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Island Time

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Posts posted by Island Time

  1. Indeed. Many who have not been in the situation don't realise how detrimental exhaustion is, and how it can really put you in danger! Now for ocean passages I pre rig the parachute, run the warp around the toe rail, tied with cable ties. All I have to do to launch it is shackle the cable to the chute, cable tie the shackle, and kick the chute off the stern. Chute opens, pops the cable ties, and sets itself :-). The running block for the bridle is floated with a fender, and you just adjust it so the float is directly to weather, with a primary winch. Worked amazingly well, and is my go to for a really serious storm - which should be able to be avoided with modern weather forecasting! I'd prefer to sail away from the path a few days before!

  2. 2 minutes ago, CarpeDiem said:

    I used a parachute drogue off the bow and the stern, on a Farr 1020 on the way to Fiji. 

    Set in a way as to hold the boat at about 70deg to the waves it allowed the boat to stay in a hove to position in 50knot+ winds for a day while we waited for things to settle down. Would like to claim I knew what I was doing, but I had literally read it in Parry's book a couple of months earlier and we were kind of desperate to try something after exhausting ourselves for two days trying to keep the boat from forereaching - that is the first and only time I have deployed a parachute drogue - worked an absolute treat.

    On the same journey we deployed a sea break out the stern that was attached too both primaries, we did that to slow us down while screaming down the face of waves.  18 knots of boat speed down a 40 foot wave in a Farr 1020 in the middle of the pacific was kind of scary in the daylight, the sea brake kept us at a respectable speed and she didn't start planning so their was no risk of rounding up or down that night.

    Interesting. In my experience 70 deg is too much, I used a bridle back to a primary so I could adjust the angle. At 30-40 deg I could stop sternway and fore reaching, and sit basically stopped, while the storm passed over. But every storm and every boat/skipper is different and everyone must make their own calls..

     

  3. A drogue is for off the stern. A sea anchor (parachute) is off the bow. A drogue slows you down and helps prevent broaching. A Parachute basically holds you stopped in the hove 2 position. Both have been used successfully by multiple people/vessels. You do your research, and make you call. Ideally I'd like both, so I can decide depending on the situation.

    • Upvote 1
  4. 27 minutes ago, Adrianp said:

    Matt, what is the approx step up to the H5000? 

    Ok, 1st, I don't understand why you would use a NAC3 VRF core pack when the NAC3 core pack (incl rudder sensor) is $200 more, but the RF25 (rudder feedback) is $442. I don't know why you would use an RF300 either! Way cheaper to buy the right core pack!

    So, the difference between costs for a H5000 AP V a Triton2 Ap is not exactly straight forward. The H5000 AP computer is about the same cost as the NAC3 Core pack. (3K). However, to actually be useful it needs H5000 instruments as well. The base H5000 pack is another $3500 (Hydra) to $7500 (performance) plus whatever sensors you want - masthead wind, mast twist sensors, Mast rotation sensors, RFU's, Precision 9, Load cells, etc etc. Basically the difference would be min 10K...

    + if you want to have a certified H5000 installer, you'd have to come to Auckland.

  5. 3 hours ago, Guest said:

    On the same theme, does the NAC 2 have the same software algorithms as NAC 3? I assume 3 is just heavier current output?

    I only have a RM linear drive type 1 at 34’ loa. Haven’t been that impressed with AC12/42 in heavy conditions, quartering sea.

    Heavy conditions and quartering seas is the hardest steering conditions. Try it yourself, most boats need attention and effort in this scenario. Many helmsmen don't do this well either!  The Single handed racers usually have known parameters for their autopilots for these conditions, and have also usually spent a month or more sailing to work out what the best settings are for their boat. Perhaps to note here is that on most cruisers, I recommend, unless they really are planning vessels, to use the low speed setting for normal sailing , and the high speed setting configured for heavy winds and quartering seas, with manual change over.  Basic difference would be quite a bit higher rudder gain, and a little higher counter rudder.

    NAC2 is the same as NAC3, just lower output.

    The original AC 12 and 42 is 20 years old now, much has changed! 

    • Like 1
  6. Depends on the final price. Buying the yacht is only a part of the cost of ownership. Where would you keep her? Looks like needs hauling and re antifouling, annodes and other normal maint stuff. Look at haulout and hardstand costs at your nearest facility. There are many worse boats out there than an easterly 30. Most of the boats on trademe for $1 are not worth repairing. This one may be different, it may not. I've not seen her personally.

