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Value of an Autopilot
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Sea Angel



Joined: 29 Dec 2003
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City/Region: Virginia Beach, VA
State or Province: VA
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

AutoPilot - Great tool!

The Mate is afraid of taking control of the CD25, but with the autopilot I can duck into the head while she maintains a lookout, at slow speeds, and I tend to 'old man business'.

Long haul navigation - a must to remain alert and also to remain 'on station' when on patrols.

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Chuckpacific



Joined: 03 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 11:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The autopilot ranks right up there with the dishwasher and the garage door opener.
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Captains Cat



Joined: 03 Nov 2003
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City/Region: Cod Creek>Potomac River>Chesapeake Bay
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C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Captain's Choice II
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 11:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sea Angel wrote:
AutoPilot - Great tool!

The Mate is afraid of taking control of the CD25, but with the autopilot I can duck into the head while she maintains a lookout, at slow speeds, and I tend to 'old man business'.

Long haul navigation - a must to remain alert and also to remain 'on station' when on patrols.


Hey Art, at least you ought to teach her to come back and pick you up if you fall in the water! Disgust

Sally didn't want to do it either until one day when I threw a cushion in the water (at low speed with no traffic in sight) and told her, that's me in the water back there, what are you going to do about it! Fortunately for me she didn't say "I'm gonna check your will". Laughing

And I had an autopilot on Captain's Cat but don't on Thataway, I miss it.

Charlie

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starcrafttom



Joined: 07 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Two Fine subject.
1) auto pilot. Love them and miss them. dont have one on the 27 but would love to get one again. Great in all conditions. I disagree with not using them in rough water. Seems to me people are assuming that if you are using the auto pilot that you are not paying attention. I think that letting the auto pilot drive gives me more time to pay attention to far more things. I really like the one on my 22 in mixed seas. It drive and I handled the throttles. You have to set the reaction rate much higher but that only takes a second. Get to know your system and you will find far more uses for it.

2) teaching women to drive boats. I just dont get the refusal by some women to drive boats. Are you telling me that you are not capable? Are you telling me that you are not interested in your own safety? Are you telling me that its a "Mans job"?? really ?? If you cant pick up your husband, kids, love one after they fall out that tells me you cant make it back to the dock to collect the check either. There is no excuse for anybody that is one a boat more then once a year to not know how to drive one.

My Mom and dad have a plane. They travel a lot in there plane. My mother knows how to fly and has her license. She runs into women all the time that fly with there husband but have no idea how to cal for help, fly , land or even where the dam radio is in case there husband, boyfreind or who every dies in the seat. It happens every year. I just cant see why you would not learn the basics of flying or boat handling to preserve your own life. Remember all planes land, its just a matter of how hard.

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hardee



Joined: 30 Oct 2006
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 1:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Emoticon for loud hands clapping Thumbs Up Thumbs Up

Harvey
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berryst



Joined: 14 Aug 2011
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 2:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

CABLE STEERING AUTOPILOT

I Installed a raymarine spx-5r auto pilot.
The install was simple.
I use it constantly especially for fishing.
I keep a close lookout for boats and flotsam but the AP lets the boat troll while I tend lines. You have to keep a head up all the time but its very helpful.
The spx-5r is used in steering wheel applications with cable steering.
In heavy seas I will often steer by hand \Chris

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Pete in NY



Joined: 11 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 6:05 pm    Post subject: Which one? Reply with quote

I have a Raymarine S1000 on Miss Pam. What do you guys have and your experience with the different products available?
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C-Nile



Joined: 09 May 2008
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 12:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

starcrafttom wrote:
Two Fine subject.
1) ...You have to set the reaction rate much higher but that only takes a second. Get to know your system and you will find far ...


Interesting. I think you directed that statement at my comments, Tom. If you did, do you think a faster reaction rate will make a difference in the situation I described? Perhaps so. I'll give it a try. It never really crossed my mind to set a higher reaction rate as it already seems to be responsive, but perhaps not quick enough?

By the way, my autopilot is a Raymarine S1000, which I like very much. On the down side, I have to disengage the autopilot to regain control of steering, unlike the Garmin. However, the Raymarine is 150 percent less expensive then the Garmin counterpart, and it was designed to work with my hydraulic steering unit. Like I said -- it works great.

Thanks,
Rich Teeth

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Hunkydory



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PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 12:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rich,

As Tom suggests, knowing when & how to adjust the  Raymarine s1000 auto pilot is critical to good performance.  I  make many adjustments for differing sea conditions & boat speed.   Also my s1000,  purchased in 2004 with Baystar hydraulic steering doesn't  have to be turned turned off to make a steering correction.   The steering wheel easily overrides the electric pump allowing for emergency maneuvering or simple course change while engaged.

Jay 

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starcrafttom



Joined: 07 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes it was. And not picking on you but I find that a lot of people in general set up eletronics once and then never play with them again. They just turn them on and off. As an example, my very good friend cliff has a very nice( when he bought it) depth/fish finder. It has lot of functions that he will never use that he could use because hes scared to adjust it. He had some one else set it 12 years ago, no really 12 years ago, and has not changed the settings since.

If you go into the auto pilots rate of turn and its sensitivity settings you can change them very easily. I like to set then slow and loose for just cruising on flat water. If you set it to high is will do the waltz as you go and never settle in. Just back and forth, back and forth. But those same fast rapid setting are just what you want when you are fishing or in rough water. If you have it set on high the auto pilot will start to turn into a quartering wave as you climb it and turn back the other way as you drop down the back side. Its faster then I am and will not get off cousre or ware you out. Give it a try it should really work well for you. I miss not having it in the 27.
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starcrafttom



Joined: 07 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh as for turning the unit off> Just add a cut out button. It will turn the unit off at a push of the botton. But you have the s1000 which has a over ride. just grab the whelel and spin it fast and the boat will turn for 2 to 3 second before going back to coarse. It was called a dodge function. Raymarine did not explain it or cheerlead the function much and a lot of people are unaware of it.
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ken35216



Joined: 12 Mar 2013
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PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2013 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C344%7C2028687%7C2028713&id=326817

Does anyone know if that is all I need to order? I've talked to the mechanic at my marina and he seems to think I also need to order some kind of hydraulic pump????
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Pete in NY



Joined: 11 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2013 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's all you need. It is a kit. The black cylinder in the picture is the pump. It comes with all the fittings and I think the fluid used to top off and bleed the system as part of the install.
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ken35216



Joined: 12 Mar 2013
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PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2013 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pete in NY wrote:
That's all you need. It is a kit. The black cylinder in the picture is the pump. It comes with all the fittings and I think the fluid used to top off and bleed the system as part of the install.


Thanks a LOT! Hopefully now I'll have it installed before my trip next week.
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ken35216



Joined: 12 Mar 2013
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PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2013 3:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C344%7C2028687%7C2028713&id=326817

I just ordered it and asked if they had any specials and she dropped it to $953 plus $17 shipping.

Not bad!!!


Last edited by ken35216 on Fri May 03, 2013 3:47 pm; edited 1 time in total
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