When the auto pilot fails

[nortonscove]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

We sailed from Majuro to Guam using balanced twin headsails, main and a bungee cord on a fairly long keeled 55 ft boat…about 1,800 nm. with just the two of us onboard. However, it was work with lots of sail trimming and probably impossible on a fin keeled boat. The trip took 16 days.

There's an assumption in this statement that I would say I've proven wrong. If you actually do a lot of sailing on a fin keeler they can be surprisingly easy to sail themselves over long distances. My first boat was not equipped with autopilot and I simply learned that if I would spend a little extra time tuning my rig it would hold course like it was on rails. I would often sit on the cabin and enjoy the ride. Not much more adjustment than with autopilot. Wouldn't be an issue if you are actually keeping watch as required.

[JBP]

A common bungee system
https://www.cruisingworld.com/simple-self-steering/

[davil]

Originally Posted by michaelratinter

If my autopilot failed I would use my Hydrovane. And vice-versa.

Redundant systems.

---------------------------------------------------------
also

Boat: Lagoon 400 & Nacra 6.0 beach cat
Posts: 1,318
Re: When the auto pilot fails
Windvane autopilot?
__________________
Mark, S/Y Bat-Yam

=========================================
loosing auto pilot/self steering/rudder
either of the three is a nightmare for a single or short-handed sailboat.
On my last sail my autopilot died, 24 hours short of destination, had my Monitor take over when there was some wind.
I believe Hydrovane works as an auxiliary rudder if needed, my first choice for windvane but did not fit my stern, went with Monitor instead.

This is my solution


Self steering
,Raymarine autopilot ,Monitor windvane, tiller autopilot rigged to Monitor windvane to steer if no wind.

Loss of rudder control Have a wheel with potential quadrant related failure points like cables etc.

Purchased Scanmar Monitor auxiliary rudder system,expensive but sleep better.

[Uilleam]

Use a wind vane.
Quiet. Robust. Reliable. Needs no electricity.

[onestepcsy37]

did anyone mention john letchers book 'self steering for sailing craft'? it was out of print years ago but can probably be found online.
i had a cpt autopilot on my 20000lb csy 37 which worked pretty much flawlessly. but i bought the spares kit anyway. could actually have bought a complete ap as backup because it is not expensive.

[Cynara]

That is why we had a windvane

[zstine]

Originally Posted by Cynara

That is why we had a windvane

Of course they don't work when motoring in light wind or sailing downwind in very light conditions... so they have their limitations... not to mention they are generally bulky items that take up a lot of real estate on the transom. But yes, it is another option that I would recommend to compliment an electric autohelm which work great in light wind and when motoring.

[thlamers]

I repair Navico Tillerpilots and find they are very reliable so long as no water gets to the electronics.


For the Tillerpilot and Wheelpilot models, such as the later Navico and Simrad units, the usual water leak is around the silicone rubber push buttons and the port and starboard LED lights. Once any moisture gets past these seals it drips directly onto the control PC board causing all types of misbehavior.


Recently I have been upgrading these pilots by adhesively sealing an external, clear vinyl window over these potential leak locations. All controls are still visible and easily actuated and so far the improvement in operation is 100% despite rain and salt spray.



If a unit has previously been erratic there has probably been moisture damage in the PC board so these should be cleaned and repaired as required.



Tom LaMers tlam45387@aol.com

[LittleWing77]

Here you go, Sheep.

Out-of-print book (attached):
Self-Steering for Sailing Craft

Good luck!
LittleWing77

EDIT: Whoops! Must be too big to upload to the Forum website.

If you like, Sheep, PM me, provide your email address and I'll send it to you.

[AiniA]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

I pulls out the exact same one from the spares locker and 10 minutes later am good to go
Took me a while but got a complete version of the same commercial grade AP for $400
Swapped out mine for it as proof of concept and now our working original is the spare.

Had friends who had an AP failure after leaving Mauritius for South Africa. The unit was quite new and even had a screen that gave you messages. They got something like, 'System failure, contact your Furuno dealer'. They were prepared, a lot of money had gone int their HR, and had a totally redundant system that was mostly installed. Switched to #2 and within a few hours got the same error message. Hand steered for almost a week with two people. We had to hand steer for two days with two people once. What made it difficult was that the winds were light and flukey. With a stronger, more consistent wind we could have balanced the rig and only had to supervise. Instead it was constant hands on the wheel. We found we could only two hours at a time after the first day.

[Kencor]

Hydrovane - alternative 'auto pilot' and a spare rudder!