On Tue, 01 Apr 2014 06:57:35 +0700, Bruce in Bangkok
wrote:
On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:52:25 -0400, "Sir Gregory Hall, Esq."
wrote:
On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 07:28:15 -0600, slide wrote:
On 3/31/2014 6:34 AM, Flying Pig wrote:

This, too will pass, but it's very tire$ome.

No, it's worse than that. It pulls all the joy out of the experience
because it morphs a sail or cruise into a Sisyphean Labor.

I never had nearly the issues you guys have had but had one near
experience. My BG autopilot died within an hour of leaving Narraganset.
I returned to get it fixed. It died again maybe 200 miles south while
far out at sea. When I put in, I tried to get it fixed but no fixes
seemed to 'take'.

I ended up replacing the entire unit which failed again within hours. At
that point I gave up on it and decided to make do w/o an autopilot which
was annoying for me, a singlehander, but putting the issue behind me
allowed me to enjoy the time at sea w/o fretting over broken boat parts.

After 1.5 years sailing, I sold the boat and now, if I ever return to
the seas, it will be on a bare bones boat lacking most of the systems
which even can break. After all, things like rigging maintenance is
enough w/o adding another 3 layers of complexity.

I don't think I even want pressure water.

Excellent advice, Skippy. Listen to the man. He's
got it figured out. An old-fashioned, mechanical
wind-actuated, steering vane is more reliable than
modern electric autopilots. But, if you are using
electric autopilots ship no fewer than two replace-
ments, preferably three.

An even better suggestion is to do as some do. Simply anchor the boat
and never go anywhere. Eliminate all the minor giggles like running
aground, furling lines breaking, etc. The only thing he would have to
worry about would be the ezy-boy recliner breaking.

Says, Bruce at the Bangkok dock (for twenty years) - the voice of
experience.

I've sailed many a mile already this year. No fuss and no muss.
Nothing but enjoying the perfection that is my fine yacht and
my finely-honed sailing skills to match.

Few things are more enjoyable than short, coastal sailing trips
and anchoring out for a night or two in the wilderness.

--
Sir Gregory