Autopilots and hydraulic steering

Lynn Marie · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 8:20 pm Post subject: Autopilots and hydraulic steering

The cable on the Lynn Marie has always been OK but only with lots of upkeep and it's still not a great steering system and not one I'd add an autopilot to so I have a few questions to through out.

While the Baystar system is big enough for the boat, will it except an autopilot?

If it will can you add the Raymarine Smartpilot ST6001 or would it only except the Sportpilot Plus that mounts on the helm?

For those that have the Sportpilot Plus, do you wish you had the Smartpilot instead?

I'm not sure how much I'd use the full range of functions available with the ST6001 but I also don't want to buy myself into a corner which could happen with the lesser of the choices. Jeez I wish Less was closer so I could take him a Latte and get some counciling.

Tim

Sawdust · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 8:33 pm Post subject:

Tim,

Can't talk to Les until Tuesday, but will ask your questions. I'm pretty sure that I have the Baystar on my boat with the autopilot -- should know, shouldn't I!!

Dusty

Lynn Marie · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:49 pm Post subject:

Thanks Dusty for taken the time to look after me. It's like all those posts on your Birthday thread keep saying, you just keep giving. Thanks so much for all your time and wisdom.

TyBoo · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:56 pm Post subject:

I'm watching this one closely, too. One thing I like about the BayStar, although not that big a deal, is the way it mounts. I believe the actuator cylinder fits thru the tilt tube and the cylinder rod moves the drag link (same mechanics as the cable system). The SeaStar has the cylinder mounted externally and I believe it moves back and forth dragging the hoses with it. The BayStar seems to be a much cleaner installation for the little motors. Another thing I like about the BayStar vs. SeaStar is the $500 vs. $1000 price tag. And that is a very big deal.

But, if the hydraulic AutoPilot is particular about which system it uses, then that is a huge factor, as Tim alludes to.

Tim - still sorry about running you off Saturday, but this was one hectic weekend. And very little of it was spent for me, either. I gotta say, though, when I got all gussied up in my jacket and tie to take the three young ladies to the Father/Daughter Valentines Dance, I looked good. Damn good. Maybe I'll try scanning the picture we got and posting it for C-Lou. I think I look way better than Jon in this one.

Lynn Marie · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:35 am Post subject:

Ya know Mike, I think a picture of you in the gussy up suit would be just fine for the C-Brat site, as long as the photo also contains the Sturgeon Queen and her court. Besides, it may reveal your non-brat side.

CAVU · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:23 pm Post subject:

Mike,
After reading your post concerning the Baystar hydraulic steering, it brings up a question. With the cylinder rod moving through the tilt tube, do you still have problems with rust in the tilt tube? This has been a problem with the cable steering on every boat I have owned. After a few years in salt water the inside of the tilt tube rusts up and makes the steering stiff. I am considering hydraulic steering but I would want to be sure it would eliminate the "rusty tilt-tube" syndome. As a side note, I noticed that the new Saltwater edition E-TEC Evinrudes this year have a stainless steel tilt tube! Honda should take note.

TyBoo · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject:

TyBoo · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:01 am Post subject:

What I am really hoping is that my good friend and neighbor on the Lynn Marie breaks down and buys a SeaStar, then decides it is way overkill and too big on the CD 22, and sells it to me for the price of his replacement BayStar system with a new SS (or titanium) tilt tube thrown in the deal.

dogon dory · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:37 am Post subject:

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

TyBoo · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:53 am Post subject:

dogon dory · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:08 am Post subject:

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

Sawdust · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 4:32 pm Post subject:

Okay, hydraulic guys -

Able to talk to Les for a couple of minutes - dangnabit they beez busy!!! The Baystar is good up to 150 hp and supports the autopilot okay -- and that's the way my new green 22 is rigged. The Baystar will NOT support a second station -- apparently because of some check valve or something in the helm stations. It works fine for twins too, even tho' the factory says not. They apparently don't have the twin rigging for the Baystar, but Les uses it on twins okay.

I had the Seastar on the TCat -- and it works fine too. The tubing is much heavier on the Seastar -- and if you want to put in a second cockpit station it is best to plan ahead -- just put a coupling where the second station will be.

All of this is just relayed from a guy who knows! Les talks regularily with the manufacturers and is very current on the capabilities of each system.

HTH - don't shoot the messenger!

Dusty

Chivita · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:03 pm Post subject:

"Chivita" has the both the Baystar and the SportPilot + mounted to twin Honda 40's. The Baystar system is what the factory installed when I bought her several years ago.

This was the first boat I had owned that had either hydraulic or an autopilot so I'm not the most experienced. If I ordered another 22 or bigger boat I doubt I would go with either of these, instead I would go with their bigger brothers.

Although the Baystar and Sportpilot + both work well, on my boat they do not work well together. The factory was unable to connect the SportPilot + to the Baystar system, I had to manufacture a bracket in order to do so. When I use the autopilot, the boat wanders and constantly corrects itself back and forth and no it is not my bracket's fault. Just waiting for the Coast Guard to pull me over and perform a sobriety test!

My father has several boats with the SportPilot + and his do not wander anywhere near as much as mine. He installed a Baystar on a dory that he built and it did not work correctly, but he worked with West Marine and they sent a SeaStar motor control unit which solved all the problems.

I have also had problems getting my Garmin Chartplotter to work with the SportPilot unit, and despite calls to Raymarine, it still does not funtion correctly.

As to the SmartPilot unit, it looks like a decent but simple unit. As I understand the SmartPilot, it gets all it's information from a GPS and does not have a fluxgate compass unit. The SmartPilot also has preprogramed trolling patterns which is a big plus in my book. Up here in Sitka there are almost zero deadheads since the pulp mill closed, instead they have submerged rocks everywhere! Kind of miss those deadheads!

"Chivita" Dave