Auto Pilot, YES!

[Lee H. Hodsdon]

I just wanted to pass along a discovery made this weekend, which I am certain many of you know --- but just in case there are a few out there wondering if these things are worth the cost, here we go. My wife and I took our CD 25D "LOKI" from Portsmouth, NH up the coast to East Boothbay, ME this weekend. This trip is usually rather tedious as there are few anchorages and no islands until you reach Portland and Casco Bay. From this point it is 25 or 30 miles toward an empty horizon to reach our destination. This winter I purchased an Autohelm ST2000 autopilot after a great deal of thought, questioning the real value of the unit etc. etc.; I could go on but you all know the drill. I integrated the unit with my GPS (three wires, no big deal at all just follow directions) so the autopilot responds to, and corrects any cross track error from the GPS unit, thus keeping you on course despite the effects of current, wind or wave action. I gotta tell you this is the best piece of equipment I've purchased in a long time. It turned two days of sitting at the tiller, staring at the compass while motoring up the coast into two days of time spent with my wife on deck, reading, talking, eating with BOTH hands while looking out for other vessels.

If your vacations are anything like mine, it takes at least one week to get relaxed and then the real vacation starts. The autopilot has to add two weeks of relaxing (my math may be a little loose, step two is "then a miracle occurrs") to a two day delivery!

When the wind came up, I was able to fly the spinnaker by myself with no problems at all, sail changes were a snap and I even took the time to install the second set of reefing point lines and telltales on the main, all while motoring toward our destination. I was tempted to touch up the varnish but thought it a bit much.

One real mportant safety tip, wear a harness and a safety line securely attached to the boat when ever the autopilot is engaged. should you have the unfortunate luck to fall overboard without this gear the boat will just keep going like that damn bunny!

There, I feel better. Hope I didn't bore you, but if you are on the fence about a similar purchase --- buy it. It adds a whole new dimension to your sailing experience.

Sincerely,

Lee



lhodsdon@nh.ultranet.com

[Bill Goldsmith]

Nice to hear about your experience! Well-timed as well. This is my first season with my 1980 CD27. The boat came with an Autohelm 800 (about 8-10 years of age). Unfortunately, within a month of owning the boat the unit locked up and just started beeping incessantly. After a long wait on the phone at Raytheon customer service I was advised that it would need a $200 repair job: the microprocessor was "locked." At least they still support the unit.

However, I asked whether it would be worth it, as I suspected that the 800 was too light for my boat. As I thought, the rep advised that the 800 was only for boats up to about 5,000 displacement (the CD27 runs at 7,500 without people, gear, etc. The Autohelm folks advise taking into account people, gear etc when buying.

To make a long story short, I, too, bought an ST2000+, which seems to work fine with the boat. Is there anyone out there with a smaller CD model who wants a repairable 800 very cheap?

Can you elaborate a little on the installation of the GPS? I have a GARMIN 48 which I would like to interface, but I seem to recall postings that indicate the connection is not as straightforward as the instructions would indicate. Thanks.

Bill Goldsmith
s/v Second Chance
CD 27
Croton-on-Hudson, NY

I just wanted to pass along a discovery made this weekend, which I am certain many of you know --- but just in case there are a few out there wondering if these things are worth the cost, here we go. My wife and I took our CD 25D "LOKI" from Portsmouth, NH up the coast to East Boothbay, ME this weekend. This trip is usually rather tedious as there are few anchorages and no islands until you reach Portland and Casco Bay. From this point it is 25 or 30 miles toward an empty horizon to reach our destination. This winter I purchased an Autohelm ST2000 autopilot after a great deal of thought, questioning the real value of the unit etc. etc.; I could go on but you all know the drill. I integrated the unit with my GPS (three wires, no big deal at all just follow directions) so the autopilot responds to, and corrects any cross track error from the GPS unit, thus keeping you on course despite the effects of current, wind or wave action. I gotta tell you this is the best piece of equipment I've purchased in a long time. It turned two days of sitting at the tiller, staring at the compass while motoring up the coast into two days of time spent with my wife on deck, reading, talking, eating with BOTH hands while looking out for other vessels.

If your vacations are anything like mine, it takes at least one week to get relaxed and then the real vacation starts. The autopilot has to add two weeks of relaxing (my math may be a little loose, step two is "then a miracle occurrs") to a two day delivery!

