Initially I was going to ask the group about their experiences installing a direct drive auto pilot. Then after a search I came upon this link detailing an install on a Nonsuch 30. Need to read in greater detail but a good start I thought.
Anyone have a lessons learned comment(s) ? Putting the pieces together at this point - it’s going to be a Garmin ghp 40 mechanical as suggested by the Garmin rep at the Newport Boat Show this weekend. Best, Gary Forster, Aloki , Oyster Bay NY
Ps - a free beer for Bob German as he was the original poster. Fantastic presentation. Answered 100 questions or more just with the photos….many thanks. Gary
I replaced an old Alpha 3000 with the Garmin GHP 40 mechanical on our boat last year. The best piece of advice that I can give, is to do a good mockup first to ensure that everything fits in place as intended. Like you, I found Bob’s description very helpful!
The new Garmin autopilot has worked flawlessly since we installed it.
Leon
Cloud Nine, NS36, #16
Lewisporte, Newfoundland
To add a bit of context, this article by Bob Gehrman can be found along with a number of other very useful ones, on the INA’s website, www.Nonsuch.org, by clicking on the MEMBERS tab and selecting MEMBERS TIPS & PROJECTS.
Bob is now the new President of the INA.
As a frequent singlehander, I find an autopilot indispensible for raising and lowering the sail. On both previous boats with underdeck installations and when sailing my friend’s Nonsuch 36, I find that setting the autopilot and tapping in a few degrees corrections every so often also gives me better control over sailing to the wind than steering by using the wheel. I don’t do that on my N26, however, because the wheel pilot on it makes too damn much noise. I don’t go sailing to listen to machinery.
Bob’s article and posts in the discussion group on his installation have played a significant role in fanning the flames of my lust for the quiet and power of an underdeck installation vs. my noisy and limited wheel pilot installation. The price difference between underdeck vs. wheel pilot installations has played a significant role in spraying cold water on those flames. But the embers still glow.
Gary, having become disenchanted with drops in the quality and service on more recent Raymarine products, I’m interested in your choice of Garmin. I hope you’ll post more about what’s behind the decision and, as you proceed, your evaluation of how well it performs for you.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
Marina del Rey, California
Many thanks Bob and apologies for the auto correct typo on Gerhman .
Thanks Leon, I did plan making full scale mock ups. With such a complex alignment - it seems reasonable. How did you remove the paint off the hull and what would you have done differently for your install. Thnx, Gary
My boat has almost 100% Garmin installed by PO’s yard. But for the below deck autopilot ram attached to rudder quadrant they installed a B&G T2 Ram. For the rest of the autopilot they use Garmin mechanical GHP Reactor. I don’t know why they used B&G rather than Garmin for this unit, you may want to ask your advisor.
Attached are photos of below deck installation.
Forgot to mention, all new Garmin electronics by PO in 2017, autopilot, radar, wind, depth, and chartplotter.
Gary
I used a random orbit sander with 80 grit sand paper. Try to mask off your engine because the dust really flies around, and also use a shop vac to catch as much as you can!
Everything worked well, so I would not have changed anything. We’re using Garmin wind, radar, chartplotter, and autopilot now.
Leon
Cloud Nine, NS36, #16
Lewisporte, Newfoundland
My N30U came with an Edson wheel and pedestal with wire to an aluminium quadrant keyed to the rudder shaft. I had slowly been migrating to Raymarine Seatalkng as the existing instruments failed. For the autopilot upgrade when the old creaky ST4000 wheel pilot failed I chose the Raymarine Evolution EV-1 heading sensor, ACU-200 control unit with a Type1 short linear drive and rudder reference unit. Edson supplied a bronze autopilot tiller arm that I had locally machined and keyed to fit my rudder post. All installed below deck in the dry and almost silent in operation.
Sailing single-handed at times requires a 100% reliable electronic helmsman and the above set up has proved ideal in all sea conditions and wind strengths. Hoisting sail I steer into wind, tap ‘steer to wind’ on the chart plotter, tap ‘engage pilot’ and then leisurely hoist and set sail.
So easy…
More photos of installation available but posting limits have required deletion from this post.
Peter Richardson
SV NonPareil, N30U, #449
Craignish, West of Scotland,UK
Thanx Bob ! I don’t suppose you’d share your wood mounting block dimensions as a starting point for me?
In addition, I know you wanted to mount the arm up high at first but couldn’t because of the rudder post key way - but had you considered mounting a block on the ‘floor’ of the engine area? If yes, why did you decide mounting on the transom? Thnx Gary
Ps thanks Leon for the masking idea…great advice .
After Leon’s dust comment - I thought , I’ll use that respirator I bought last year to minimize the dust in my lungs. Then thought - I should share this find on Amazon with the group. The unit has a decent length of hose so I’ll probably not use the filters and just run the hose out of the locker via one of the clam shell vents. It’s quite a positive air flow without the filters and will keep a positive pressure of air in the mask. Just sharing.
