Black Panther 1,607 Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Couldn't find the old thread as I am rushing this morning http://www.inthepresentsea.com/the_actu ... nnets.html Not a good ad for electronic autopilots. Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 you see a lot of that a couple of years ago there was an old czeck wanting to break the round world solo record was well off the pace when he was towed into auckland, put the boat, on the market and flew home think the boat, singa, has a new owner in westhaven google trans of his blog seemed to show he regretted relying on 4? elec pilots that continually were over-loaded and breaking down he mentions others who had no problems with hydraulic systems and we know a wind system would have been better too he ended up using bungees on the helm for the strong winds and whichever cannibalized elec-pilot was working for the light Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 yep, my experience of the tiller pilots is considerably less than good. I've broken about 4 as well - different brands and models (on previous boats - Island Time is wheel steering) The ones with the ram only above deck and the brains below the deck a better, but as Cory on AA will tell you, he lost his 2 in the solo tasman. For ocean crossing, the hydraulic ones are the go, regardless of tiller or wheel steering.... Oh, and don't believe the sales crap - the sizing on all the brands is only for light conditions. Go at least one, possibly 2 sizes up - and avoid the units with plastic connector fittings. Just IMO, my 2c worth. Link to post Share on other sites
waikiore 410 Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 In defence of tillerpilots, or at least only the original brand, the French ones were truly rubbish, I have not had these issues and after meeting the aforementioned Czech and Webb Chiles feel that there is more to the story... Properly sized for the job and specified with the balance (or lack of ) of the individual design accounted for you should have no trouble, bear in mind that the 1000 and 2000 size are not specified for continual offshore use - although many are driving windvane tabs successfully in that role. Cat among the pigeons!..... Of course we sail Townsons - not requiring muscle on tiller. Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 i agree that excessive user expectations is a major part of the problem the other part being reluctance by the makers/sellers/advertsiers to point out how fragile they really are so can't not be depended on when you really, really need them... Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 The hell with the tiller pilots , the guy has just made an epic trip in what is fundamentally a small coastal race boat, single handed ,and he isn't exactly young. Writes nicely too, I've been following his blog for a while now. Nice job getting into Opua just before those last nasty fronts went through too. Link to post Share on other sites
Terry B 71 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Like John B, I've been following his site for years - the guy is a legend! A nutter, but a legend. I'm hoping to get to meet him in the BOI next month............... Link to post Share on other sites
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