I've mounted my tiller pilot mounts but couldn't get it to the exact specifications in the manual.
my tiller is curved. They say to mount the pin on the tiller 460mm from the tiller stock, or pivot point. The best I could do was 540mm. Also it's not perfectly horizontal. It's not far off it but it isn't perfectly horizontal. I got it perfectly square(tiller pilot to tiller) and it is working very well. Calibrated , not using much power. Tested Sunday in 25 knots of wind and no problem. Motoring around in ferry wakes etc near the harbour bridge , no problem.
Has as anyone else had a similar experience where they couldn't place the mounts in the exact position?
what a luxury having an auto pilot. I still haven't hooked up my good batteries yet and only using the 40ah battery, but the the flexible panel , and controller is really working soo well. I probably don't even need to get a second panel. I'm surprised at what little power the pilot uses.
I found the same with my last boat. The mount was slightly out and it wasn't horizontal either. I'm talking about less that an inch in both cases. I did as you have done got the tiller pilot and tiller square or as best as could be managed. Our boats are rarely level when we are sailing so for me it had no impact and the tiller pilot worked as it should. I rate a tiller pilot one of the best things you can have on a boat specially single handed sailing. As long as the weight of you boat hasn't maxed out the tiller pilot you should be fine.
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..
I've mounted my tiller pilot mounts but couldn't get it to the exact specifications in the manual.
my tiller is curved. They say to mount the pin on the tiller 460mm from the tiller stock, or pivot point. The best I could do was 540mm. Also it's not perfectly horizontal. It's not far off it but it isn't perfectly horizontal. I got it perfectly square(tiller pilot to tiller) and it is working very well. Calibrated , not using much power. Tested Sunday in 25 knots of wind and no problem. Motoring around in ferry wakes etc near the harbour bridge , no problem.
Has as anyone else had a similar experience where they couldn't place the mounts in the exact position?
what a luxury having an auto pilot. I still haven't hooked up my good batteries yet and only using the 40ah battery, but the the flexible panel , and controller is really working soo well. I probably don't even need to get a second panel. I'm surprised at what little power the pilot uses.
The extra distance from the pivot point just means that you won't get the full maximum rudder angle. Shouldnt be a problem if the boat is set up balanced. You also have the gain setting control to play with if need be, but if it is working OK I would leave it at default settings.
good points. yeah i thought it would just be tiller angle but the boats pretty well balanced. i got the tp rated at 5 tonne and the boats 2.8 dry, so i tihnk it will be fine. sooo stoked. what a luxury...
Not having the full range of tiller movement can be a problem on weather-helm prone boats like my Compass 28, especially in heavy going, but most of the time it's not a problem.
Keep an eye on the level though, I found the plastic socket on the end of the TP gradually got chewed up a bit on the pin until I levelled it better. The wear made it prone to popping off at rather inopportune times, especially when fully retracted, so it's worth the effort to level it imho.
But good on you, they are a great boon despite their limitations and I could not and would not sail solo without one.
Cheers, Graeme
I went to great lengths to get mine to the exact specifications, might not have been so fussy had this been posted 2 days ago. And this is on my tempory tiller until I get time to make a nice stainless and wood one. 
( translation- will stay like this till it rusts away)
I shall call him George
Select to expand quoteoldboyracer said..
I went to great lengths to get mine to the exact specifications, might not have been so fussy had this been posted 2 days ago. And this is on my tempory tiller until I get time to make a nice stainless and wood one. ( translation- will stay like this till it rusts away)
I shall call him George
you went to a massive effort! you know ronstan make something similar to what youve made there. one came with my boat. the tiller pin is long, sturdy and all threaded so you can get the right height using two nuts. mines been welded so ill have to try to unweld it so i can adjust the size of it.
I will take it with me just in case i need to have it properly level as wongaga says!
Select to expand quotewongaga said..
Not having the full range of tiller movement can be a problem on weather-helm prone boats like my Compass 28, especially in heavy going, but most of the time it's not a problem.
Keep an eye on the level though, I found the plastic socket on the end of the TP gradually got chewed up a bit on the pin until I levelled it better. The wear made it prone to popping off at rather inopportune times, especially when fully retracted, so it's worth the effort to level it imho.
But good on you, they are a great boon despite their limitations and I could not and would not sail solo without one.
Cheers, Graeme
Graeme,
I thought it was only the Compass 29 that suffered from weather helm?
