.com>
yahoogroups.com, “Alan” <akusinitz@> wrote:I have a simrad 20 that mounts on the wheel and it has died
(several
deaths actually). I was wondering if anyone had figured out a
way to
use an autopilot with a mechanism that sits below the teak board
and
connects to the quadrant. Or perhaps this is not possible or
requires
too much torque. If anyone has I’d appreciate the details and
whether
its worked out well.
Thanks,
Alan F-33 Hull #51 1982