Re: M_Boats: Pondering a tiller pilot
Joe, I don't have the info in front of me but it really does not use that much juice unless it is fighting for control in following seas. I had dual batteries in my WWP-19 and I had the unit on for 6.5 hours going to Catalina, spent three days on the island and used the auto pilot all the way back, another 6.5 hours and the battery had plenty of juice left. I also used it on my M-17 (with only one battery) in the San Juan Islands last June for 15 days and had no problems (that includes shore power to re-charge every couple of nights). I also had a kit put into my Honda 5HP that charges the battery. Again I don't have the spec's but as I recall the charge from the motor just about covers the the autopilot usage. The tillerpilot has an autopilot mode and a standby mode, so I leave it on standby and disconnect it from the tiller then when I need it I just pop it back on the tiller, hit the auto button and I am good to go. If I find the spec's I will post them, but you can also go to Raymarine's web site and probably get the data there as well. I did have a tiller tamer on my P-15 and P-19. Did not work well on the P-15 (move your weight and off the boat goes in a new direction). It was better on the P-19, but I got a new Ida Sailor rudder and tiller for the M-17 and did not want to mount a bunch of stuff on the new tiller. I was able to measure for the auto pilot and just have the attachment pin on the tiller without the need to mount a bracket to the tiller. Your simple tiller tamer sounds great I may try that for those times I may not want to get the autopilot out. I just took some pictures of my autopilot set up for another guy so if you are interested let me know and I will e-mail them to you. Jim Ellsworth M-17 #603 Grace -----Original Message-----
From: Joe Murphy <seagray@embarqmail.com> Sent: Nov 17, 2009 4:27 PM To: Jim Ellsworth <j_ellsworth@earthlink.net>, For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Pondering a tiller pilot
Jim, How much battery power do you have to run the ST1000? I always thought that tiller pilots were resource hogs. How long can you run with one on. When you don't use the ST1000 can you leave it attached and still hand steer or do you have to uncouple it?? I have the Tiller Tamer and I use it all the time. Never know when something unexpected pops up and you have to let go the tiller. I keep mine tensioned just enough to keep a course but still hand steer. Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Ellsworth" <j_ellsworth@earthlink.net> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com>; "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:59 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Pondering a tiller pilot
I have a ST-1000 that I transferred from my WWP-19 and I could not live with out it.
I do not have the GPS tied into it I just use it as my "crew" when I am pulling up fenders, making sail adjustments, or as you suggest letting it steer while I take in the view.
The unit does have a tacking function which would also be great for singlehanding, but I have not been able to get that feature to work so far.
For just holding a cource the unit works great, and only gets chalanging in a following sea.
Not too hard to install, there are various brackets and hardware you can get to set it up just right.
Jim Ellsworth M-17 #603 Grace
-----Original Message-----
From: Gordon Gilbert <Gordon@FinancialWriting.net> Sent: Nov 17, 2009 10:33 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: M_Boats: Pondering a tiller pilot
One of the upgrades I've been considering for my M-17 is a tiller pilot. However, I have mixed feelings about such a device as I enjoy the intimacy with the water environment a small craft allows--and I wonder if too much "automation" will detract from that. Plus, I believe in the KISS approach to boat-keeping. But on a couple of cruises this past summer I had some long stretches of motoring (six hours returning from Isle Royale) or hours-long no-tacking sailing legs where a tiller pilot would have allowed me to brew a cup of joe or make a sandwich or just enjoy the view from the boat's bow.
Having said all of that, I'm curious as to how many Monty owners have installed tiller pilots on their boats. If you have, what brand did you choose, how did the installation go and how has it worked out? Does the pilot work well? Do you use it as much as you anticipated? I would enjoy getting your input, advice or opinions. Thanks!
