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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Autopilot Installation

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Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/15/2003 : 09:10:36

Hi

I've just bought an Autohelm ST1000 and was wondering if anyone had pictures/advice on installation.

Many thanks

Pie Sees 2 C25 #5686 1987 SR/WK

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2003 : 09:37:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jonathan Cuff
 Hi

I've just bought an Autohelm ST1000 and was wondering if anyone had pictures/advice on installation.

Many thanks

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Albert Iturrey used to have some good pictures of his installation, but a quick search reveals that the links to them are not there.

The installation instructions are pretty straightforward, but here are some tips for your autopilot installation on a C25...

First, I mounted mine on the opposite side of the cockpit as the outboard. This way I don't have to hurdle the autopilot to get to the motor when using both.

Install the plug inside of the aft end of the coaming compartment. This keeps it physically out of the way and out of the weather.

I used the cantilever mount, but others have mounted their's to the top of the coaming. I guess it is just personal preference.

I mounted my conversation piece...er, I mean...autopilot remote, inside the cabin on the aft bulkhead starboard side next to the rear of the compass and knotmeter. This is an out of the way place to keep it and, during installation, it is easily accessible through the removable panels in the quarterberth.

Even if you don't have a GPS with NMEA in/out yet, I would prewire the autopilot's connector plug with the wires for NMEA data so you don't have to remove everything later to wire for it.

I wish I had pictures, but alas I don't. If you have any specific questions, just let me know.

Edited by - dlucier on 12/15/2003 09:43:04

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2003 : 09:49:37

Morning Jon,

Lots of different approaches expressed here in the past with pictures as well. My boat is an '83 and I opted to mount my Auto 1000 in the least complicated way. This led me to drill the mounting hole in the fuel locker seat and glassed a support block under it into which I mounted the bronze ferrule supplied by the manufacturer. I also mounted the electrical plug under the cover out of the weather. The electrical connection was easy from that location straight to the electrical panel on the port side of the boat. It was necessary to hang the mount to the tiller and I did so under the tiller the required 18 inches from the rudder leading edge.
When being used I raise the locker cover, plug in the autohelm, close the cover mount the unit into the ferrule and clip the other end onto the tiller mount.
The longest period of time involved in the project was waiting for the epoxy to cure where the ferrule was mounted. This time was spent drilling the other holes required to mount the unit.
Mounted this way has two problems;
1)..seat cushions are a problem, I just don't use them on that
side when I use the auto helm
2)..the under mount can give your knee a poke if you aren't
careful when tacking to port.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

Edited by - on

Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2003 : 10:51:52

Many thanks

Does anyone have any idea about how to interface a GPSMAP 168 Sounder with an Autohelm 1000+? I'm guessing you use the wires that run off the Garmin power cable but it's not very clear.

Cheers

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2003 : 11:49:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jonathan Cuff
 Many thanks

Does anyone have any idea about how to interface a GPSMAP 168 Sounder with an Autohelm 1000+? I'm guessing you use the wires that run off the Garmin power cable but it's not very clear.

Cheers
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

To interface my Garmin Etrex Mariner, I ran new wires from the terminals on the back of the autopilot connector somewhat following the diagram in the ST1000 manual(for my GPS unit, the wiring is different than what is diagramed in the manual) to a hole by the light fixture in the aft quarterberth.

Instead of buying the specialty cable from Garmin to interface with the autopilot, I simply bought a make-your-own computer serial connector from Radio Shack($4.00) and configured the pinouts to coincide with the data connections on my Garmin's PC interface cable that came with my GPS unit. To connect my GPS to the autopilot, I just simply plug the GPS serial cable into the new serial connector that is wired to the autopilot connector.