When the wind came up, I was able to fly the spinnaker by myself with no problems at all, sail changes were a snap and I even took the time to install the second set of reefing point lines and telltales on the main, all while motoring toward our destination. I was tempted to touch up the varnish but thought it a bit much.

One real mportant safety tip, wear a harness and a safety line securely attached to the boat when ever the autopilot is engaged. should you have the unfortunate luck to fall overboard without this gear the boat will just keep going like that damn bunny!

There, I feel better. Hope I didn't bore you, but if you are on the fence about a similar purchase --- buy it. It adds a whole new dimension to your sailing experience.

Sincerely,

Lee

goldy@bestweb.net

[Bill]

Lee:

I have a question or two for you. 1st, why did you choose the Autohelm over the Navico unit? I have no experience with either of the units, but have read a practical sailor review that rated the navico superior to the autohelm, even a review of the AT2000+ (as I recall) and neither review was overly complimentary.

2nd, (and you may have answered this via email earlier this spring) what mounting process did you use?

Thanks
Bill

I just wanted to pass along a discovery made this weekend, which I am certain many of you know --- but just in case there are a few out there wondering if these things are worth the cost, here we go. My wife and I took our CD 25D "LOKI" from Portsmouth, NH up the coast to East Boothbay, ME this weekend. This trip is usually rather tedious as there are few anchorages and no islands until you reach Portland and Casco Bay. From this point it is 25 or 30 miles toward an empty horizon to reach our destination. This winter I purchased an Autohelm ST2000 autopilot after a great deal of thought, questioning the real value of the unit etc. etc.; I could go on but you all know the drill. I integrated the unit with my GPS (three wires, no big deal at all just follow directions) so the autopilot responds to, and corrects any cross track error from the GPS unit, thus keeping you on course despite the effects of current, wind or wave action. I gotta tell you this is the best piece of equipment I've purchased in a long time. It turned two days of sitting at the tiller, staring at the compass while motoring up the coast into two days of time spent with my wife on deck, reading, talking, eating with BOTH hands while looking out for other vessels.

If your vacations are anything like mine, it takes at least one week to get relaxed and then the real vacation starts. The autopilot has to add two weeks of relaxing (my math may be a little loose, step two is "then a miracle occurrs") to a two day delivery!

When the wind came up, I was able to fly the spin

willie@clnk.com

[Lee H. Hodsdon]

Bill,

I am familiar with the Practical Sailor article, the unit mentioned was the 800 or 1000 (please excuse me if the number designations are incorrect), much weaker than the 2000. The 2000 interfaces directly with my GPS, a Raytheon Nav 298. Raytheon is right down the road in Manchester, NH and their tech and customer support is fantastic. I compared the two units and at first was leaning toward the Navico because of its quicker "hard over time", but I got the beefier 2000 at a fantastic boat show price and I'm glad I did.

As to mounting I set the pin into the top surface of the tiller with thickened epoxy at the distance specified in the installation instructions from the rudder post to pin center, and the brass socket to receive the autopilot base mount in the starboard locker cover per the installation instructions, with a piece of scrap mahogany epoxied to the underside of the seat as reinforcement.

I do not use cockpit cushions as they slipped constantly, and were "alive" when I stood on them. Without the cushions this mount works very well. The power/control socket is mounted on the aft vertical bulkhead, just to starboard of the motor controls.

I hope this answered your questions, the unit sure made life simple for me.

Sincerely,

Lee

Lee:

I have a question or two for you. 1st, why did you choose the Autohelm over the Navico unit? I have no experience with either of the units, but have read a practical sailor review that rated the navico superior to the autohelm, even a review of the AT2000+ (as I recall) and neither review was overly complimentary.

2nd, (and you may have answered this via email earlier this spring) what mounting process did you use?

Thanks
Bill

I just wanted to pass along a discovery made this weekend, which I am certain many of you know --- but just in case there are a few out there wondering if these things are worth the cost, here we go. My wife and I took our CD 25D "LOKI" from Portsmouth, NH up the coast to East Boothbay, ME this weekend. This trip is usually rather tedious as there are few anchorages and no islands until you reach Portland and Casco Bay. From this point it is 25 or 30 miles toward an empty horizon to reach our destination. This winter I purchased an Autohelm ST2000 autopilot after a great deal of thought, questioning the real value of the unit etc. etc.; I could go on but you all know the drill. I integrated the unit with my GPS (three wires, no big deal at all just follow directions) so the autopilot responds to, and corrects any cross track error from the GPS unit, thus keeping you on course despite the effects of current, wind or wave action. I gotta tell you this is the best piece of equipment I've purchased in a long time. It turned two days of sitting at the tiller, staring at the compass while motoring up the coast into two days of time spent with my wife on deck, reading, talking, eating with BOTH hands while looking out for other vessels.

