[Rhodes22-list] Autopilot (was Roger)

[Arthur H. Czerwonky]

Bill,
Oh, Great Autotiller guru - I am sending this before I order an ST1000, just to verify the extensions and bracket.  Online, West shows 6", 4", and 2" extension rods.  Did you use the 6" (West#142851) and 4" (West#142844) with the 2" bracket (West#142810).  West doesn't show a 1" bracket.  Do you have a closeup of the gunwale  installation?  

Are you still in the water?  The COE did a job on Lanier, so have to go to the coast to get some sailing in.  I'm really pondering the wireless remote.  After all, it's only money...
Thx,
Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.com>
>Sent: Sep 22, 2006 9:57 PM
>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Autopilot (was Roger)
>
>
>I may be the most recent Rhodie to install an autopilot.  It was the
>ST1000.  I did not use a mounting bracket, but rather just drilled a hole
>in the gunwale and fit the little mounting cup into it pretty much like
>Bob's setup.  I had to purchase two extension rods and a mounting bracket
>for the underside of the tiller.  The tiller bracket was the 1 inch one,
>and the two extension rods were 6 and 3 (or 4) inches I think.  I mounted
>the power/control plug inside the starboard cubby hole to keep it out of
>the weather and keep from having to drill another hole in my boat.
>
>While I was at it, I installed the wiring to connect my Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx
>to the tiller pilot so I could sail to a waypoint instead of just a
>bearing; again in the cubby hole, and added a 12v socket to power the GPS
>in the cockpit.
>
>I also got the S100 remote control.  It was purely a luxury item and cost
>nearly what the tiller pilot cost, but it has been a fun toy.  I probably
>would not have gotten it, but I got caught up in bidding on eBay and got it
>for a really good price.  The transmitter module is mounted on the
>starboard bulkhead just to the right of the cooler inside the cabin, and
>has wires running from the circuit breaker panel and out to the tiller
>pilot plug socket.  I can sit at the bow of my boat and steer, or make
>course changes while making a sandwich in the cabin.  Or make adjustments
>while sitting in the cockpit without having to touch the tiller.  It
>certainly isn't essential on a boat our size, but it definitely has the
>"cool" factor.
>
>
>Bill Wickman
>
>
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