auto helm

Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025
21

I have a Raymarine Smart Pilot X5 which came with the boat and has been a great accessory to the boat and has never steered me wrong. To Thor’s point though, it needs to be recalibrated (swung) as does my binnacle mount compass. They do get out of whack over time so all compass devices should be checked at least yearly. Last season I added a new Raymarine Axiom chart plotter and an Em-Trac AIS and a new VHS all connected through the NMEA 2000 (incl 0183 or sea talk adapters where required) to connect everything including older ST60 depth/speed and the X5 auto helm. It took a lot of research and rechecking connection diagrams before hooking everything up. To my shocking surprise - everything worked.

Dorothy, take all the information offered from all INA conversation BUT make the decision that suits your needs. Steering mechanisms are great when you want to raise or lower the sail. Or if you want to pack the sail while the auto helm is taking you to your mooring/dock. Or run below to the head. Or let it steer a better course in the fog than I ever could. Or as I like to do sometimes when single handing, let it steer while I stand on the bow looking at the beautiful ocean and sky of the horizon ahead. (and yes I am usually tethered in with my inflatable vest).

Happy sailing!

David Godfrey
NS30 # 145 Thursday’s Child
RNSYS Nova Scotia

22

Dorothy,

You are correct it is not inexpensive. And if you have multiple crew, it is less useful.

I’ve had an autopilot now for 10 years and wouldn’t sail without it, but my situation may be different than yours.

I regularly commute 12 nautical miles between San Francisco and San Rafael, through a narrow channel, then San Pablo Bay, Raccoon Straight, San Francisco Bay then to the SF city front. Always single-handed.

About 40 to 50% of the time, a strong wind is on my nose (isn’t it funny how that happens??) and the VMG of tacking doesn’t fit my schedule. Then about 20 to 25% of the time, there is little or no wind, particularly early in the morning.

In both of these cases, I motor. Takes about 2 hours with using an ebb or flood current to my benefit…

When motoring, the auto pilot, when following a preprogrammed route, automatically takes into account the current (strong in the San Francisco Bay..can hit 5 even 7 kts!), wind (blows up to 35 kts) and any ebb- or wind-created waves on the Bay.

That’s when the autopilot shines… ensuring that the boat’s heading, stays on track and bearing to the waypoint or destination. This minimizes fuel consumption, and time-to-destination.

(I will say that the Raymarine Evolution EV-100 or older wheel-mounted Autohelm would not be nearly powerful enough for my size boat in these sea and weather conditions. That’s why I bought the EV-200 and connected it to the existing OEM C-Map-controlled hydraulic ram. Never had it “kick out” because of excessive force on the rudder)

When I’m sailing properly, I have tried it. It does have a “wind angle mode“ but prefer the old fashion way of steering with the left hand and managing the mainsheet with the right…

Hope that helps…

Michael Jabara

Hobbes II 1995 NS 354

San Rafael, California

23

Also, David, to run below for a beer!

Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA

24

Thank you Michael, that is very helpful,

Dorothy
Cathartic NS30
ABYC
Toronto

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25

Thank you David, lots to consider, I appreciate your comments.
Fog and packing the sail are positive motivators to buy it,

Cheers,

Dorothy
Cathartic NS30
ABYC
Toronto

I have a Raymarine Smart Pilot X5 which came with the boat and has been a great accessory to the boat and has never steered me wrong. To Thor’s point though, it needs to be recalibrated (swung) as does my binnacle mount compass. They do get out of whack over time so all compass devices should be checked at least yearly. Last season I added a new Raymarine Axiom chart plotter and an Em-Trac AIS and a new VHS all connected through the NMEA 2000 (incl 0183 or sea talk adapters where required) to connect everything including older ST60 depth/speed and the X5 auto helm. It took a lot of research and rechecking connection diagrams before hooking everything up. To my shocking surprise - everything worked. – You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups “INA Nonsuch Discussion Group” group. To unsubscribe from this topic, visit . To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to . To view this discussion on the web visit .

26

Good point!

Dorothy
Cathartic NS30
ABYC
Toronto

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27

Joe, run below to get a beer once or twice a week only what with the new health Canada recommendations. Unless someone has a beer tax credit to give me?
:slight_smile:

David Godfrey

28

David - Your comment to Joe isn’t accurate as he RUNS to get a beer - he doesn’t walk (or crawl … or lurch). This way, Joe stays active and “works off” any del·e·te·ri·ous effects of the beer.

Ernie A. in Toronto

29

That’s correct – keeps me young!!

Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA

30

Hello Dorothy
I’ve benefited from several iterations of Raymarine and now own the Evolution 100 Wheel pilot and it is networked to a suite of Raymarine stuff, including the VHF radio with AIS. It’s wonderful equipment when the network is all the same brand. But I have, in the past, used a Raymarine pilot with a Garmin chart plotter, one using NMEA 0183 and the other 2000. As mentioned by others the equpment did not always geet along. Nevertheless, the standalone pilot is robust and does the job of helming which is very helpful on longer passages. The newer ones are easier to setup with intuitive guidance. I would recommend the pilot and if you keep an eye on Binnacle.com in Halifax they frequently offer the gear on sale.

31

Thank you Jim,

Dorothy
Cathartic NS30
ABYC
Toronto

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