I forgot one solution: If you want the wind input you may have one wind sensor in the mast top and use either rotating mast sensor and correction or fixed 90 deg correction to get the right wind speed and direction.
Arto
From: Arto Hakkarainen <ahakkara@yahoo.com>
To: "harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au"
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 10:57 PM
Subject: Re: [harryproa] Re: Autopilots and instruments
To: "harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au"
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 10:57 PM
Subject: Re: [harryproa] Re: Autopilots and instruments
Mike,
I have given this some thought. I've figured few ways to arrange the autopilot to proa.
1) Most cost efficient way is to buy two simple and relatively inexpensive tiller or wheel pilots and use one for each tack. If you steer only to compass (built in to the unit) or waypoint they should be good enough. Also then you have a back up unit in case (when) one fails.
2) Most expensive system is programmed to switch between sensors for input and work units for actual steering with one central unit. That is probably the best system but quite high end and I expect the price to be significantly more than other options.
3) Option 1 with wind and compass input from sensors on the rotating navigation mast ( I think I proposed that some years ago). Put one unit to stand by and steer with the other. This set up should allow steering to wind direction also.
4) Two full systems with wind sensors, compasses and work units. Need two remotes or other controls though.
If I had the boat now and were buying autopilots I think I would go with option 3). If others have better ideas I would love to hear.
Arto
From: Mike Crawford <mcrawf@nuomo.com>
To: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 5:11 PM
Subject: [harryproa] Re: Autopilots and instruments
To: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 5:11 PM
Subject: [harryproa] Re: Autopilots and instruments
Arto,
After thinking about it for a few days, I'm still waffling, but am now leaning back towards having a rotating instrument mast on the windward hull instead of dual electronics systems.
That would allow for a single wind sensor, without the need for a mast rotation sensor, and would definitely simplify everything else. The thing that started me back down this path was the autopilot remote. Who wants to have two remotes? That would be a pain, and could even be a problem if you take the wrong one out of your pocket in when steering from the bow in the dark.
Then there's the problem of creating a unified system where wind and depth data feed into the chartplotter, gps data flows into the Tack Tick instruments, and the autopilot gets both the wind and GPS data from the other two in order to do its thing. Plus, if you have to switch the nav lights on each shunt, perhaps it makes sense to just switch everything.
I don't know. What do you think?
- Mike
After thinking about it for a few days, I'm still waffling, but am now leaning back towards having a rotating instrument mast on the windward hull instead of dual electronics systems.
That would allow for a single wind sensor, without the need for a mast rotation sensor, and would definitely simplify everything else. The thing that started me back down this path was the autopilot remote. Who wants to have two remotes? That would be a pain, and could even be a problem if you take the wrong one out of your pocket in when steering from the bow in the dark.
Then there's the problem of creating a unified system where wind and depth data feed into the chartplotter, gps data flows into the Tack Tick instruments, and the autopilot gets both the wind and GPS data from the other two in order to do its thing. Plus, if you have to switch the nav lights on each shunt, perhaps it makes sense to just switch everything.
I don't know. What do you think?
- Mike
Arto Hakkarainen wrote:
If you decide to go with one central controller for two working units you also need two sources of input for heading and possibly wind direction. May be a switch for them too? Or easier to just have two of each?ArtoFrom: Mike Crawford mailto:mcrawf@nuomo.com
To: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2013 12:23 AM
Subject: [harryproa] Re: Survey/build/feature discussion - Rudders/foils
How many autopilots? Good question.
One central controller with two separate mechanisms, using a simple switch to change between the two? Just one autopilot, which might work the same in both directions if you use a Speer section and keep the tiller on the same side? Or just get two complete systems so that you have some redundancy?
I think any of the above could work. Like you point out, the huge savings (when compared to buying a new or even a used F36) would cover the second autopilot. And then you'd the extra it if you needed it.
- Mike
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