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