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Post by lateron on Nov 1, 2011 10:54:02 GMT
Hi .....................I've got a Raymarine 4000[?] tiller pilot standard on my SO32. Whilst it works pretty well motorsailing and in light conditons, when the wind pipes up to 4/5 + it struggles to steer a course. It is not too bad on the wind but with any wind from the beam quarter it overcorrects and would result in gibes.
I balance and reef the sails and I've had a go at adjusting the gain etc but you couldn't rely on it.
Any body got their's working on a tiller steered boat? Or am I expecting too much?
Regards Ron
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Post by tedp on Nov 8, 2011 4:05:31 GMT
Hello Ron
My tiller pilot behaves the same with the wind on the beam or the quarter. I had the same problem with my previous 23ft boat and an ST1000 tiller pilot. The main cause is the complex forces on a boat under sail - sail trim, changing waterline shape at different angles of heel, etc. A human helmsman will sense a change in course or heel of the boat very early and correct in an intelligent way. The autopilot only detects course change or rate of turn once it's going and applies rudder rather slowly.
I set up the pilot so it reacts very quickly on small course changes (increase the gain and allow little dead angle like you did). This improves the performance to some extent.
What helps most is sail trim. Last summer I had a wonderful sail along the Dutch coast with a force 6/7 coming straight offshore. I double reefed the main and used the full foresail, which did most of the work. The mainsheet was slacked far enough so the sail would spill at the first sign of a round up, moving the sailing point forward and aiding the tiller pilot in bringing the boat back on course. The boat went like lightning, touching 6 or 7 knots, only occasionally rounding up slightly. The main would spill, speed would fall and she would go back on course.
Hope this is useful to you.
best wishes, Ted
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Post by lateron on Nov 8, 2011 9:51:13 GMT
Thanks Ted...............so it's not just me. Next season I'll be a bit more methodical in my approach to its use. I wondered if the new generation of tillerpilots would be more effective. I must say mine has the end with the mounting pin strongly taped up as if it's had a clout so perhaps that also is not helping although it seems fairly well sorted.
Cheers Ron
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