I am thinking of purchasing an Autohelm ST2000 tiller pilot for my CD27 and I was hoping someone had some fist hand experience with this unit or tiller piolets in general.
In particular:
1) What is the best methode of installation.
2) How does this unit perform under sail, or is it only good for
motoring.
3) any other comments or sugestions.
Thank you in advance for your help.
"AEOLUS"
Tiller Pilot Installation sugestions for CD27
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Steve Bernd
Re: Tiller Pilot Installation sugestions for CD27
I received an ST2000 for this Christmas and installed it soon after. My observations are as follows;
1) It works fine in moderate swell conditions under sail and power
2) Under heavy conditions (either swell or wind), it doesn't do so well and you end up steering by hand
3) Under power it is fine as long as boat speed is high enough to overcome the swell. Since the autopilot doesn't have as much swing at the tiller as you do, it can get stuck at the end of it's travel and lose control. For taking down the sails and keeping it pointed into the wind, keep the boat speed higher than you usually would.
4) To avoid mounting to the top of the locker seat (which is 90 degrees from the mounting pin on the tiller) I moved it back a bit which has proved to be a mistake as the magnaflux compass assumes the autopilot is at right angle to the boat. Compass calibration is not possible as the angle keeps changing as the arm extends itself. I am going to have to remount it and drill another hole, this time to the top of the locker cover. This means I will have to re-inforce the bottom of the lid. The instructions are not clear on how far from 90degrees is allowed.
5) I had intended on using the "free" remote control to steer from the bow as I motor around kelp beds, however, the remote extension line is not quite long enough to reach to the bow.
6) The drill bits called out for the mounting are metric sizes and quite large. They proved a bit challenging to find and ended up at the local specialty tool supply shop.
Overall, it does what I want.
Steve Bernd
Valhala
CD-28 #359
Ventura, CA
1) It works fine in moderate swell conditions under sail and power
2) Under heavy conditions (either swell or wind), it doesn't do so well and you end up steering by hand
3) Under power it is fine as long as boat speed is high enough to overcome the swell. Since the autopilot doesn't have as much swing at the tiller as you do, it can get stuck at the end of it's travel and lose control. For taking down the sails and keeping it pointed into the wind, keep the boat speed higher than you usually would.
4) To avoid mounting to the top of the locker seat (which is 90 degrees from the mounting pin on the tiller) I moved it back a bit which has proved to be a mistake as the magnaflux compass assumes the autopilot is at right angle to the boat. Compass calibration is not possible as the angle keeps changing as the arm extends itself. I am going to have to remount it and drill another hole, this time to the top of the locker cover. This means I will have to re-inforce the bottom of the lid. The instructions are not clear on how far from 90degrees is allowed.
5) I had intended on using the "free" remote control to steer from the bow as I motor around kelp beds, however, the remote extension line is not quite long enough to reach to the bow.
6) The drill bits called out for the mounting are metric sizes and quite large. They proved a bit challenging to find and ended up at the local specialty tool supply shop.
Overall, it does what I want.
Steve Bernd
Valhala
CD-28 #359
Ventura, CA
John Tsampas wrote: I am thinking of purchasing an Autohelm ST2000 tiller pilot for my CD27 and I was hoping someone had some fist hand experience with this unit or tiller piolets in general.
In particular:
1) What is the best methode of installation.
2) How does this unit perform under sail, or is it only good for
motoring.
3) any other comments or sugestions.
Thank you in advance for your help.
"AEOLUS"
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Bill Goldsmith
Re: Tiller Pilot Installation sugestions for CD27
John,
I have the ST 2000+ on Second Chance. (I bought it in 1998 to replace the broken unfixable Autohelm 800 that came to me with the boat, it fit all the existing hardware).
