[Rhodes22-list] Autopilot

[Arthur H. Czerwonky]

Bill,

Your planning and trip are totally fascinating.  I can't wait to read the full account.  Did you encounter and 'northers' enroute, or were you able to plan around such wind conditions.  I understand that the wind, coupled with the gulf stream current direction can be treacherous.  Were these some of the horror stories you dealt with?  

I really respect your priorities toward the next generation, and Jim's as well.  Sailing, perhaps more than any other endeavor, teaches the kids responsibility and adventure at the peak of excitement.  I have supported the Sea Scouts for that reason, a natural venue for sailing.  I wonder how many of us have identified with this next generation of sailors, competitors, Rhoadies, and citizens.

Thanks for any and all of your sharing, Bill.

Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.com>
>Sent: Jun 22, 2006 6:39 PM
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Autopilot
>
>Art,
>It's hard to put a price on the S100 because everyone has a different
>perspective on value and disposable income.  If you force me to say a
>price, I would guess around $150 or so.  My guess as to why it is priced so
>high right now is that it is brand new on the market and Raymarine wants to
>recover it R&D costs; or more likely that it can/is used on much bigger
>boats with much more expensive autopilots owned by much more wealthy
>people.  Don't get me wrong.  I am glad that I have it now that the credit
>card is paid off.
>
>The GPS was actually interfaced with the autopilot.  The S100 remote only
>allows you to do what you would do on directly on the autopilot, only from
>anywhere on the boat.  It is plain and simple a luxurious convenience.
>
>I did not use waypoints when crossing the Gulf Stream because of the strong
>current relative to my boatspeed.  If you simply enter a waypoint when
>crossing, the autopilot will attempt to steer a straight course to the
>waypoint.  When the current starts pulling the boat off of that course
>line, the autopilot will compensate by steering the boat more and more into
>the current to stay on that course line thus greatly slowing your VMG
>(velocity made good).  If the current is strong enough you would find
>yourself standing still in the current, making no headway at all.  Instead,
>I steered an S shaped course.  Near the land masses where the current is
>not so strong, I would enter a bearing that was further south than a
>straight line to the destination.  Then as I entered the main axis of the
>Gulf Stream I steered a bearing that was perpendicular to the current.  Of
>course, entering the Stream at a point south of your destination helps
>quite a bit and reduces the amount of S in your curve.  It was really
>interesting to look at the track on my GPS afterwards.
>
>Bill Wickman
>
>
>
>
>Original Message:
>Bill,
>
>Thanks for such a detailed post, a very positive one about Raymarine.  What
>dollar worth would you put on the s100 remote after your experience using
>it?
>
>It sounds like it did well with GPS, what GPS did you interface with it?
>Did you use waypoints across the Gulfstream or just steer a course?
>
>I have read similar comments from blue water sailors about the positive
>value of an autopilit.
>
>Thanks again,
>
>Art
>
>
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