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 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Autopilot Settings for C250 WheelPilot		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts
Initially Posted - 05/29/2009 :  18:39:07  Show Profile
Does anyone have a Raymarine S1 Wheelpilot on a 250? I'm having a tough time getting it to work right, and I was wondering if anyone can share the settings that are working for you. I'm getting dizzy from sailing all these circles...
Thanks.
NOTE: I posted this in the general sailing forum, but I was advised that I might get a better answer here.

Michael Hetzer
"Windsong"
2009 Catalina 250 WK HN984
Myrtle Beach, SC
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essen48183
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts
Response Posted - 05/29/2009 :  19:51:42  Show Profile  Visit essen48183's Homepage
It is impossible. The only thing left for you to do is send it up to me. I will dispose of it for you.
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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts
Response Posted - 05/29/2009 :  20:36:01  Show Profile  Visit delliottg's Homepage
Unless you decide to send it to Essen, check out my response in the general category about the fluxgate compass & interference from ferrous metals or magnets.
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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 05/29/2009 :  20:46:21  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage

Before you turn the auto-pilot on, are you able to lock the wheel and the boat maintains a pretty steady course (particularly with the wind forward of the beam)?

It took us way to long to figure out the trim to get the boat balanced. Now we can set the boat on a course and lock the wheel, the boat will yaw around a few degrees but pretty much stay on course.

Prior to figuring out the right balance, we would literally be struggling with the helm, to the extent that I would not expect an auto-pilot to be able to manage it.

Now, I believe that we could trim the boat on a course (by the wind) and have an auto-pilot handle the minor changes with ease. We don't have one, but would offer yours a retirement residence if you need to find one

Paul
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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts
Response Posted - 05/30/2009 :  08:34:18  Show Profile  Visit Arlyn Stewart's Homepage
Yes, a wheel pilot on a 250 is a bit unusual in part because the 250 requires such a large rudder. Default settings may then not be in the ballpark for good operation.

I don't have that particular pilot but do have one of its predecessors. An important issue to keep in mind is that if a particular event gets out of bounds... the pilot will abort. For example, it auto tack is used and when the pilot attempts to come to the post tack course, if the boat falls off too far because of poor rudder grip or some boat balance issue, the pilot will abort and not try to regain the correct post tack course.

Which model of 250 do you have? If you have the water ballast with the 3rd generation rudder, the rudder has inadequate grip for good autopilot operation. That rudder is designed to have maximum grip at high alpha angles of attack... and that will confuse the pilot big time because the pilot may have to drive the rudder 15 degrees beyond course trying to hold a course. If the wind slackens slightly and the heel angle lessens, the high alpha rudder setting then lurches the boat to the exaggerated course it is at. Then, the pilot has to respond to the lurch and correct the lurched course only to be forced to drive the rudder into high alpha again. Its like a cat trying to catch its tail.

If you have the wing keel...disregard these comments because it should have adequate rudder grip without a need for high alpha angles of attack as that rudder is a foot or so longer than the water ballast rudder.
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windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts
Response Posted - 06/01/2009 :  15:37:02  Show Profile
The WheelPilot is working now. Thanks for all the advise. Bottom line, I gave up too easily. It took some fiddling to dial it in, but now it works like charm. Today was my first time single-handing with an autopilot. Wow, what a great way to sail! I just moseyed up to the bow, then moseyed back to the cockpit, then moseyed down below for some water. Took my time flaking the mainsail while I motored back to the dock. I loved it. Here is the settings "cocktail" that I'm using:
Response - 2
Rudder Gain - 6 (this seems high, I know, but it works)
Trim - Default (never touched it)
Rudder Arm Type - 3
My compass deviation = 3 degrees

P.S. Sorry, Essen, I think I'll keep it. :)
Edited by - windsong on 06/01/2009 15:43:25
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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts
Response Posted - 06/01/2009 :  18:41:07  Show Profile
Great news! Thanks for posting your settings. That will probably help someone else down the road.
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essen48183
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2009 :  11:03:01  Show Profile  Visit essen48183's Homepage
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by windsong</i>
P.S. Sorry, Essen, I think I'll keep it. :)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Awesome! Thanks for posting the settings. Glad you got it working.

I'd buy one and copy your settings, but I'm broke... so I'll have to continue to rely on my 3rd grader to hold a course for us when I need to leave the helm. It works out pretty well, he's voice activated and the power draw from the batteries is zero, he runs on cheetos and juice boxes.

Edited by - essen48183 on 06/03/2009 11:35:53
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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2009 :  13:16:39  Show Profile
Essen, great photo! What a wonderful family activity. Plus, it looks like your "Autohelm" has dual backups.
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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 06/03/2009 :  13:19:07  Show Profile
Essen,

Looking at the orientation of the islands in the background Celeron, Grosse Isle, and Sugar, I'd say you're headed back to the marina. (Essen is my new slip neighbor)
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essen48183
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts
Response Posted - 06/03/2009 :  13:36:09  Show Profile  Visit essen48183's Homepage
Yup, Don, that's exactly where we were!

We lost our wind completely that evening coming back from the crossdike, we put the sails down/keel up and gave our "autopilot" a try. Pretty convenient. I didn't have to plot a course, just said get us home and don't run aground. We figured out that he'd been paying really good attention to operating the boat last year when we gave him the helm of my dads boat and he was doing so good and going around underwater obstructions, we forgot he was driving until we were coming into the slip! He was like, "What should we do now? Slow down and get someone up on the deck or do you want to drive again?"

One of the reasons I installed a wheel helm... didn't want arm strength to be an issue in heavier seas as he gets better at making decisions. The tiller was too much for him on a 22 footer last year in following seas, but he could handle a 26 with a wheel.
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windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts
Response Posted - 06/11/2009 :  15:30:10  Show Profile
Love the picture, Essen. As for a living-breathing autopilot, yeah, I have one too, a 12-year-old, but he lacks stamina, as you can see in these two before-and-after pics.
Before


After
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.