Gordon '83 M-17 #377 "Sapphire" Milwaukee, WI
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Raymarine says the following for the ST1000 Plus: • Standby: 40 mA (90 mA with full lighting) • Auto: 0.5 A to 1.5 A depending on boat trim, helm load and sailing conditions The Simrad TP10: Power Consumption Auto 0.5A Power Consumption Standby 0.06A Manuals and specs can be acquired on line. --Gary ☺ On Nov 17, 2009, at 4:42 PM, Jim Ellsworth wrote:
Joe,
I don't have the info in front of me but it really does not use that much juice unless it is fighting for control in following seas. I had dual batteries in my WWP-19 and I had the unit on for 6.5 hours going to Catalina, spent three days on the island and used the auto pilot all the way back, another 6.5 hours and the battery had plenty of juice left. I also used it on my M-17 (with only one battery) in the San Juan Islands last June for 15 days and had no problems (that includes shore power to re-charge every couple of nights). I also had a kit put into my Honda 5HP that charges the battery. Again I don't have the spec's but as I recall the charge from the motor just about covers the the autopilot usage.
The tillerpilot has an autopilot mode and a standby mode, so I leave it on standby and disconnect it from the tiller then when I need it I just pop it back on the tiller, hit the auto button and I am good to go.
If I find the spec's I will post them, but you can also go to Raymarine's web site and probably get the data there as well.
I did have a tiller tamer on my P-15 and P-19. Did not work well on the P-15 (move your weight and off the boat goes in a new direction). It was better on the P-19, but I got a new Ida Sailor rudder and tiller for the M-17 and did not want to mount a bunch of stuff on the new tiller. I was able to measure for the auto pilot and just have the attachment pin on the tiller without the need to mount a bracket to the tiller.
Your simple tiller tamer sounds great I may try that for those times I may not want to get the autopilot out.
I just took some pictures of my autopilot set up for another guy so if you are interested let me know and I will e-mail them to you.
Jim Ellsworth M-17 #603 Grace
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Murphy <seagray@embarqmail.com> Sent: Nov 17, 2009 4:27 PM To: Jim Ellsworth <j_ellsworth@earthlink.net>, For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Pondering a tiller pilot
Jim, How much battery power do you have to run the ST1000? I always thought that tiller pilots were resource hogs. How long can you run with one on. When you don't use the ST1000 can you leave it attached and still hand steer or do you have to uncouple it?? I have the Tiller Tamer and I use it all the time. Never know when something unexpected pops up and you have to let go the tiller. I keep mine tensioned just enough to keep a course but still hand steer. Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Ellsworth" <j_ellsworth@earthlink.net> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com>; "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:59 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Pondering a tiller pilot
I have a ST-1000 that I transferred from my WWP-19 and I could not live with out it.
I do not have the GPS tied into it I just use it as my "crew" when I am pulling up fenders, making sail adjustments, or as you suggest letting it steer while I take in the view.
The unit does have a tacking function which would also be great for singlehanding, but I have not been able to get that feature to work so far.
For just holding a cource the unit works great, and only gets chalanging in a following sea.
Not too hard to install, there are various brackets and hardware you can get to set it up just right.
Jim Ellsworth M-17 #603 Grace
-----Original Message-----
From: Gordon Gilbert <Gordon@FinancialWriting.net> Sent: Nov 17, 2009 10:33 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: M_Boats: Pondering a tiller pilot
One of the upgrades I've been considering for my M-17 is a tiller pilot. However, I have mixed feelings about such a device as I enjoy the intimacy with the water environment a small craft allows--and I wonder if too much "automation" will detract from that. Plus, I believe in the KISS approach to boat-keeping. But on a couple of cruises this past summer I had some long stretches of motoring (six hours returning from Isle Royale) or hours-long no-tacking sailing legs where a tiller pilot would have allowed me to brew a cup of joe or make a sandwich or just enjoy the view from the boat's bow.
Having said all of that, I'm curious as to how many Monty owners have installed tiller pilots on their boats. If you have, what brand did you choose, how did the installation go and how has it worked out? Does the pilot work well? Do you use it as much as you anticipated? I would enjoy getting your input, advice or opinions. Thanks!
Gordon '83 M-17 #377 "Sapphire" Milwaukee, WI
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!
participants (2)
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Gary M Hyde -
Jim Ellsworth