Current thinking on Autopilot for 26M?

[Boblee]

Yes I think the fluxgate compass rattled, congratulations you should really enjoy it, finally got around to doing the sea trials on ours and used it over several hundred k's of sailing and motoring, wasn't so impressed with the motoring control but the sailing was brilliant.

[J.Teixeira]

Hi Rainier

I remember mi flux gate rattled...

I think that it is a kind of gyroscope

In the Manual I read

"The compass contains a self-leveling mechanism. This enables the
compass to provide accurate readings with pitch and roll movements
up to +/- 35°.
Note: The rattle that the flux gate compass makes when shaken is
normal. It is caused by the pendulum weight hitting the inside of
the case."

All the Best

Jose

[2BonC]

Thanks to Jose and Boblee, now I´m satisfied. As soon as it becoms warmer I´ll start mounting it.
I´m still not sure about the position where to mount the Smart Pilot Controller because no space is left at the pedestral (RPM and Outboardtilt is there).
As it should be in reach distance from the steering seat and I´m righthanded the only place I can imagine is to the starbord side cockpit wall. I know, Jose has made bad experiance with the controller installed close to the companion way .

Any other idea?

Rainer

[J.Teixeira]

Hi Rainier

Mi controller is on the right side of the companion way.

It is not very practical place because to steer before passing to auto it is difficult.

In mi Dehler I have it on the pedestal where it is much useful...

I am moving mi controller in the Mac to the pedestal and install the wind computer on is place.

But I am still thinking about it...

All the Best

Jose

PS: You Teak is wonderful
It sounds like teak on Mac's is a "European Gadget"

[c130king]

Could you attach it to the port side of the pedastal on that dark piece of plexiglass coverplate?

Jim

[J.Teixeira]

I am thinking on putting it on the side of the pedestal.



On the little empty above the bags.

Maybe...

Jose

[Oskar 26M]

I have been a bit preoccupied lately (been out sailing in my 26M) so I missed a bit of this thread.
1. Rainer: the fluxgate compass rattles if it its shaken inside its housing. This is 'normal' according to what I read in my installation manual, and has to do with the design of the compass. So far, the one I have has operated perfectly
2. I have
* Wheel Drive, mounted on a standard 26M 5 spoke wheel;
* Smartpilot X-5 Course Computer, mounted on the port side of the cockpit/companionway protrusion into the aft part of the cabin
* SmartPilot ST6002 Controller, mounted on the surface of the helm pedestal (accessible, but not ideal because the surface of the pedestal slopes away from the helmsman so it is not easy to read the display)
* Fluxgate Compass, mounted on the midline starboard dinette locker wall immediately aft of the dagger-board trunk as shown in other installations on this thread)
3. I have used the system every sailing day since I installed it (see earlier posts in this thread). I have been amazed at how well it performs in a whole range of weather conditions under both sail and power. Even with following (or worse for the 26M, stern quartering) seas, it hold the 26M on course with a precision that I would be struggling to maintain manually.
4. My Wheel-pilot is connected to a Seiwa Seahorse GPS chart-plotter. The autopilot accepts and tracks the GPS NMEA output to a 'goto' or preset 'route' on the chart plotter with astonishing precision.
5. I find the autopilot extremely useful when single handing the boat. 'Otto' (the autopilot) looks after the helm, while I can be busy elsewhere, raising or trimming sails, dropping or retrieving anchor, or just going below decks to get a cold drink or a cup of coffee. Naturally, I have to maintain watch for other boats etc, but the autopilot is far more useful than I had imagined. It will even do a good job when coming about, leaving me free to sheet the jib and trim the sails.
5. The one thing my system lacks is the the ability the steer to wind. I can get Otto to maintain a course while raising, lowering or reefing sails, but he will only maintain a compass bearing, so if the wind shifts I need to make a course adjustment. A Raymarine wind speed/direction add-on is therefore high on my saving priority list at the moment and I am also looking forward to having the 'auto-tack' function this will enable.
6.With hindsight, I wish that I had gone for the colour (and smarter) controller, and maybe also for a remote controller so I could steer the boat from anywhere. They are now on my future wish-list.

[hart]

Anybody else notice the $750.00 price point for the Raymarine S1 now? I got an ad mail from sailnet with it and that's about what Waste Marine had it for but it's no longer available through them online. I guess everyone's closing them out. I'm thinking about pulling the trigger for my X. Oh, and no this is not just the core pack.

[c130king]

After much agonizing over whether I should or shouldn't I pulled the trigger last night and ordered the S1 from SailNet for $750 (plus $20 for shipping). I blame Leon and others for bragging about how great their systems are working.

You see the problem is I live overseas...König lives in Florida...thus I spend too much time "on-line"and not enough time "on-boat".

If I don't get orders back to the U.S. for this Summer I may just explode...

or melt a credit card buying stuff on-line...

I am sure that questions on installation and use will start to fly once I get back and actually get my hands on it.

Cheers,
Jim

[Oskar 26M]

Congratulations Jim
You'll love it!

[hart]

Awesome Jim! I on the other hand found an outfitter center that's going out of business and bought way too much crap from them yesterday, including a new fly rod and reel so my autopilot decision will now have to wait a couple of paychecks.

[Québec 1]

After much agonizing over whether I should or shouldn't I pulled the trigger last night and ordered the S1 from SailNet for $750 (plus $20 for shipping). I blame Leon and others for bragging about how great their systems are working.

You see the problem is I live overseas...König lives in Florida...thus I spend too much time "on-line"and not enough time "on-boat".

If I don't get orders back to the U.S. for this Summer I may just explode...

or melt a credit card buying stuff on-line...

I am sure that questions on installation and use will start to fly once I get back and actually get my hands on it.

Cheers,
Jim

Jim,
I just did the same and bought a S1 for 749.99 plus 39.09 shipping to Canada. I was looking at the new X type autopilot but they were 1400$ ..twice as much and I looked at lots of used one but they all went for around 500 $ which is not that much less than 749$
Bertrand Q1

[Highlander]

Hi Guy's

Good choice & good price I bought mine last yr & still not installed yet , I have yet to order the 20" wheel from KH

J

[c130king]

J,

I too will be ordering the 20" wheel from KH Marine...saw the pics of Rusalka (Delevi) and it looks good...it's only money after all. WHAT AM I SAYING!!!

So this summer...if I move back to the U.S. (please, please, please, please)...I will have to install my new battery switch, combiner, and two new Group 24 batteries (switch & combiner sitting at my Dad's house...batteries still need to be determined and purchased), then install a new DC panel with more positions/switches on it (still TBD and then purchased), then install my new Marine Stereo (sitting at my Dad's house) and a VHF/DSC radio and antenna (still TBD and purchased) and then some other, less expensive mods planned such as converting to 2-line reefing, replacing my broken bow lights, and some others.

But hopefully I can do all of that in less than a week.

And hopefully Defender,Oovertons, Sailnet, Westmarine, etc... won't have any more "sales".

Cheers,
Jim

"Always ready to do my part to stimulate the economy"

[DaveB]

I just received one , Boaterslanding Marine. $749.44 including shipping.
Now I have to install it.
Dave

Anybody else notice the $750.00 price point for the Raymarine S1 now? I got an ad mail from sailnet with it and that's about what Waste Marine had it for but it's no longer available through them online. I guess everyone's closing them out. I'm thinking about pulling the trigger for my X. Oh, and no this is not just the core pack.