Installation: Detailed instructions come with the unit. The location that worked on Second Chance was as follows: The tiller pin is installed about halfway up the tiller, about even height with the cockpit seats. The unit itself has a pin that slides into a brass tube that is provided. The natural location for the tube is on the starboard cockpit locker cover, about one-quarter of the way forward. You have to drill a hole to accept the tube. Since the locker seats are cored, it would help to seal the exposed core with epoxy and redrill the hole. Furthermore, sice the tube sticks below the bottom of the locker seat, gluing a backing block of teak would make it stronger. I recall others on this board advising they mounted the tube in a hole drilled into a locker hinge, and used an extension on the autopilot arm.
It is certainly a drawback that the unit ataches to the locker seat cover, making the locker unusable while the tiller pilot is in use.
I suppose one could play around with an installation aft of the locker cover but there the tiller is too low, so some additional apparatus would have to be rigged. And I think that it is too close to the rudder shaft based on my recollection of the required leverage. In my case, the pin and tube were already there, so I just make do and try to think ahead about what is in the starboard locker before setting the tiller pilot.
Sailing with the tiller pilot: I don't really like to do it. Certainly not close hauled where you need a fine touch. On anything broader than a beam reach to a run it seems to work better, but can steer S's. There is a way to play with the "Sea state" adjustment to minimize this but I haven't take the time to play with that feature. On a very long tack with steady breezes it can provide relief and allow you to take a quick visit to the head, but I wouldn't try that for more than a moment. Better off getting a human helmsperson to take over, or in alone, heaving to.
On a long run, with preventers set, I've found that it allows me to take hands off the tiller and attend to other chores.
I find the unit most useful when motoring. When sailing, I want to SAIL. When motoring, the autopilot can relieve alot of boredom. You can attend to other chores, as long as a proper lookout is being kept. The BEST thing I did with the autopilot was to interface it with the GPS. It's actually very easy. There are two wires that go from the back of the GPS and attach to terminals on the back of the Autohelm plug. When you set a GOTO on the GPS, then hit the correct combination of buttons on the autohelm, instead of just steering a compass course, it steers you to the WAYPOINT. So, if you have cross current, leeway, etc, the unit makes micro-adjustments and you go straight there.
Bill Goldmsith
CD27#173
Second Chance
goldy@bestweb.net
I have the ST 2000+ on Second Chance. (I bought it in 1998 to replace the broken unfixable Autohelm 800 that came to me with the boat, it fit all the existing hardware).
Installation: Detailed instructions come with the unit. The location that worked on Second Chance was as follows: The tiller pin is installed about halfway up the tiller, about even height with the cockpit seats. The unit itself has a pin that slides into a brass tube that is provided. The natural location for the tube is on the starboard cockpit locker cover, about one-quarter of the way forward. You have to drill a hole to accept the tube. Since the locker seats are cored, it would help to seal the exposed core with epoxy and redrill the hole. Furthermore, sice the tube sticks below the bottom of the locker seat, gluing a backing block of teak would make it stronger. I recall others on this board advising they mounted the tube in a hole drilled into a locker hinge, and used an extension on the autopilot arm.
It is certainly a drawback that the unit ataches to the locker seat cover, making the locker unusable while the tiller pilot is in use.
I suppose one could play around with an installation aft of the locker cover but there the tiller is too low, so some additional apparatus would have to be rigged. And I think that it is too close to the rudder shaft based on my recollection of the required leverage. In my case, the pin and tube were already there, so I just make do and try to think ahead about what is in the starboard locker before setting the tiller pilot.
Sailing with the tiller pilot: I don't really like to do it. Certainly not close hauled where you need a fine touch. On anything broader than a beam reach to a run it seems to work better, but can steer S's. There is a way to play with the "Sea state" adjustment to minimize this but I haven't take the time to play with that feature. On a very long tack with steady breezes it can provide relief and allow you to take a quick visit to the head, but I wouldn't try that for more than a moment. Better off getting a human helmsperson to take over, or in alone, heaving to.
On a long run, with preventers set, I've found that it allows me to take hands off the tiller and attend to other chores.
