The Autopilot will set me free. I don’t want to screw around with my pilot this time. If you guys remember I went through a few pilots over the previous years, I’m kind of hard on them.
The most disturbing time of my Pacific crossing was when my pilot failed after leaving the Palmerton atoll (
I got out bid on the autopilot that I really wanted. It was an old Robertson AP2000 with an HLD2000 linear drive, it went for $510.00, and I’m really kicking myself in the ass for not putting in a higher bid. The “Balls” of an autopilot are in the drive, and after a lot of research I’m finding that drives are somewhat generic. One can use a Raymarine computer with lets say a Simrad drive. Raymarine sponsored me the equipment on Namaste but not this time. My contact left and I just don’t have good communication with them any more. I have to piece together an autopilot with parts I scrounge on eBay. The one component I know I want is a Simrad HLD2000 hydraulic linear drive. I did buy an old Autohelm 6000 autopilot on eBay for $800.00 but it has a type 1 (short) linear drive and I just don’t think it is “beefy” enough for what I want my autopilot to do. I like the long Type 2 Raymarine linear drive but I just can’t find one. A new one from West Marine goes for $1749.99, ouch! I’ll use the components from the Autohelm 6000 and probably try to sell the drive on eBay. The T1, and T2 Raymarine drives are mechanical using a threaded stainless rod with an electric motor. I really want to go with a hydraulic linear drive which puts me into a Simrad drive. After doing a bunch of research I really like the Comnav autopilots. I’ve heard really good things about them over the years but I’ve never come across a used one. I think people stick with them. I hear good things about WH auto pilots as well, but once again there are no used ones about.
The photo is of my steering quadrant. Mounting the drive is another whole issue. I need to fabricate a tiller arm or buy one from Edson. A tiller arm fits on the rudder post and the linear drive attaches to it. You know the funny thing, most people have wheel pilots and want wheels on their small to medium size sailboats. I prefer a tiller, and a tiller pilot. Now that I have a big boat with mechanical steering, and putting in a “real” autopilot in, I’m realizing that all it is, is a tiller pilot below decks with a small tiller attached to the rudder post. I had a wheel pilot on my old H34 and it was fine for light duty.
As soon as I have a working autopilot, I’ll be heading to the keys. I’m really looking forward to my first sail! What a day it will be!!!
Peace from
Alex
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