Visit our Popular Forums

legallyginger · 11-05-2017, 15:12

Hey everyone,

I can't find much info about the effectiveness of Scanmar AutoHelm units online. My 1976 sailboat has the mounting brackets for the AutoHelm (still made today). A friend gave me several pieces, but nothing for the rudder. I'm not sure if I should shell out the $2,600 for a new rudder, or if I should simply scrap this and start over with something else. I can't seem to find any online being sold by owners, there aren't really any part numbers to look up so it's a little tricky finding any info about them.

Things to note: I have a center cockpit, hydraulic steering, and bad weather helm so the options available for my boat are limited I think to Hydrovane and Cape Horn besides this one.

Visual: http://www.selfsteer.com/pdfs/Auto-helmManual.pdf (page 2)
Parts list: http://www.selfsteer.com/partsServic...helm/index.php

Does anyone have any experience with these? Do they work well enough, and is it worth buying a new rudder?

Thanks!

Ambergris · 04-06-2017, 17:21

Hi
This thread might be dated, but I'd be interested in talking to you about your auto helm parts. I have a rudder and mast needing mounting parts. Or if you're interested, perhaps you might purchase my rudder and mast with wind vane.
Brian
bridwise@aol.com

surazo · 02-01-2023, 15:00

Hi Legally Ginger .WE are in the same way ,I want to reconstructed my old scanmar autopilot with parts or to buy a completely old new one .I can't find detailed plans like to constructed one from zero .
Regarding your question in my knowledge this autopilot made 2 times the round of globe .I guess that function well
Regards Hernan

wholybee · 02-01-2023, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by surazo

Hi Legally Ginger .WE are in the same way ,I want to reconstructed my old scanmar autopilot with parts or to buy a completely old new one .I can't find detailed plans like to constructed one from zero .
Regarding your question in my knowledge this autopilot made 2 times the round of globe .I guess that function well
Regards Hernan

Scanmar has excellent support, even for 2nd hand units. I suggest starting with them. They can advise on the feasibility of rebuild vs replace.

Windpilot · 02-01-2023, 15:15

I think you need to ask yourselves why they are not used or popular anymore. Besides the rudder always behind you, can it be locked for reverse? Pretty sure it will go s track downwind. But yes, if you have it already, fix it, some self steering is better than none. Many boats have gone around the world without any autopilot whatsoever, I'm sure there's even some authelms still sailing out there.
I do prefer a servo pendulum turning the boats main rudder.

surazo · 02-01-2023, 15:19

Thanks Windpilot .Can you recommended one that has been proved as an alternative to monitor or autohelm .Thanks Hernan

Windpilot · 02-01-2023, 17:03

Well Hernan it sounds like you don't like scanner, lol. The monitor is good but like Airies and other old proven designs take up a lot of transom. Not sure where you are but Europeans have a few, I have Windpilot Pacific, there is Cape Horn but I dislike the underdeck quadrant connection. There are also some east European ones I see online that are good and actually very reasonable, compared to say a hydrovane at $7,000, which is more like the autohelm only.

**Jim Cate** · 02-01-2023, 19:57

FWIW: Back in 1984-5 I designed and built a auxiliary rudder /trim tab wind vane for our old IOR one-tonner. It was based on the Autohelm, complete with the trim tab driven by push-pull wires in teflon tubes and a variable angle vane. We sailed that boat for a bit over 84000 miles and at least 50% of those miles, perhaps a bit more, were under wind vane control. On some points of sail and in some sea states we would sail the above mentioned "S" shaped course, but it would average the desired course quite well. And this was in a retired fin keel race boat, known to be a bit squirrely downwind.

IMO there is nothing wrong with the principle or the design of the Autohelm, and for wheel steered boats and those with center cockpits I think the advantages outweigh any deficits. The yaw response is not as immediate as that of a pendulum vane, but lacking the need for long control lines and micky-mouse "wheel adapters" kinda makes up for that.

I have missed having that vane ever since we sold the boat and bought our current ride.

Jim