What Type/Brand Autopilot?

[Cap Erict3]

Correction. It would not work well enough to pass internal calibration test.

[Panope]

Just to follow up on the progress, I have got the wheelpilot installed on the wheel and powered up (on the hard - no water testing yet).

Pictures and details at post # 157 on my construction thread : http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1348846

The wheel pilot is as reported by the posters of this thread - a bit flimsy feeling but should do the job adequately for motoring.

A negative aspect regarding this wheel pilot is the noise that emanates from the unit while hand steering. With the clutch disengaged and the wheel turning (by hand), plastic ball bearings in a retaining cage move without pressure and sort of "rumble". The noise is not terribly loud, just a little annoying given that the sound is 'trapped' inside my pilot house. It is not a big deal. I may add some sort of sound absorbing/dampening material to the insides of the wheelpilot housing to decrease the noise.

Overall I am happy with the unit. The installation is very tidy and convenient for my situation.

Steve

[rebel heart]

Yeah the noise is a little lame. How loud are hydraulic units? Wind vanes are dead silent thankfully.

[colemj]

Hydraulic units are dead silent when idle and hand steering. The fluid just passes through the two sides. They do make noise when operating - you can hear the pump motor. Some are much louder than others and some are almost silent when operating.

Mechanical linear drives are very quiet when in idle and when operating. If you put your ear to it in idle, you could hear the planetary gears whirling around when the wheel is turned hard. 2 feet away and you wouldn't hear anything. Same under power - pretty much can't hear it at all until you put your head right next to it.

For both, given that they are below decks attached to the rudder post, you won't hear any noise at all at the wheel. A wheel pilot is, well, at the wheel with you.

Mark

[Tymadman]

Well done Steve. Now you just need one of my remote controls to finish the job completely ;-)