SportPilot Plus autopilot?
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Jack O'Brien
- Captain
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:28 pm
- Location: West Palm Beach, Florida, 2000X, Gostosa III
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Gerald Gordon
- First Officer
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2004 9:58 pm
- Location: O'ahu, Hawai'i
aya16,
I uninstalled the AP from the steering shaft and this is the rest of the story
1. took the pilot off
2. put some lub on the shaft
3. checked the key and replaced the AP
4. bought a 5/8" split washer and installed it
5. torqued the nut to 25lbs/ft
6. attached the wheel adaptor
7. mounted the steering wheel
8. replaced the shaft nut and the plastic steering wheel center
Drum roll.......
Wheel still wobbles.
That's either normal or a defect?
I'd like to know ,of all who have a SportPilot+ who has wheel wobble and who does not?
I uninstalled the AP from the steering shaft and this is the rest of the story
1. took the pilot off
2. put some lub on the shaft
3. checked the key and replaced the AP
4. bought a 5/8" split washer and installed it
5. torqued the nut to 25lbs/ft
6. attached the wheel adaptor
7. mounted the steering wheel
8. replaced the shaft nut and the plastic steering wheel center
Drum roll.......
Wheel still wobbles.
That's either normal or a defect?
I'd like to know ,of all who have a SportPilot+ who has wheel wobble and who does not?
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Bobby T.-26X #4767
- Captain
- Posts: 906
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:48 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Oceanside Harbor, CA
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
Well went out Saturday and tried the sport pilot and lowrance 5500.
Heres the report, why did I wait so long to put an autopilot in the boat?
Absolutely incredible, It followed the GPS better then I could have I spent seven hours just running the pilot and when I wanted to go in different directions I moved the cursor on the plotter pushed the navigate button and away it went. This was by far the best improvement the boat has so far. The pilot holds the boat in all kinds of conditions. The morning was calm not much wind and the pilot held the boat at a steady 9 mph. latter the wind came up and I put the boat under sail and thats when it really started to make sense. The pilot steered the boat better than I could, This gave me time to play with the sails. Once adjusted the boat sailed better then it ever did. I went 28 miles out to sea and the pilot sailed it there and back. I averaged 6.5 7.5 mph even topping 8 mph for a few min. The heel was at 10-20 deg. It was the best sailing day I have had on the boat. It was relaxing and very fun. I even went up on the bow under sail and watched the front plow through the waves. I was amazed at the pilots
Performance better then I hoped no problem getting the GPS to talk to the pilot.
The wobble, sorry guys I dont have one. I mean if you grab the wheel and jerk it side to side hard you get some play but not what you guys are talking about.
I recommend the pilot to any one not just a single sailor the time you have to visit, play with the sails, and get a coke out of the fridge, whatever you want
Its worth it. The pilot steered what I was telling Karen nuts on, and half way through the day Cats ass came to mind many times. Absolutely unbelievable the difference in the day. It was actually very relaxing for Karen and me.
Why I picked the sport pilot over the traditional auto was easy the sport pilot is for a powerboat the other is for a sailboat. To me a sport pilot can steer the boat under power with ease but what I thought but didnt say until I tried it was the sport pilot would work very easy under sail, Im not so sure the other sail pilot would be able to deal with the relative high speed of the Mac under power, Not sure it could react to a power boat as well.
Others have them and Im sure they will comment, but for my money went to the sport pilot and Im glad. It fits the Mac like it was designed for it it was easy to install and it works way better then I thought so Im happy
mike
By the way I saw 8 Macs in differant stages of prep getting ready to go out sat. By far more of one kind of boat then any other. I talked to a few and of course they were very nice people......If any of you I talked to read this stuff here it was nice talking to you guys and girls..
.
Heres the report, why did I wait so long to put an autopilot in the boat?
Absolutely incredible, It followed the GPS better then I could have I spent seven hours just running the pilot and when I wanted to go in different directions I moved the cursor on the plotter pushed the navigate button and away it went. This was by far the best improvement the boat has so far. The pilot holds the boat in all kinds of conditions. The morning was calm not much wind and the pilot held the boat at a steady 9 mph. latter the wind came up and I put the boat under sail and thats when it really started to make sense. The pilot steered the boat better than I could, This gave me time to play with the sails. Once adjusted the boat sailed better then it ever did. I went 28 miles out to sea and the pilot sailed it there and back. I averaged 6.5 7.5 mph even topping 8 mph for a few min. The heel was at 10-20 deg. It was the best sailing day I have had on the boat. It was relaxing and very fun. I even went up on the bow under sail and watched the front plow through the waves. I was amazed at the pilots
Performance better then I hoped no problem getting the GPS to talk to the pilot.
