Location of autopilot components

jkidd · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 7:42 pm Post subject:

Mine is Seastar the hoses and fittings are proprietary and I had to buy them from Seastar. I don’t know if the Baystar is the same way. I took my hoses to a hose company in Salt Lake and was told they couldn’t match them.

colbysmith · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:02 pm Post subject:

If it's the standard hard plastic 3/8, then a 9/16 fine thread compression will work. But your T also has to be 9/16 fine thread as opposed to 1/4 pipe. Colby

kennharriet · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 11:10 pm Post subject:

I will try the 3/8 compression nuts without the inner nipple in the fitting. Garmin recommends all the components be 1,000 psi rated. I’m not sure that’s the case but I don’t see any other alternatives. Thanks again. Ken

colbysmith · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 12:43 am Post subject:

Ken, while most of my lines are the Seastar or Parker (who makes the SeaStar lines) 5/16", I have some 3/8 hard plastic shorter lines in the system between the cockpit helm and it's shut off valves. The 9/16" fine thread compression nuts I bought at my local hardware store, and have worked just fine. SeaStar will not recommend using the 3/8 hard line anymore for outboards, due to folks not properly torquing the nuts and getting leaks. The line itself I believe is actually rated at 1000 psi, although now they say 500 psi. I used a little more of the 3/8 line when I had my autopilot system in Midnight Flyer (CD-22), but when I moved it over to C-Traveler (CD-25), since I had enough of the 5/16" flexible line, I only used some of the 3/8" line between the Tee's and autopilot smart pump, and the cockpit helm to the shutoff valves there. I have had no problems in that area of my steering... If you already have some 5/16" flexible hose, and need end fittings for that, you can get some field fittings to install yourself, p/n 2TFMS-6-5B. However, they are a bit of a bitch to get on, as they go on tight. Colby

kennharriet · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 12:57 pm Post subject:

After much discussion with Seastar and Garmin I bit the bullet and will upgrade to the new Seastar hose that is 5/16” or 7.9mm ID, 1,000 psi. They said the autopilot will function with the older Baystar tubing which is .21” or 5.5 mm, however it would not perform as it should with the limited hydraulic flow. More than I ever wanted to know 🙂

colbysmith · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 5:54 pm Post subject:

Not to bust SeaStar or Garmin's bubble, but what is the inner diameter of the connectors? In any case, I think you'll be happier with the more flexible 5/16" hose. Colby

kennharriet · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 10:50 pm Post subject:

Good point, I’ll let you know when I get it. I would have just had everything made up locally but the only hose they had was 1/4” ID, 6,000 psi. My plan now is to make the T connections inside the starboard hatch in the Vberth. I mounted the pump in the hatch also. I’m trying to clean up the rats nest of wiring and hydraulic hose mess behind the helm somewhat. Ken

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 10:23 am Post subject:

kennharriet · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 5:19 pm Post subject:

That is about the same cost for the Seastar/Telex kit and necessary hose pairs I ordered from WM…BOAT! I’m planning to install the shadow drive so hopefully it will all come together as some items are back ordered. Headed to Prince Rupert on May 19. 🙂

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 5:43 pm Post subject:

Regarding Garmin's Shadow Drive. I pulled mine out. While it worked on Midnight Flyer, with the stiff steering issues I've had on C-Traveler, it hasn't worked properly on this boat. But even if I get that issue resolved, I'm going to leave the Shadow Drive off. The way it works, if you have your autopilot working, if you need to steer around something in an emergency, say a floating log, or other obstruction, the shadow drive will automatically pause the a/p until you have held a straight course for a set amount of time, at which point it will reengage your autopilot in heading hold on that heading. I would prefer that the autopilot go back to the original heading or route/track course that it was following. Without the shadow drive, you can still steer around somethiing in an emergency, and until you hit the standby button, the autopilot will just continue to try and steer you back, but it won't overpower you as long as you continue to steer. So if you use the Shadow Drive, just don't forget to re-engage your course if you were on a route or track. Colby