Express 27 National Championship at San Francisco Yacht ClubOctober 5 - 7
Result
PosBoatTotalRace 1Race 2Race 3Race 4Race 5Race 6Race 7
1Magic Bus283(3)5(8)6(14)2(16)1(17)1(18)10 (28)
2Motorcycle Irene292(2)2(4)14(18)1(19)7(26)2(28)1 (29)
3Get Happy!!344(4)3(7)11(18)5(23)3(26)6(32)2 (34)
4Thumper3711(11)1(12)2(14)9(23)4(27)5(32)5 (37)
5Fired Up!421(1)4(5)8(13)8(21)5(26)10(36)6 (42)
6Current Affair5112(12)6(18)10(28)3(31)13(44)4(48)3 (51)
7Tequila Mockingbird625(5)7(12)17(29)4(33)2(35)14(49)13 (62)
8Andale627(7)10(17)3(20)12(32)11(43)7(50)12 (62)
9Abigail Morgan6413(13)13(26)1(27)6(33)9(42)11(53)11 (64)
10Wile E Coyote686(6)9(15)7(22)OCS(40)RET(58)3(61)7 (68)
11Salty Hotel719(9)8(17)4(21)11(32)10(42)12(54)17 (71)
12X-Wing7610(10)14(24)13(37)14(51)8(59)9(68)8 (76)
13Bombora8316(16)15(31)15(46)10(56)15(71)8(79)4 (83)
14Peaches8714(14)12(26)16(42)7(49)6(55)17(72)15 (87)
15Take Five908(8)11(19)9(28)16(44)16(60)16(76)14 (90)
16Artemis9417(17)16(33)5(38)13(51)14(65)13(78)16 (94)
17Hang 209515(15)17(32)12(44)15(59)12(71)15(86)9 (95)
export csv

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Author: Wolfgang
Subject: Recommendations for autopilots
Info: (10442 views) Posted: Wednesday 3-13-13 12:11:11 AM
Thank you all! W

:: Hello Don, I have a Raymarine 4000. Most of it was made
:: in the early 2000's. I have had to work on it a lot and
:: eventually had to get another used head, or brain, for
:: it. After much work on it it now works fairly reliabley
:: in the flat waters of SF Bay. It uses all the power in a
:: 32 amp battery in about 3 hours. I have no interface
:: with anything and all it will do is steer a magnetic
:: course. After all the work I have done on it I do not
:: want to add gyros or any interface, just too much
:: electronics to go wrong for the the use I need out of
:: it. My use for it is mainly just the Vallejo 1 and it
:: will steer good enough to hold the boat downwind long
:: enough to jibe in small seas and wind up to 15. Although
:: it will hold a magnetic course, the compass readout is
:: 15-20 degs off and so far not correctable. When I was
:: having trouble with the brain of it Raymarine was not
:: interested in helping or trouble shooting or doing
:: anything with it. I was lucky to find a spare head for
:: it, buy that and pllug it in and find that it worked for
:: my purposes as above and delivering the boat under motor
:: or sail. Remember always, it will only hold course when
:: the sails are trimmed right. It hates heavy weather
:: helm, that will make it very cranky and use up the power
:: in short time. When going to weather or at a close reach
:: I will sometimes get it set, get the sails trimmed and
:: then use it as a tiller holder with the auto function
:: off to save battery. I always have rigged an alternate
:: way to tie the helm as I do not entirely trust it. I am
:: not interested in trying it on an ocean race such as the
:: Singlehanded Farralones, I doubt if it would hold up
:: well in a large seaway. That's what I know about it. I
:: will gladly continue this discussion with you or any
:: one. I suggest you look on the SingleHanded Sailing
:: Societys forum pages. I remember a thread there about
:: auto pilots. Also, Joe Balderama of the e 27 Archemedes
:: has experience with auto pilots and George of Taz, and
:: Steve Carol of Tule Fog. Cheers and Good Luck with it,
:: SDK
::
::
::
::
::
:: :: I am passing this on from Brendan
::
:: :: Brendan Busch ToSteve Katzman CCDonald Carroll I use an
:: :: old Navico on the 27. It works fine for milder weather,
:: :: but can't be trusted in 25 knots of breeze with the kite
:: :: up. It has about a 50% success rate at getting me
:: :: through jibes in big wind without crashing. It can drive
:: :: the boat most of the way home from Stockton (motoring or
:: :: light wind) on a couple small hobby batteries. Navico
:: :: was bought years ago by Simrad, I believe.
::
:: :: I use a Simrad TP32 on my Express 37. It is a fine unit,
:: :: but my understanding is that Simrad is now done making
:: :: tillerpilots, which, if true, doesn't bode well for
:: :: support and parts in the future. As it is, I have been
:: :: unable to procure a hand-held remote (the HR22) for the
:: :: TP32, as they are no longer in production.
::
:: :: Autohelm / Raymarine units, unfortunately, are not very
:: :: reliable.
::
:: :: Will Paxton uses a bungee setup and swears it works
:: :: well.
::
:: :: I think a tiller pilot is fine for an E27--below deck is
:: :: a huge can of worms, and severly limits your steering
:: :: angles. That said, I really want a below-deck autopilot
:: :: on the 37. 

:: :: --brendan
:: ::
:: ::
:: :: :: I have the X5 and purchased it because the gyro, which I
:: :: :: wanted for down wind ocean swells. Plus, you can easily
:: :: :: plug in a sensor for a hand held remote. Once in while
:: :: :: the main display registers "no signal" which I solve by
:: :: :: pressing "auto" again.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: A few other single handed expresses also have the X5.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Contact me via the roster if you want to talk.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Joe
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Hello group!
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Great to see you all at the 3BF.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: I've been thinking about adding an electronic
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: autopilot to "Summer Palace #85" to replace
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: the bungee.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Does anyone have recommendations/experience?
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Should I consider a wind integrated system?
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Is the Raymarine ST 1000 tillerpilot enough?
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Should I consider the RM X5?
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: I'm thinking mostly for in the bay single handing,
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: maybe Farallones or Half Moon Bay etc...
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: I appreciate your insights!
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Thanks
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Wolfgang
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