Autopilots,which one for me?

[___/)ances With Sails]

Im in the market for an autopilot and am curious to know which is best for me. I have an Ericson 28 with a wheel helm and 7500 lbs. displacement. Which Specs. do I want to consider formost? battery consumption? Ability to withstand sea and wind currents? Do I want it to run off of a seperate GPS (considering Garmin 440). Looks like Raymarine has been around awhile. Looked at a X-5 WHEEL SMARTPILOT E12201, but is it best for me?


Thanks for your time.

[Phil Prater]

There are not a lot of choices these days in the wheel pilots for smaller boats. The X-5 is supposed to be the cats meow, is plenty big enough for your boat,and had a course gyro built in. Not sure what that is exactly, but it eliminates the need for a rudder sensor, which is a real PITA to install on most boats. If you shop around and are willing to go through the hassles of installing the rudder sensor, are still a few of the S1 units around at very good prices. Saw one of these a while back, for around 800 bucks. Not sure where I saw it, but someplace like Defender. Beautiful part about the Raymarine stuff, is lots of parts and pieces are interchangable from all the different models. And lots of parts and pieces available on ebay. Any late model auto pilot will interface with any late model chart plotter that has a NEMA output. No need to be the same brand.

[h]

Dances With Sails,

Depends on what you want to do with your autopilot, and what you want to spend.

The wheel pilots belongs to a light duty for good weather auto-pilot group of pilots. No serious short handed cruiser would depend on them. Perhaps I am wrong here, but that is the general drift I get from reading other reviews. On the plus side, it is economical with simple installation.

See my page to select the right size torque drive, if you are considering a hydraulic ram:

http://oleana.webs.com/malo96tipsanddata.htm

My previous question to others on installation example is on the link below:

http://seaknots.ning.com/forum/topics/autopilot-hydraulic-ram

h

[Ken Lewis]

I have to agree with h on his opinion of wheel pilots, if you want a good pilot you need to do a little more work and spend more money but the end results are worth it. Go with a below deck pilot, with today’s technologies you can mix and match brands. On my 30 foot boat I started with a ComNav (Nexus) display and I am very happy with it. To save some money I specked out the ray marine drive unit for $1200 dollars then went to an industrial supply and got a drive motor for $200. Yes I do have access to a machine shop and that helps but the point is you can get a complete autopilot kit or you can get components from different venders and they will most all work together. Just need to do your homework. Mount one below deck, you won’t be sorry.

[zeehag]

louis--my experience with the wheel pilots is that whenye are caught in a storm, they are useless--in seas or wind they cannot manage the helm at all---my formosa has a simrad mounted on the quadrant--below decks--i have yet to use it, but i am told it is the best thing to happen to kat and me--we will see when i get the pig out into waters!!!! but i feel that if you get a wheel autopilot you will not appreciate it in rough weather......just my humble opinion.....from my small amount of experience........they wont steer into weather......oops!

[Phil Prater]

Dances,
While I agree with the others who recommend a below decks, high tech pilot, as being better and much stronger, I just don't think you need anything that robust on a 28, that weighs 7500 lbs. Of course you can spend two or three times the money, and get one. But for your boat, I believe you would be perfectly satisfied with the X-5. Unless of course you are planning a single handed circumnavagition, then my advice is all wrong.

[___/)ances With Sails]

Preshate all yer opinions. I've gotten more outta askin yall than just sittin here scratchin my dog. I've been up in arms on this. As anyone else, I want the best for the buck and quality performance. Yall have showed me pictures of laborous installs, made me confer with my checking account, and reassureed me that the wheel pilot can be an undertaker. I've pondered, scratched the dog and pondered some more. I think (and do feel free to turn me around on this) I would wanna be steering in rough weather (not to rely on technology),,,I do plan on being a light to moderate coastal cruiser with some juants to the islands,,,If it can be said I can get by w/ the X-5, then I think thats what I will do, with a little more confidence now. It would be nice think I could sleep while the ram is pointin me true...but I think in weather Id be sleepless watchin, so might as well steer. Geeeez! Hydraulic would probably mean the cockpit would be clear of entanglements. AAARRRRRGH!

Well I know I aint crawlin below till either the heat dissipates or I can get up before the rooster crows, so I'll keep scratchin th dog.

Thanks a mill!

[zeehag]

louis--the wheel pilot has no cockpit entanglements--should work well on your 28---is electronic and has a control to set that is a flush mount thingie near the wheel, and a circlet that goes on the wheel, so the only entanglements are you and puppers---scratch him for me while yer at it, ok?? bubbadaboatkat sez hay, meouw...so i think it would probably be a good set up on your boat for the wheel pilot----i mentioned the hydraulic one only because under some circumstances-especially oin larger boats, the wheel pilot is a bit lacking...buton your 28 it should be good. i have one that doesnt work on my ericson--used to work well....but i believe my ericson is a bit squirrely for it--i on the top end of the size scale for the pilot.....yours is perfectly sized for one~~~~_/)~~~~~

[___/)ances With Sails]

Preshate yall sittin w/ me at this round table,,,today, I went with the X-5. Some time this next week I'll plan on the install. Will give ye my opinion about it after I try it out.

[Suky Cannon]

hope it goes easy and serves you well ~!~!~!

[zeehag]

you otta try the otto out on a trip out with us this week, me friend .. lol...fla here we come--loook out everyone--we coming back LOL