The wobble, sorry guys I dont have one. I mean if you grab the wheel and jerk it side to side hard you get some play but not what you guys are talking about.
I recommend the pilot to any one not just a single sailor the time you have to visit, play with the sails, and get a coke out of the fridge, whatever you want
Its worth it. The pilot steered what I was telling Karen nuts on, and half way through the day Cats ass came to mind many times. Absolutely unbelievable the difference in the day. It was actually very relaxing for Karen and me.
Why I picked the sport pilot over the traditional auto was easy the sport pilot is for a powerboat the other is for a sailboat. To me a sport pilot can steer the boat under power with ease but what I thought but didnt say until I tried it was the sport pilot would work very easy under sail, Im not so sure the other sail pilot would be able to deal with the relative high speed of the Mac under power, Not sure it could react to a power boat as well.
Others have them and Im sure they will comment, but for my money went to the sport pilot and Im glad. It fits the Mac like it was designed for it it was easy to install and it works way better then I thought so Im happy
mike
By the way I saw 8 Macs in differant stages of prep getting ready to go out sat. By far more of one kind of boat then any other. I talked to a few and of course they were very nice people......If any of you I talked to read this stuff here it was nice talking to you guys and girls..
.
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richandlori
- Admiral
- Posts: 1695
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:08 pm
- Location: Living Aboard in Morro Bay, CA
- Contact:
aya,
GREAT report. A SP+ is on my list and I was waiting to hear your report. What GPS unit do you have? It sure seems like the GPS/SP+ communicated extreamly well.
On the wheel wobble, it isn't out of the possibility that the Mac Factory used some different hardware in the helm?
Keep giving us updates, as I am getting close to making a purchase.
Thanks
Rich
GREAT report. A SP+ is on my list and I was waiting to hear your report. What GPS unit do you have? It sure seems like the GPS/SP+ communicated extreamly well.
On the wheel wobble, it isn't out of the possibility that the Mac Factory used some different hardware in the helm?
Keep giving us updates, as I am getting close to making a purchase.
Thanks
Rich
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craiglaforce
- Captain
- Posts: 831
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 8:30 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Houston, Tx
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
I use the lowrance 5500 chart plotter, yes its was easy to set up..I have a garmin hand held Ive had for years and the chart plotter is by far easier to use. More user friendly. Im sure the new garmin plotters are as easy to master. The software I use with the 5500 is called nauticpath it cost is 99 bucks and it covers all the USA coast line in good detail Im happy with it.
Still the wobble thing has me baffled. Im not getting much if any movement from the sport pilot. Maybe I got lucky.
As you can tell from my post earlier Im very pleased with the units.
I cant believe how much I was doing without them. I guess I was pretty much single handling the boat even with others aboard.
Now to be fair I ziged zaged out 28 miles but mostly sailed on a straight course meaning I didnt tack, I adjusted the sails but pretty much sailed on one tack.going out. Comming in was the real test for me as the swells, and they were good size, were hitting me on my stern quarter. The pilot did fine with this. As you know sailing or motoring in those conditions the stern gets pushed around alot, I raised the dagger board at one point but the pilot kept course fine.
The rudder position sensor isnt installed on my boat and so far it was rock solid as far as keeping course, So I dont know if the sensor would make it even better. But its good enough for me now.
The Mac uses a standard teleflex steering system as far as I know, The wobble that some are talking about, or at least as written doesnt seem to be in my install, There is a little play from the mounting brace on the pilot
but that would just add to the steering slop thats in all cable steered boats.
Craiglaforce said the wobble is inside the mechanism....I cant see how thats possible because the 1 inch tappered hole in the pilot is solidly mounted to the 3/4 inch tappered steering shaft useing the adapter.
