 Check out the bookstore at IRBS.com |
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
Subject: Re: [worldcruising] Tiller autopilot
From: Arthur Plottier (arthurplottier@XXX.XXX)
Date: Fri Jan 19 2001 - 17:16:01 EST
Thanks Russ for your interesting comments about the tiller pilots.
As I said previously the Autohelm range is out of question, regardless of
the quality or strenght until Raytheon release the technical information
about the electronic circuit so their equipment can be repaired world wide
without changing parts.
The boat in question has a tramson hanging rudder and I wonder if the pilot
can be conected to a rudder trim tab to minimize the torque required. I
heard that many people conect the tiller pilots in the wind vane mechanism
and do the job.
I will get in touch with George Whisstock who is the designer of the yacht.
Cheers
Arthur
>From: "Russ Swan" <ruswan@XXX.XXX>
>Reply-To: worldcruising@XXX.XXX
>To: <worldcruising@XXX.XXX>
>Subject: Re: [worldcruising] Tiller autopilot
>Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 22:12:32 +0930
>
>G'day,
>
>Just gone through this particular mill for my 30ft steel cutter. Loaded up
>for a cruising trip she displaces about 8 tonne. My previous tiller
>pilot
>was an Autohelm 2000 but couldn't get parts any more. My main concerns
>about getting a replacement were strength and hardover time.
>
>Eventually settled on the Simrad TP30 (ex Navico TP300CX). Seems Simrad
>have just bought out the Navico stuff, changed the specs for this
>particular
>model and changed it's identification, but it's the same thing allright,
>just a different name. Compared it with my marina neighbour. Price has
>gone up too. I was lucky to get mine through a local dealer for AUS $1100.
>This was pretty much the advertised price through various websites, but
>it's
>around the AUS $1300 mark a couple of months ago.
>
>Navico said this model would handle up to 20,000 lbs or 45 ft. Simrad make
>no such claims but do agree with a hardover peak thrust of about 187lbs and
>a hardover time of maximum 8.5 seconds under full load. I find under light
>load it takes about 4-5 seconds.
>
>The Raytheon 4000 Plus TP was about the next closest, but I wasn't entirely
>convinced as far as strength goes. Although there is an optional GP model
>if you want to pay more. BTW don't fall for the old 'fits boat up to xxx
>ft' routine. Look first for what displacement the product will handle then
>the LOA.
>
> Having fitted it now I'm pretty well satisfied that it should be strong
>enough to handle most of the trade wind stuff up to maybe 15-20 kts.
>Everything is a compromise. It certainly seems much stronger than the old
>Autohelm 2000 which served me well a few times even in seas up to 3 metres.
>I wouldn't normally put it to this work but that's another story.
>
>One problem I've noted so far when using the auto tack feature is that it
>has sometimes started to bring the tiller back before the bow has gone
>through the wind. It's early days yet but to get around this I punch the
>key twice to bring the nose up 20 degrees then press the auto tack
>function.
>The system also 'remembers' the course corrections it makes and can tend to
>take a while to respond to minor course corrections..... so you need to
>watch it.
>
>And it won't work through a series of GPS waypoints. It just gets there
>and
>you have to reset the next... but I reckon that's ok anyway. But to work
>off a GPS you will need the 'optional' compass, and that'll cost more.
>
>As they say you get what you pay for, but for it's money I reckon you'll
>get
>value for it. Especially for our yankee friends given the value of the US$
>and AUS$.
>
>If you're still concerned about strength but really, really want to use a
>tiller pilot, consider hooking it up to one of the smallish externally
>mounted hydraulic drive units. You can get some ideas by looking in
>boatyards that sell small boat fishing rigs e.g. dingies around 16 ft to 21
>ft fitted with (say) 80 hp to 120 hp outboard engines. Perhaps some other
>skippers have some ideas about that.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Russ Swan
>SV Lowana IV
>Darwin, Australia
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Arthur Plottier <arthurplottier@XXX.XXX>
>To: <worldcruising-X-egroups.com@XXX.XXX>
>Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2001 4:32 PM
>Subject: [worldcruising] Tiller autopilot
>
>
> > Hi everybody,
> >
> > At the present time I am researching on tiller mounted autopilots and
> > would like to have some inputs from the members.
> >
> > As far as the Raytheon, I am discarding it because the information
> > given by several repairers in the east coast of Australia regarding
> > the facility of obtaining information about the circuit boards to be
> > able to repair it.
> >
> > One day at Bundarberg 2 Dutch sailors walked in in a repair shop with
> > two units that have given them nothing but trouble and they were
> > unable to fix them in the Pacific islands.
> >
> > The problems were not because overloading or bad tiller balancing.
> >
> > I am looking at the Simrad TP30 suitable for yachts up to 40' to use
> > in a 35 footer 7 ton displacement.
> >
> > Any info will be appreciated.
> >
> > Best regards
> >
> > Arthur Plottier
> >
> >
> >
> > =====================================
> > to unsubscribe email to: worldcruising-unsubscribe@onelist.com
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>_____________________________________________
>Forward your email to one or multiple addresses at www.mail-x-change.com
>
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
=====================================
to unsubscribe email to: worldcruising-unsubscribe@onelist.com
|