MacGregorSailors.com

Does anyone have a suggestion for an Auto Pilot for a 26X. I want to install one since I plan to solo sail this summer.

Thank you for your feedback.
Don

For a sail boat you need the wind kit as well so you can set the AP to steer to the wind angle or the compass, unfortunately they like to slug you a large amount of additional $$$$ for the wind kit.

Make sure you buy up common spare parts, as you couldn't buy spare parts for mine a few years after mine was built, searching the net I found MANY perfectly good units found their way to the bin a few years after people had paid through the nose for them because there was no spare parts for common repair issues.

Still have my Arduino based unit on the drawing board (I know not much help)

I have spent 5 years solo sailing and I use a bungy, they are cheap, replaceable and don't need wind kits. Just sayin'

Bungee cord

davera20023 wrote:Does anyone have a suggestion for an Auto Pilot for a 26X. I want to install one since I plan to solo sail this summer.

Thank you for your feedback.
Don

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RdxE0A6TdBk

I agree, bungee.....

https://sites.google.com/site/bungeemacgregor/

more data

Opie, are you still around the Cape Fear Area?

I'm trying to get a mini-round up with the 3 Macs I know down here, and I saw your videos but didn't know if you were still around.

see travel forum

" when the wind is ahead of beam, the Macgregor 26X will find an unattended “sweet” spot of approximately 65 degrees off the wind, port tack or starboard tack, and stay there practically all day."

Yeah, that sounds about right.

opie wrote:https://sites.google.com/site/bungeemacgregor/

more data

My X came with a Raytheon autopilot installed. It's a very old model (20 years) and it broke two years ago (the rubber transmission belt war really worn), but my mechanic found a cheap replacement and now it works perfectly. You might be able to find a second hand pilot.

Bungie for me.

Though I should say: it's not an auto-pilot; it's a tiller-tamer.
MacX is stable at certain points-of-sail, but not all of them, not not for very long.

Mine does find a stable config somewhere forward of the beam, but over time it will naturally head up to a close haul.
If I have to go below while on a beam reach, I may come up 3-4 minutes later, and find myself hard over on a close haul doing 5 knots.


I'm kinda curious about others' arrangements.

My bungie, when employed, forms a 'W'.
Left edge of pedestal
around wheel rim
to hook/eyestrap on centre pedestal
back around wheel rim
to right edge of pedestal.