[Rhodes22-list] Tiller pilot

[Bob Keller]

Bill,
I made the mistake of not consulting this list before picking out a tiller 
pilot.  My main purpose for it is the fact that I singlehand a lot and it 
would give me a lot of flexibility to do that.  Sometimes I even singlehand 
when my wife is sailing with me...  The other reason is for the trips to the 
coast.  Would have been nice to have it while motoring for 4.5 hours last 
week.

I chose a Raymarine unit because of their reputation for being the best and 
that is the brand of all my other instruments.  The model is the ST 2000 
which I selected because I was wary of going with their bottom end ST 1000 
and read some reviews that suggested the 1000 might not be the most reliable 
unit.  So, why not spend a little more money and upgrade to a better unit?  
Plus it was (and is) on sale on Sailnet.

The installation has been a nightmare and that is why I wish I had checked 
to see who else has installed what.  The marina is doing it (or trying to 
since August) and has ordered parts on backorder which arrived and then they 
decided we needed more parts which are now on backorder again.  You are 
correct that the installation can be made pretty far astern on the tiller, 
especially since it has to avoid the stern seats.  The problem seems to be 
the types and number of different brackets needed to connect the tillerpilot 
to the coaming, and then to the tiller since it has to be a level and 90 
degree angled connection.

I have no idea when or if they will be able to make it work, but want to 
make sure that it will work before they start drilling and epoxying.  
Anyway, still waiting...
Bob K


>From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Mexico 1, Keys 0
>Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 10:09:43 -0500
>
>Bob,
>
>This happens over and over with regard to the Keys.  Currently in my 
>household the score for the winter vacation appears to be Mexico 1, Keys 0. 
>  We, too, shall see.  One year I'll get there.
>
>The list has spent a lot of time discussing how to maintain your boat in 
>one place, and too little time discussing the type of trailer sailing you 
>are obviously doing.  Speaking for myself, I'd love to hear more.
>
>I gather you are in the process of installing a tiller pilot.  I think 
>these devices are of dubious value for day-sailing, and invaluable for 
>longer haul, motor-sailing--especially when you need to constantly consult 
>charts because you are far from your home port.
>
>I suspect the things Practical Sailor tests for have little application in 
>our boats, although I'm not sure there's a nickel's worth of difference 
>between the tiller pilots currently available, as far as we're concerned.
>
>Which model did you pick?  Why?
>
>So little force is required to move my tiller, that I wonder if the 
>attachment point can be moved far astern.  Could the power unit be attached 
>to the motor mount, with the arm traveling straight across the transom, 
>completely out of the way?  There could be a second attachment point 
>forward, but for everyday use on an R-22, these things would seem to be 
>more than powerful enough to forgo the mechanical advantage obtained from 
>mounting them more forward in the cockpit.
>
>Any other hints, tips, thoughts, experiences, you have gleaned from your 
>trailer sailing would, I think, be invaluable to the list.  Most of us have 
>been timid about leaving familiar waters, although most of us have vehicles 
>that would allow us to do so.  We need to hear success stories from the 
>pioneers to help us find enough courage to sail in unfamiliar waters.
>
>Bill
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Bob Keller
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 8:56 PM
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Florida Keys
>
>
>Bill,
>Just returned from my trip to Savannah with the boat and will write up and
>post some info about that.  Meanwhile, I have caught up on emails and 
>really
>appreciate all the postings you dug up from previous discussions about the
>Keys.  Interesting information, and we continue to discuss options, such as
>driving further to Key Largo and then maybe not even going as far as Key
>West.  Just relaxing and enjoying the sights.  I think because I just got
>back from a 300 mile (each way) trip with the boat, I am having some second
>thoughts about doing an 831 mile (according to Mapquest) trip each way with
>the boat.  Am going to think about it some more.  I keep thinking that
>Charleston is only 240 miles away, Pensacola only 360, Punta Gorda 575,
>etc...  Of course, none of these places is the Keys. We'll see.
>
>Thanks for the information.
>Bob K
>
>
>
> >From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
> >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >To: "R22 List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Fw: Florida Keys
> >Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 08:23:53 -0500
>
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