If your vacations are anything like mine, it takes at least one week to get relaxed and then the real vacation starts. The autopilot has to add two weeks of relaxing (my math may be a little loose, step two is "then a miracle occurrs") to a two day delivery!

When the wind came up, I was able to fly the spin

lhodsdon@nh.ultranet.com

[Lee H. Hodsdon]

Bill,

I interface with a Raytheon Nav 298, real simple as Raytheon and Autohelm use NMEA 0183 (I think, I'm at my desk and the book is on the boat, guess where I'd rather be?) language to communicate. The information sent from the GPS is displayed in the 2000 window. Information includes heading to waypoint, heading steered, distance to waypoint and cross track error. As a note, when we approached Seguin, we were being set by the current; the bearing to the waypoint differed by 5 degrees or more from the heading of the boat. This difference was to compensate for the set of the current.

My installation was quite simple, and again this is from memory, but:

There were two wires data +, data - that I ran from my GPS to the power/control plug for the autopilot. These wires carry the cross track error information to the autopilot, keeping you on course with a minimum of cross track error. Wire location and identification is provided in the autopilot and GPS manual. I used two conductor shielded cable for the signal wire to eliminate electrical noise in the control signal. Shielded cable has a foil covering over the conductors, one end of which is grounded. Any "noise" is picked up by the shield and carried to ground. You never ground both ends of the shield because then it becomes an antenna and your autopilot will become real creative!

I'll look at the manual again to see if the Garmin unit is listed.

Sincerely,

Lee

Nice to hear about your experience! Well-timed as well. This is my first season with my 1980 CD27. The boat came with an Autohelm 800 (about 8-10 years of age). Unfortunately, within a month of owning the boat the unit locked up and just started beeping incessantly. After a long wait on the phone at Raytheon customer service I was advised that it would need a $200 repair job: the microprocessor was "locked." At least they still support the unit.

However, I asked whether it would be worth it, as I suspected that the 800 was too light for my boat. As I thought, the rep advised that the 800 was only for boats up to about 5,000 displacement (the CD27 runs at 7,500 without people, gear, etc. The Autohelm folks advise taking into account people, gear etc when buying.

To make a long story short, I, too, bought an ST2000+, which seems to work fine with the boat. Is there anyone out there with a smaller CD model who wants a repairable 800 very cheap?

Can you elaborate a little on the installation of the GPS? I have a GARMIN 48 which I would like to interface, but I seem to recall postings that indicate the connection is not as straightforward as the instructions would indicate. Thanks.

Bill Goldsmith
s/v Second Chance
CD 27
Croton-on-Hudson, NY

I just wanted to pass along a discovery made this weekend, which I am certain many of you know --- but just in case there are a few out there wondering if these things are worth the cost, here we go. My wife and I took our CD 25D "LOKI" from Portsmouth, NH up the coast to East Boothbay, ME this weekend. This trip is usually rather tedious as there are few anchorages and no islands until you reach Portland and Casco Bay. From this point it is 25 or 30 miles toward an empty horizon to reach our destination. This winter I purchased an Autohelm ST2000 autopilot after a great deal of thought, questioning the real value of the unit etc. etc.; I could go on but you all know the drill. I integrated the unit with my GPS (three wires, no big deal at all just follow directions) so the autopilot responds to, and corrects any cross track error from the GPS unit, thus keeping you on course despite the effects of current, wind or wave action. I gotta tell you this is the best piece of equipment I've purchased in a long time. It turned two days of sitting at the tiller, staring at the compass while motoring up the coast into two days of time spent with my wife on deck, reading, talking, eating with BOTH hands while looking out for other vessels.

If your vacations are anything like mine, it takes at least one week to get relaxed and then the real vacation starts. The autopilot has to add two weeks of relaxing (my math may be a little loose, step two is "then a miracle occurrs") to a two day delivery!

When the wind came up, I was able to fly the spinnaker by myself with no problems at all, sail changes were a snap and I even took the time to install the second set of reefing point lines and telltales on the main, all while motoring toward our destination. I was tempted to touch up the varnish but thought it a bit much.

