[Rhodes22-list] Auto Helm

[FredkLange at aol.com]

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
>