[Rhodes22-list] Auto Helm

[Roger Pihlaja]

Fred,

Dynamic Equilibrium is a 1976 Rhodes 22, so it has the straight tiller.

As far as the power cord, I have mine tied in a loop big enough to fit over
the pedestal mount.  This both uses up the extra cord & keeps it out of the
way.  So far, my Tillerpilot has not attemped to jump ship!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: <FredkLange at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 10:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Auto Helm


> Roger,
>
> If you have the newer the newer tiller which curves up from the rudder,
you
> can mount the servo on top of the gunnel and it will be level if attached
to
> the under-tiller bracket.  I never found the under-tiller bracket to be a
leg
> scrapper, although I tend to steer from the side benches rather than
sitting on
> the lazzerette.  And I find the bracket to be handy for keeping the
lazzerette
> lid open.
>
> The power cord on my Autohelm is long enough to extend to the outlet I
> installed on the lazzerette bulkhead just under the starboard cockpit
bench.  The
> outlet is more protected from the weather there and it won't trip anyone
> stepping onto the gunnel.  Plus it conforms to my sailing principle that
short
> tethers keep things and bodies on board.  That is, the Autohelm would have
drowned
> long ago because the full length of the cord is more than the freeboard
from
> gunnel.
>
> Fred
>
> In a message dated 1/14/04 9:07:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> cen09402 at centurytel.net writes:
>
> > Bryan,
> >
> > Yeah, I just came in from snowblowing and shoveling myself.  Quite a
> > workout!
> >
> > Like many things nautical, there is more than one way to mount a
Tillerpilot
> > on a Rhodes 22 and each method involves tradeoffs.  I choose the
pedestal
> > mount on top of the gunnel &top-mounted pin connection on the tiller.
The
> > other popular option is to use the bracket that hangs below the tiller &
> > mount the Tillerpilot onto the side of the gunnel.  The pin connection
on
> > the tiller is much less intrusive than than the bracket when you are not
> > using the autopilot.  The underhanging bracket will always be a leg
scraper
> > for the helmsman.  In addition, there will have to be a teak or plastic
> > block mounted on the side of the gunnel for attaching the other end of
the
> > servo.  The side of the gunnel is pretty prime backrest real estate for
the
> > helmsman in that area of the cockpit &I didn't want the block of wood
> > poking me in the back.  In contrast, the pedestal mount will fit between
> > your legs if you want to sit up on the gunnel.  OK, you can't sit on it
with
> > either of your butt cheeks; but, solving this problem involves only
moving a
> > few inches fore or aft.  In addition, you must also make provision for
the
> > servo's electrical connection.  I used a bulkhead mount multipin
connector
> > mounted on top of the gunnel a few inches from the pedestal mount.  This
> > connector has a screw-on weather cap permanently attached via a chain.
> >
> > Good luck.
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
>
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