I find the unit most useful when motoring. When sailing, I want to SAIL. When motoring, the autopilot can relieve alot of boredom. You can attend to other chores, as long as a proper lookout is being kept. The BEST thing I did with the autopilot was to interface it with the GPS. It's actually very easy. There are two wires that go from the back of the GPS and attach to terminals on the back of the Autohelm plug. When you set a GOTO on the GPS, then hit the correct combination of buttons on the autohelm, instead of just steering a compass course, it steers you to the WAYPOINT. So, if you have cross current, leeway, etc, the unit makes micro-adjustments and you go straight there.
Bill Goldmsith
CD27#173
Second Chance
John Tsampas wrote: I am thinking of purchasing an Autohelm ST2000 tiller pilot for my CD27 and I was hoping someone had some fist hand experience with this unit or tiller piolets in general.
In particular:
1) What is the best methode of installation.
2) How does this unit perform under sail, or is it only good for
motoring.
3) any other comments or sugestions.
Thank you in advance for your help.
"AEOLUS"
goldy@bestweb.net
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Stan W
Re: Tiller Pilot Installation sugestions for CD27
My CD 28 came with a Navico 5000 tillerpilot that mounts to the top of the starboard cockpit seat just aft of the locker lid, allowing the locker to be opened (but preventing the use of a normal cockpit cushion on that side) while the tiller pilot is engaged . The 12 volt socket is attached well aft on the starboard cockpit wall. The unit has to tilt down a little to reach the tiller and it probably is attached to the tiller a little further aft than optimal, but it still functions just fine. It steers a better course than I can under sail or power in most conditions. It has shown problems running more or less directly downwind under sail. I understand this is common. Improvements may be possible by adjusting the "gain," but it has not been enough of an issue for me to bother with that yet. It came with the socket wired directly to the house battery, but I wired it to its own switch on the DC panel. I don't think there is much difference between a CD 27 and a CD 28 cockpit. If the tillerpilot is powerful enough, you should be able to mount it aft of the locker. When it comes to tillerpilots, the cliche' "I don't know how I got along without one" rings very true if you do any singlehanded cruising.
smwheatley@capecod.net
smwheatley@capecod.net
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Kerry Deare
Re: Tiller Pilot Installation sugestions for CD27
I have been using this model on a CD 28 for about 3 years. I have, at various times, used an Autohelm 1000 (very old model) and a Navico TP 5500 on the same boat. All in all, this unit has probably been the best overall performer. It is basically a pretty good, pretty water-tight model at a reasonable price. Certainly powerful enough for the size boat you have in mind.John Tsampas wrote: I am thinking of purchasing an Autohelm ST2000 tiller pilot for my CD27 and I was hoping someone had some fist hand experience with this unit or tiller piolets in general.
I had it in the shop one time, and even though it was slightly out of warranty they fixed it gratis (minor repair).
Follow the detailed instructions as closely as possible. Pay particular attention to the suggested dimensions and where the tiller pin is mounted. You cannot be too exacting at this stage. Another writer here described using a backing plate and sealing the seat pin with epoxy. Make sure to follow this advice.John Tsampas wrote: 1) What is the best methode of installation.
I note that a few others who have responded to this thread have suggested mounting the tiller pin aft to be able to open the locker seat. I must respectfully disagree with this suggestion, since it reduces the leverage of the unit and makes it difficult if not impossible for the factory seting programmed into the unit to work properly. Just learn to live with no access to the locker while the pilot is in use. Better yet, get the gear out of there before mounting and engaging the pilot.
It works quite well under sail but like all pilots (an windvanes also), you must have a balanced sail plan for the conditions you encounter. If you insist on carrying a large jib going to weather in too much wind, or fail to reef in a big quartering breeze, the pilot will not provide its best performance. Just remember how much of a hand full the boat can be steering manually in such circumstances and you can easily see why.John Tsampas wrote: 2) How does this unit perform under sail, or is it only good for motoring.
Motoring is straightforward.
If you can, purchase and mount the remote control for the 2000. This is an excellent addition and allows much easier operation, as well as allowing you to change setting from under the dodger, etc (assuming you still have good visilbility from there). It sets up using "Sea Talk" which, once you get the idea, is pretty straight forward.John Tsampas wrote: 3) any other comments or sugestions.
kerrydeare@yahoo.com