This hole is what a new shaft is bolted to to your steering wheel, If anything was going to wobble it would be the unit under force not the steering wheel.. But the new shaft that came with the unit is mounted, what looks like a rubber gasket maybe thats causeing some movement.
and if all sport pilots wobble as he said then Its exceptable to me. It feels ok.
Still the wobble thing has me baffled. Im not getting much if any movement from the sport pilot. Maybe I got lucky.
As you can tell from my post earlier Im very pleased with the units.
I cant believe how much I was doing without them. I guess I was pretty much single handling the boat even with others aboard.
Now to be fair I ziged zaged out 28 miles but mostly sailed on a straight course meaning I didnt tack, I adjusted the sails but pretty much sailed on one tack.going out. Comming in was the real test for me as the swells, and they were good size, were hitting me on my stern quarter. The pilot did fine with this. As you know sailing or motoring in those conditions the stern gets pushed around alot, I raised the dagger board at one point but the pilot kept course fine.
The rudder position sensor isnt installed on my boat and so far it was rock solid as far as keeping course, So I dont know if the sensor would make it even better. But its good enough for me now.
The Mac uses a standard teleflex steering system as far as I know, The wobble that some are talking about, or at least as written doesnt seem to be in my install, There is a little play from the mounting brace on the pilot
but that would just add to the steering slop thats in all cable steered boats.
Craiglaforce said the wobble is inside the mechanism....I cant see how thats possible because the 1 inch tappered hole in the pilot is solidly mounted to the 3/4 inch tappered steering shaft useing the adapter.
This hole is what a new shaft is bolted to to your steering wheel, If anything was going to wobble it would be the unit under force not the steering wheel.. But the new shaft that came with the unit is mounted, what looks like a rubber gasket maybe thats causeing some movement.
and if all sport pilots wobble as he said then Its exceptable to me. It feels ok.
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Tony D-26X_SusieQ
- First Officer
- Posts: 306
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:20 am
- Location: Mayo, Maryland
I too have been very pleased with my Sport Pilot. I just have the basic model and do not have the plus model. It has operated just fine for 4 seasons. 
I did have a problem with the wand falling apart in my hand the first season but Raymarine honored the warranty and repared the unit free of charge in a matter of a couple of weeks. I am currently in the market for the sea talk remote for use with the unit but have sadly discovered that Raymarine has discontinued supplying the wired unit in favor of the wireless model. 
(for more than double the price I might add. 
) So I have been looking around for a source that may still have one in stock but have not had any luck finding one. I even struck out on ebay. 
Yes, I managed to find the one item that is not available on ebay. If anyone out there knows of a source of one of these remotes please let me know. I don't want a wireless model mainly because they are just too expensive to send to the bottom of Davy Jones locker when it slips out of your hand and takes one bounce on the deck then takes the plunge.
I did have a problem with the wand falling apart in my hand the first season but Raymarine honored the warranty and repared the unit free of charge in a matter of a couple of weeks. I am currently in the market for the sea talk remote for use with the unit but have sadly discovered that Raymarine has discontinued supplying the wired unit in favor of the wireless model. (for more than double the price I might add. ) So I have been looking around for a source that may still have one in stock but have not had any luck finding one. I even struck out on ebay. Yes, I managed to find the one item that is not available on ebay. If anyone out there knows of a source of one of these remotes please let me know. I don't want a wireless model mainly because they are just too expensive to send to the bottom of Davy Jones locker when it slips out of your hand and takes one bounce on the deck then takes the plunge. -
Catigale
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10421
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Admiral .............Catigale 2002X.......Lots of Harpoon Hobie 16 Skiffs....Island 17
- Contact:
IM with you on this one Tony.
I want a wired remote onto my autopilot so if I am down below in heavy weather, I wont have to worry about my wireless running low on batteries, or losing signal or something funky.
Everytime a spy satellite goes over, she tacks....
Hyperbole, but a wireless remote violates KISS IMHO.
I want a wired remote onto my autopilot so if I am down below in heavy weather, I wont have to worry about my wireless running low on batteries, or losing signal or something funky.
Everytime a spy satellite goes over, she tacks....
Hyperbole, but a wireless remote violates KISS IMHO.
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richandlori
- Admiral
- Posts: 1695
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:08 pm
- Location: Living Aboard in Morro Bay, CA
- Contact:
