Help buying a tiller pilot

mountforever · #1 (**permalink**) 12-13-2009

Hey there,
Looking to get my first tiller pilot for my Cal 22. Looking at a new Autohelm 800 or a used Autohelm 1000, or a new tp10 Simrad. I sail in the bay area where our afternoons have common 20 knot blows so I'm going to need something that can stand up to the test. What do you guys think about brand/reliability and used versus new? I don't have a lot in the budget for this. Thanks again!

pedcab · #2 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

I have a second handed Autohelm 1000 in my trimaran which was allready more than 10 years old when I got it. Never let the previous owner down, never let me down...

Another information I'd find useful: I my boat I've never seen in draw more than 3 amp while operating...

Regards!

nightowle · #3 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

I have an Autohelm 800. It works well, but sometimes (lately) one of the bands slips off and I have to open the unit and reset it. But the unit came with the boat....so I'm not complaining. If the sea is choppy, then auto has a tougher time holding course.

nickmerc · #4 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

I have an old Autohelm 1000 for my Pearson 30. When the sails are trimmed correctly it works well. Recently, though, it seems to flake out and completely retract. This usually happens when I am dropping the main while motoring. I am not sure what is wrong. I am considering replacing it with an ST2000+ (the new generation of Autohelms) so I can get a wireless remote for it. The only drawback to the Simrads I see is the remote is wired. On a 30' boat you cannot get up to the bow.
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okawbow · #5 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

I did a 1000 mile trip with the TP10, and it worked great the whole time. One has to learn how to set the reaction time to match the boat, and conditions. I use mine to tack while singlehanding. It becomes just another boat control after a while.

pedcab · #6 (**permalink**) 12-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickmerc

I have an old Autohelm 1000 for my Pearson 30. When the sails are trimmed correctly it works well. Recently, though, it seems to flake out and completely retract. This usually happens when I am dropping the main while motoring. I am not sure what is wrong.

I also experience that, as I suppose everyone does, because while lowering sails under motor I usually don´t have enough speed for the AP to be able to maintain the preset heading and so it fully retracts or fully extends in the vain attempt to maintain a heading.

In addition I also have the wired remote control unit. In this older model it's very simple (with only +1,-1,+10,-10 buttons) but still very helpfull. I tottaly suggest it.

Regards!

nickmerc · #7 (**permalink**) 12-15-2009

Up until the end of this season the tiller pilot had no issues holding course. when it went hard over the boat started to turn in circles. Fortunately each time this happened there was little or no wind. I also noticed that it just stops holding a course sporadically while under sail.

Pedcab does bring up a good point. If you can afford it, get the next size up so you definitely have the speed and thrust needed to handle rought conditions.
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pedcab · #8 (**permalink**) 12-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickmerc

Up until the end of this season the tiller pilot had no issues holding course. when it went hard over the boat started to turn in circles. Fortunately each time this happened there was little or no wind. I also noticed that it just stops holding a course sporadically while under sail.

Pedcab does bring up a good point. If you can afford it, get the next size up so you definitely have the speed and thrust needed to handle rought conditions.

From reading your post I've realized that perhaps I didn't make myself clear.

It is unquestionable that one should always buy the most powerful AP unit that he can afford (provided it is reasonably sized for the boat in question), but what I've tried to explain is that, sometimes, my autopilot is unable to hold a headind due to the lack of speed of the boat and not due to a fault in the AP itself, for instance:

If I'm lowering sail under heavy wind with the motor just above idle, the boat does not have enough water speed for the rudder to be effective and, inevitably, bears away from the wind. Consequently the AP tries to correct to the last preset heading which it is unable to acomplish simply due to the lack of speed for the rudder to be effective...

Hope I've made myself clearer this time, sfter all this is not my native language

Regards!

Pedro Cabral

BobS2 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-16-2009

My S2 27 was equipped with the Navico version of the TP10 when I got her. I'm not sure when Simrad took over. It's simple and still kicking. If it gets wound out all the way due to lack of headway, it has jammed there twice. I've backed the case screws out and hand wound it in a few turns and all is well again. It does not handle downwind following sea conditions in that the yaw is too confusing and it overcorrects. Likewise trying to point very high in 12-15kts where weather helm is kicking in.

It's great to take a break or tacking singlehanded in medium conditions and at its best motoring in dead calm when being stuck at the helm is a drag anyway.

nickmerc · #10 (**permalink**) 12-17-2009

Pedro,

I understand what you are saying. My problem is even with enough speed to control the boat the tiller pilot just "freaks out". The only way I have found to recover from this is the disconnect the power for a minute and try again. I can't even put the unit into standby mode when it happens. It may be time for a new one.
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