autohelm on a sailboat feedback

[torrential]

I was wondering what the opinion of experienced coastal cruisers and daysailors is regarding autohelm. One boat I'm looking at has it and the other does not. I've noticed that it's about a $4000 add-on. With all else being equal do I go for the boat with existing autohelm? Thanks in advance for any guidance.

[Hudsonian]

It'll steer a straighter course than you can, therby, improving DR navigation. it reduces tedium of long passages. It's nice to have two hands free to eat a sandwich.

My current boat came with one when i bought it. I wouldn't purchased it. Now that i have an autopilot, I wouldn't do without it.

[tommyt]

If all else is equal...sure, take the Autohelm. Hard to find boats that are equal though, there is always extra stuff on some and non maintained stuff on others.

If you are going to be single handing a lot, the autohelm is a big plus. I learned to single without it, and sometimes still do. However, if it gets nasty it is a lot easier with auto handling the wheel during a tack. Or when you have to get a beer, or make a sandwich, or use the head. If you always sail with others you probably will not use it for daysails and short coastal cruising.

Also, unless it is a hydraulic autohelm, it will be very sensitive to sail trim. Most of the wheel pilots like to be in trim or wander a lot.

[Faster]

It's useful to steer a straight course while you're setting or dousing sail shorthanded, and as mentioned already, eases the tedium of a long motor in calm conditions.

We don't use it much under sail, if tuned for hull speed powering it doesn't handle sailing very well. Nice to have for sure.

[torrential]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a plus to me even if its only for under motor or having a sandwich.

[Sailormann]

I never had one until I bought this boat. Had been on other boats that had them and thought they were okay but not too important. After having had one, I'll never go without again.

[Vitesse473]

We installed the Autohelm (can't remember the model) that mounts to the helm station just forward of the wheel on our Beneteau 38s5. It was aweful. Any time the unit was under stress, say 15kts+, it would not hold the given course. So, more dangerous than useful. I imagine it would be great on something like our old Santana22 or Ericson29, but those were tillers, not wheels.

The unit was black and red and basically was a large donut surrounding the wheel post. sorry that's all I remember. It was best suited for the trash can.

[HeaveToo]

I single hand a lot and I love my autohelm. It really helps in long trips and it keeps you from being tied to the helm. I added it to my current boat and I am glad that I did. I don't think that I would have a boat without it now.

[torrential]

thanks for the great feedback. If I buy a boat that does not have autohelm I plan on installing the wheel mount type because the hydraulic type is so much more expensive. I noticed that one pespondent did'nt like the wheel mount. Have others had positive experience with the wheel mount autohelm?

[CBinRI]

Originally Posted by torrential

I was wondering what the opinion of experienced coastal cruisers and daysailors is regarding autohelm. One boat I'm looking at has it and the other does not. I've noticed that it's about a $4000 add-on. With all else being equal do I go for the boat with existing autohelm? Thanks in advance for any guidance.

I would vote for it. It relieves the tedium of being at the helm for long trips. It steers a much better course than many people. And it can make it much easier to single-hand a boat.