Cal Sailboats
A place for the Cal owners to talk about anything from there day sail to their bottom paint.
Auto Pilots
Hey, was wondering if any cal owners had any experience w the new ray marine wheel pilots. I had bought a simrad wp30 years ago and the experience was bad. I have a cal 2/29. Trying to avoid making a bad purchase again. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Steven R. Carlson
I have a 1979 CAL 31 with a Raymarine X5 autopilot installed and I love it. It works under power and sail, with the sails reasonably balanced will take over and steer her wonderfully.
It is a breeze to engage and disengage on our wheel steering. I also have the remote control which I can use to make steering changes by one degree or ten degree increments while underway. I got that to be able, without a dodger in tough weather, to open a hatch and take a visual look to affirm I am on the desired course on my plotter and make any corrections desired.
I was soldon the idea if shorthanded that I could also move forward following the anchor rode idling in gear by standing and steering using the remote while on the bow. I have not opted to do that, as my wife is typically along.
Oct 16, 2012
Jim Englert
Just installed the x5 and did initial trials under power to calibrate and make sure everything worked. So far so good. I have the P70 display which is nice. Not sure I like my mounting of the display yet, but it's good enough to get me going for now.
I look forward to doing more single handing this winter. Need to get a good setup for a harness. my feeling is the only really safe way to single hand is to make it impossible to fall over. :)
Dec 16, 2012