My autopilot is an older analog type and it does not always make the
boat go where I want it to. It doesn't have a GPS input either. Worst of
all it doesn't give any kind of warning when it just 'gives up' in a sea
it can't handle, something that happens way to often anyway.

So time to upgrade. But I find that most autopilots seem designed for
smaller boats. I found some high-priced Furuno models that look good.
But before jumping in, does anybody have any experience choosing and
installing an autpilot for a 75ft 75000kg boat. One that then also
worked well...?

I'd like to re-use as much as possible of the existing installation
which is hydraulical and steered by solenoids, so I would prefer a
system that can drive most of that. Not sure if I can also re-use my
rudder indicator?


Many thanks for your experiences, Al

franc wrote:
My autopilot is an older analog type and it does not always make the
boat go where I want it to. It doesn't have a GPS input either. Worst of
all it doesn't give any kind of warning when it just 'gives up' in a sea
it can't handle, something that happens way to often anyway.

So time to upgrade. But I find that most autopilots seem designed for
smaller boats. I found some high-priced Furuno models that look good.
But before jumping in, does anybody have any experience choosing and
installing an autpilot for a 75ft 75000kg boat. One that then also
worked well...?

I'd like to re-use as much as possible of the existing installation
which is hydraulical and steered by solenoids, so I would prefer a
system that can drive most of that. Not sure if I can also re-use my
rudder indicator?


Many thanks for your experiences, Al

Robertson makes units for boats your size. I beleave you can buy the
control heads only, but I would suggest a full system. One of the parts
you don't want to replace might have been the problem you had with the
old unit. The pump can probably be had for about $1000 (US) or less
(your old pump may not have been able to keep up in a bad sea), after
that their's the compass that's probabyl in the area of $500 or so and
the rudder sensor (not sure but it's probably cheap enough that it
would be silly not to replace it). I'm not sure how much the computer
part of the unit is, but when you buy a system you know all the parts
will talk to each other, that alone is probably worth it.

John

Capt John wrote:
franc wrote:

My autopilot is an older analog type and it does not always make the
boat go where I want it to. It doesn't have a GPS input either. Worst of
all it doesn't give any kind of warning when it just 'gives up' in a sea
it can't handle, something that happens way to often anyway.

So time to upgrade. But I find that most autopilots seem designed for
smaller boats. I found some high-priced Furuno models that look good.
But before jumping in, does anybody have any experience choosing and
installing an autpilot for a 75ft 75000kg boat. One that then also
worked well...?

I'd like to re-use as much as possible of the existing installation
which is hydraulical and steered by solenoids, so I would prefer a
system that can drive most of that. Not sure if I can also re-use my
rudder indicator?


Many thanks for your experiences, Al


Robertson makes units for boats your size. I beleave you can buy the
control heads only, but I would suggest a full system. One of the parts
you don't want to replace might have been the problem you had with the
old unit. The pump can probably be had for about $1000 (US) or less
(your old pump may not have been able to keep up in a bad sea), after
that their's the compass that's probabyl in the area of $500 or so and
the rudder sensor (not sure but it's probably cheap enough that it
would be silly not to replace it). I'm not sure how much the computer
part of the unit is, but when you buy a system you know all the parts
will talk to each other, that alone is probably worth it.

John



John - Yes, perhaps I should upgrade all parts at the same time. My
current (big, heavy) compass might react a little too slow for the
autopilot anyway and I have wanted to add a good flux compass for a
while. Rudder indicator is probably not the most expensive part.

The pump I have now however is probably actually too powerful for the
current system since I can't make it move the rudder by less than about
5 degrees for any type of correction - probably one of the reasons the
system just doesn't work well. If I use the system on manual it can move
the rudder from full port to full sb in about 5 seconds... Impossible by
hand... I think the minimum steering pulse my autopilot gives is just
too long for this pump - is that possible? - and I found no electrical
way to adjust it downward. Not in the manuals at least.

I looked at Robertson (=Simrad I suppose?), discovered some interesting
models. I'll have to spend a lot more time to figure out what the
differences between them are. Previously I look at the Furuno 500.

Actually, how important is having a gyroscope for an autopilot? I have
none now. Under which conditions would it be essential?

Al

there is a good guide available here

http://www.windpilot.com/

click on the "self steering under sail pdf file 7.4mb" link. Its
independently written and gives a very good overall summary of different
brands of self steering and their pros and cons. It doesnt seem biased at
all. Its not 100% up to date with the latest technology but it does give a
good overall view of self steering and might help you to make some
judgements. It is probably a bit more biased towards windvanes than
autopilots, but it has good info on both.

Shaun

My autopilot is an older analog type and it does not always make the boat
go where I want it to. It doesn't have a GPS input either. Worst of all it
doesn't give any kind of warning when it just 'gives up' in a sea it can't
handle, something that happens way to often anyway.

So time to upgrade. But I find that most autopilots seem designed for
smaller boats. I found some high-priced Furuno models that look good. But
before jumping in, does anybody have any experience choosing and
installing an autpilot for a 75ft 75000kg boat. One that then also worked
well...?

I'd like to re-use as much as possible of the existing installation which
is hydraulical and steered by solenoids, so I would prefer a system that
can drive most of that. Not sure if I can also re-use my rudder indicator?


Many thanks for your experiences, Al