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I have one as a back up to my main AP. It is belt-drive, not
autohelm, just set the heading and it steers. Can’t recall the brand
right now. Not as smart as the autohelm, but reliable.Pete
On 10/25/2011 4:43 PM, jamesminge wrote:
Does anyone have experience with these wheel-mounted belt-driven autopilots on the 424?
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I have one as a back up to my main AP. It is belt-drive, not
autohelm, just set the heading and it steers. Can’t recall the brand
right now. Not as smart as the autohelm, but reliable.Pete
On 10/25/2011 4:43 PM, jamesminge wrote:
Does anyone have experience with these wheel-mounted belt-driven autopilots on the 424?
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maillist mailing listhttp://server12.websitehostserver.net/mailman/listinfo/maillist_pearson424.org
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James,
I have a CPT autopilot as the primary on my boat, which I bought
2nd-hand and then had re-furbished by the factory. It’s well made, and
the guys who own the company now in California – or at least did last
time I checked – were very good about customer service when I needed it.
The CPT is reliable, but it – or mine, at least – doesn’t handle heavy
weather helm in strong winds. It seems to get over-worked. Fortunately,
I also have a good windvane, an Auto-Helm brand from Scanmar Marine. I
have worked out system for balancing the two units simultaneously,
basically setting the very strong windvane to take the weather helm out
of the equation so that the CPT autopilot can do its thing without
straining, fine-tuning the course for spot-on accuracy. This combo has
worked very well for me over several thousand miles of offshore sailing
in the trade winds. In moderate conditions (and, of course, in calm
conditions), the CPT does a very good job of steering the boat by
itself. I’m happy with it.Hope that helps.
Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
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Original Message
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Hi Tor,
A quick question – don’t you trim out most of the weather helm? Or are we
talking almost downwind where there’s a bunch of slewing?Bob
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 8:58 PM, Silverheels wrote:
Quote:James,I have a CPT autopilot as the primary on my boat, which I bought
2nd-hand and then had re-furbished by the factory. It’s well made, and
the guys who own the company now in California – or at least did last
time I checked – were very good about customer service when I needed it.
The CPT is reliable, but it – or mine, at least – doesn’t handle heavy
weather helm in strong winds. It seems to get over-worked. Fortunately,
I also have a good windvane, an Auto-Helm brand from Scanmar Marine. I
have worked out system for balancing the two units simultaneously,
basically setting the very strong windvane to take the weather helm out
of the equation so that the CPT autopilot can do its thing without
straining, fine-tuning the course for spot-on accuracy. This combo has
worked very well for me over several thousand miles of offshore sailing
in the trade winds. In moderate conditions (and, of course, in calm
conditions), the CPT does a very good job of steering the boat by
itself. I’m happy with it.Hope that helps.
Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
Quote:
Original Message
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Hey Bob,
When the wind gets up sailboats develop weather helm. At least, that has
been my experience. Sure, I trim the sails as well as I can, first
dousing the mizzen and then, if necessary, reefing or slightly luffing
the mainsail. But if it’s blowing hard enough that isn’t always enough.
And sometimes I just want to carry that additional canvas to keep the
boat moving fast. Then the helmsman or autopilot would normally have to
alleviate the weather helm by cocking the vessel’s rudder enough to
compensate. What I was describing below is using my Auto-Helm’s
windvane’s independent rudder for that instead, since the vane is
sensitive to changes in wind direction and not to variations in wind
velocity (as is a locked ship’s rudder). When I do this, the boat’s main
rudder is locked amidships, or maybe a hair to leeward. The windvane
neu8tralizes the weather helm and the autopilot then makes the fine
adjustments to keep the boat on a precise course. There is no stress on
the autopilot; my CPT is happy, capable and using minimal power to steer
the boat accurately.The much more common alternative, using a great, powerful internal
autopilot to muscle the boat through anything, also works and it’s
simpler. Push the button; no thought required. But you pay for it first
in dollars, then in battery consumption. Trade-offs, like everything
else on a boat. No big deal. It’s all good.Tor
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
Original Message
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We have the CPT, and are really quite satisfied with it. These units are still being installed, and although a little dated in looks, perhaps have proved to be reliable. Ours came with the boat, and I originally thought to replace it, but now I would only replace it with another one. We also have a Hydrovane wind steerer, which is terrific. Between the two we seem to be fine in all but light winds with strong following seas.
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