One real mportant safety tip, wear a harness and a safety line securely attached to the boat when ever the autopilot is engaged. should you have the unfortunate luck to fall overboard without this gear the boat will just keep going like that damn bunny!

There, I feel better. Hope I didn't bore you, but if you are on the fence about a similar purchase --- buy it. It adds a whole new dimension to your sailing experience.

Sincerely,

Lee

lhodsdon@nh.ultranet.com

[Brett I. Miller]

Bill:

I might be interested in your 800. How cheap were you thinking? Please email me at mill7846@mlb.com or call at (202) 467-7846 to discuss further if you're so inclined. Thanks.

Brett Miller

Nice to hear about your experience! Well-timed as well. This is my first season with my 1980 CD27. The boat came with an Autohelm 800 (about 8-10 years of age). Unfortunately, within a month of owning the boat the unit locked up and just started beeping incessantly. After a long wait on the phone at Raytheon customer service I was advised that it would need a $200 repair job: the microprocessor was "locked." At least they still support the unit.

However, I asked whether it would be worth it, as I suspected that the 800 was too light for my boat. As I thought, the rep advised that the 800 was only for boats up to about 5,000 displacement (the CD27 runs at 7,500 without people, gear, etc. The Autohelm folks advise taking into account people, gear etc when buying.

To make a long story short, I, too, bought an ST2000+, which seems to work fine with the boat. Is there anyone out there with a smaller CD model who wants a repairable 800 very cheap?

Can you elaborate a little on the installation of the GPS? I have a GARMIN 48 which I would like to interface, but I seem to recall postings that indicate the connection is not as straightforward as the instructions would indicate. Thanks.

Bill Goldsmith
s/v Second Chance
CD 27
Croton-on-Hudson, NY

I just wanted to pass along a discovery made this weekend, which I am certain many of you know --- but just in case there are a few out there wondering if these things are worth the cost, here we go. My wife and I took our CD 25D "LOKI" from Portsmouth, NH up the coast to East Boothbay, ME this weekend. This trip is usually rather tedious as there are few anchorages and no islands until you reach Portland and Casco Bay. From this point it is 25 or 30 miles toward an empty horizon to reach our destination. This winter I purchased an Autohelm ST2000 autopilot after a great deal of thought, questioning the real value of the unit etc. etc.; I could go on but you all know the drill. I integrated the unit with my GPS (three wires, no big deal at all just follow directions) so the autopilot responds to, and corrects any cross track error from the GPS unit, thus keeping you on course despite the effects of current, wind or wave action. I gotta tell you this is the best piece of equipment I've purchased in a long time. It turned two days of sitting at the tiller, staring at the compass while motoring up the coast into two days of time spent with my wife on deck, reading, talking, eating with BOTH hands while looking out for other vessels.

If your vacations are anything like mine, it takes at least one week to get relaxed and then the real vacation starts. The autopilot has to add two weeks of relaxing (my math may be a little loose, step two is "then a miracle occurrs") to a two day delivery!

When the wind came up, I was able to fly the spinnaker by myself with no problems at all, sail changes were a snap and I even took the time to install the second set of reefing point lines and telltales on the main, all while motoring toward our destination. I was tempted to touch up the varnish but thought it a bit much.

One real mportant safety tip, wear a harness and a safety line securely attached to the boat when ever the autopilot is engaged. should you have the unfortunate luck to fall overboard without this gear the boat will just keep going like that damn bunny!

There, I feel better. Hope I didn't bore you, but if you are on the fence about a similar purchase --- buy it. It adds a whole new dimension to your sailing experience.

Sincerely,

Lee

MILL7846@MLB.COM

[Geoff Safron]

Hi, Guys;
I can offer a parallel testimonial on the subject of Autohelm pilots to anyone with a CD30, even one like mine with wooden-wheel/wormgear steering. I got a ST4000 wheelpilot this spring, and it has been every bit the blessing that Lee described. We had some challenges attatching drive gear-ring to wheel, as the mounting studs are right at the inner lip of the wheel, but elegantly solved things with three brass L-brackets screwed securely to the inside curve of the wheel. If you're not looking for it, you don't even notice the pilot.

Lee, I'd also be interested in what you come up with re interfacing the Garmin 48 to an Autohelm unit--I had the notion that one had to use the Autohelm/Raytheon GPS product to get them to talk to each other, and thus I've been compass-steering and manually correcting for leeway. It'd be great to "set n' forget"!

Geoff



Brainstorm@Unidial.com