Tiller pilot

[Ron Jesche CH21' Sealion']

I have installed a tiller pilot on Sealion this week and tried it out today. I worked well in a steady breeze, but with the wind variable between 6 to 18 knots it had to work hard. I think it would be good if you are doing a long sail in light airs, but I like hand steering and feeling the boat. I tried it out while making a coffee this morning, but found it better to heave to while preparing lunch down below.
I wouldn't rush out and buy one until you try your boat out first, but I wouldn't want to be without the tiller clutch. I use this all the time and find it fantastic especially for single handing.
I have posted a video of the tiller pilot in use on my YouTube channel. Someone will add the link- thanks.
The chart plotter shows speed in the bottom left of the number panel. The wind gauge shows wind direction and apparent wind speed. Boat speed pretty impressive. That was with full main and genoa. Later in the day with stronger gusts,I reefed the main,furled the genoa and set the staysail. The second photo shows 6.4 knots boat speed in 19 knots of aparent wind. This was with a reefed main and the staysail. Ron

[Dudley Dix]

A word of warning about tiller pilots when the spray is flying. I set out double-handed across the South Atlantic from Rio to Cape Town in 1996, with a tiller pilot as as 3rd crew. I was warned that they are very susceptible to moisture and advised to totally enclose the body in a plastic bag, sealed to the shaft as well. My crew told me that he knew all about these problems and would do the job. I was skipper and did not check his work. It died a few days into the 4 week voyage, after a storm. There was a breather hole in the lower casing, right under the fluxgate compass and he had not sealed it. We ended up hand-steering for 4 weeks, 4 on 4 off. That was 24 years ago, so hopefully they have sorted out these problems by now. I think that mine was an Autohelm but whatever unit you have, if it has a breather hole in the casing, that is a weakness to be aware of for keeping out moisture.

DD

[Ron Jesche CH21' Sealion']

Dudley is correct about tiller pilots not being waterproof. You would think with modern electronics they would have sorted this problem by now. The photo shows a cover you can buy for them, says it all really. I checked underneath and mine also has a very small breather hole as well, and water will find it's way in anywhere. It will be interesting to try it out some more,but I'm not planing a trip across the Atlantic.
There are mew models coming out for ocean sailing that are well sealed with 7 axis gyro compases, but overkill for our boats.

[Dudley Dix]

The leak problem is most likely to occur if the tiller pilot is used in rain or heavy spray, then is removed and laid aside. Mine had a peg on the bottom that prevented it from being laid down upright. In the storm it was put into a cockpit cave locker and lay on its side or upside-down. So the breather hole was vulnerable and where the water entered. The lesson is to keep it as dry as possible and if it is in a damp location it must lie upright, not on its back or side.

DD

[Galindo]

The unit is mostly sealed, but air filled, so needs a pressure vent to allow for ingress/egress of air with temperature change.

What surfboard manufacturers now do; get a 40mm square of goretex or similar breathable waterproof  material, using a RTV adhesive, fix around the edge of the square of goretex over the whole.

Sealed, but still vented.