Edited by - dlucier on 12/15/2003 11:50:53

Earl Landers
Navigator

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USA
157 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2003 : 12:12:37

Jonathan,
To interface the output of the GPS to the autopilot, first find the NMEA Out lead and the ground lead from the GPS. These need to be wired to the NMEA + and NMEA - leads respectively. Once that physical connection is made, you need to set the options in the GPS. Look at page 76 and Appendix I in your manual (page numbers from online manual, yours may differ). You want to set the GPS to NMEA In/Out as the comm standard. Also read the note in the Appendix that talks about turning off sentences and keep in mind that the autopilot can't read any of the Garmin proprietary sentences. I don't think I'd turn any off unless I was having some problem with the two units communicating. Instead, I'd go sailing and see how it works

I too used the cantilever mount. After considering the options available, I felt it to be the better choice. It doesn't interfere with the cockpit cushions, and provides the level mounting required. On my boat when I tried mounting to the top of the coaming, the autopilot had about a 15 degree slope. One caution if you use the cantilever, I don't if it's just me not following directions closely enough, or there is an error in the cutting directions, but I didn't end up in the center of the throw of the autopilot. Autopilot end of throw to port has a different rudder angle than autopilot end of throw to starboard. It's not a big deal, but it is there.

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2003 : 12:21:41

Fairly simple to install. See photos. The electrical connection is inside the combing opening. I purchaced an extention for the shaft, note the black extention I believe it was 4 inches, and just follow the instructions in the manual for the proper distance from the pintle center line. The real fun begins when you get to initialize the unit by turning circles.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2003 : 16:24:11

Jonathan,

On my 1979 C-25 the outboard motor is mounted on the port side. I installed my ST-2000plus autopilot on the stbd side. I recessed the bronze bushing into the top surface of the coaming. On my boat, the plywood deck core there is about 3/4" thick, so plenty strong enough. I wired to autopilot on its own dedicated circuit breaker. I don't yet have coaming compartments, but that sure would be the place to mount the electrical connector. The specified distance from the rudder pivot axis to the tiller pin isn't written in stone. Installing the pin closer to the pintles results in faster steering response and increased hard over angle (good things), but at the cost of more strain on the drive mechanics and probably higher peak electrical current requirements (bad things). I wouldn't hesitate to shorten that distance for a ST-2000plus or other recirc-ball drive pilot, but I'm not sure how the ST-1000 drive mech. would handle it.

I special ordered the following additional items: <ul><li>Extra long threaded tiller pin.</li><li>(15') Raymarine special tillerpilot multi-conductor cable.</li><li>Ram extension (maybe 5"? I'm not at the boat right now. Will try to remember to measure it, and edit this post later).</li></ul>Good luck, and if you have more specific questions, don't hesitate to ask.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

eric.werkowitz
Captain

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USA
283 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2003 : 18:12:31

Ed,

Did you rig your tiller to fold up? I remember someone saying they had done that to clear space in the cockpit when on autopilot. I always wondered what the mod looked like.

Eric Werkowitz
C25 #4969

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2003 : 21:25:59

Yes, the tiller will fold up out of the way. Has worked well on long passages where 'Scotty' is left in control and the crew is large enough to need more space.

I found this in an old Cruising World.

Edited by - on

Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2003 : 09:16:04

Many thanks for all your help. I'll do the install on the w.e. and let you know how I get on!!

Cheers

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2003 : 20:38:37

Autopilot Installation

Jonathan

I remember you asking this question earlier. If you do a search on "autopilots" you'll get lots of hits.

One of them is this one that answers your question:

http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5049&SearchTerms=autopilot

Good luck,

Stu

Edited by - on

Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Response Posted - 12/27/2003 : 13:45:48

Hi guys

I've installed the Autopilot but after measuring the distance for the length of the arm I calculated I needed a three inch extension. Having got this, it's still too short!! Can anyone advise if they have an extension and if so, how long? I'm reckoning on the longest which is six inches.

Cheers

Edited by - on

bud thomson
Deckhand

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1 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2004 : 13:03:24

I have a catalina 22 which I had to make about an 8" extension for it to mount the autopilot to the gunnel. I usd a cylinder rod out of a hydrolic cylinder cut it to length then threaded it to the size of the cap on the original. found a shaft the same size works great. Bud

Edited by - on

Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2004 : 16:00:05

Hi

Well it's all installed and working now. Thanks to everyone for their advice. It needed a 5" extension to get the distance from the gunnal to the tiller. Tomorrow we take her out for her first sail.

Cheers

Edited by - on

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