    Think about the maint costs. Would you do most yourself?  1st is hull and structure condition? Sails and rig condition? Mechanical condition? Electrical, plumbing and ancillaries? Boats are quite complex. Can you, or do you know someone who could have a thorough look, or a proper survey? If not, or not sufficient time to organize, walk away.  

    If that's not daunting, or you are prepared to take the risk, bid away!

    Oh, and boats ARE WORTH IT... in my (somewhat biased) opinion :-)

  7. Nah, the AC12 wind algorithms are crap. The NAC's are miles better, and the H5000's are better again. But the pilot must also  be properly configured. Really important are rudder gain, speed of turn ( deg per min) and counter rudder. Pretty easy on the newer pilots to use true wind as well/instead if you wish. The current idea is apparent when <90 true, and True when >90. This means surfing off down a wave is not seen as a wind change, like the earlier ones did!

    Also the change from the RC42 (Rate fluxgate compass) to the solid state 9 axis ones (Precision 9) makes an enormous difference to  a pilot, as it always knows direction to <2deg, regardless of boat movement. 

  8. Makes a LOT of sense to use B&G if that is what you have for everything else. If the drive unit (pump for hydraulics) has been powerful and fast enough, no reason not to keep using it. Drives are expensive. 17 years - visual inspection for rust, check brush condition and inspect for hydraulic leaks. If ok, the B&G pilots can use the drive. Which Farrier cat is it, which pump do you have, and what NAC has been quoted to you for this boat?

    If I were quoting, (and I'm not!) the power required at stall by the pump model determines the AP computer used. NAC 2 or NAC3. The 3 can drive a bigger pump (Faster and stronger).

    If you have a Vulcan or Zeus (2 or 3) you don't need a pilot controller - the Zeus/Vulcan has the software in it. You can have a controller keypad if you wish though. Triton displays are now used for AP displays as well if you want one separate to the MFD. You can select a particular Triton to be an AP display as soon as AP is engaged if you wish.

    B&G pilots are great. Even the Triton 2 ones, but the real high end boats use H5000 pilots are better than 99% of helmsmen. The first 4 of 5 for the last vendee globe finshers used B&G pilots for a reason!

    Final point - make sure to read the manual, AP's can give you an awful lot more than steering to a compass heading! Make sure to learn about Nav, Wind, Nav Wind (yes different to first 2), no drift mode, and what the high and low speed modes do. On My boat, my Triton2 NAC3 pilot steers in all conditions. I steer if I want to!

    • Upvote 1
  9. The NSS3 has the AP controller software. Should work with the AC20 IIRC, but the AC20 is quite old compared to the NSS! So, Firstly the AC20 must be visible on the device list for the N2K. To do thatm the gear icon 2 x, then network, device list. Can you see the AC20 on the list?

    If you can't it may not be connected - check the network cabling, and ensure it's on the bus. Simnet IS N2K...

    Where are you located?

    Matt

  10. Maybe. If you have an AP25, what is your MFD/Plotter. Later versions have no specific AP controller, the plotter/mfd is one, the software is included. Alternatively, there are multiple models of AP controllers available, depending on what AP computer unit you have. If the drive unit is OK, it could be used with any system upgrade.

    Give me a call if you wish to discuss - I'm a Simrad and B&G tech dealer. Based in Gulf Harbour. Ph 0221539176. If it were me I would not repair this controller.

  11. Ours is called a freezer! Works great. We use the glad plastic ice cube bags - awesome, self sealing, fill from tap, chuck in freezer. Pop out the cubes when you wwant. Still amazes me they don't leak water to start....

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  12. That is a bit misleading,. There are bigger individual waves out there - for example;

    "In February 2000, the British oceanographic research vessel RRS Discovery, operating in the Atlantic Ocean over the Rockall Trough west of Scotland, encountered the largest waves ever recorded by scientific instruments in the open ocean, with a significant wave height of 29.1 metres (95 ft) and individual waves up to 18.5 metres (61 ft)."

    • Upvote 1
  13. Go anchor off Matenga point round by Blackpool.  Short walk to Oneroa, and well sheltered in NE-E-SE. Leave your dingy on the small beach under the trees on Matenga Point, as high as you can get it...

  14. To get really good AP responses, really you want a 10hz heading, preferred corrected for roll, pitch and yaw. Nmea0183 can't do that, it's not fast enough. However, that is a good converter. For best results, use the minimum number of nmea 0183 sentences possible to control the pilot. 

     

    • Like 1
  15. Same. Already out. Currently off Matenga point by Blackpool. Few other crew.orgers out too. Bad Kitty at rocky bay currently. Some are home/hiding. 

    Happy new year to all!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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