THE BEST And Simplest Inboard Autopilot

[@ilikebiscuits8360]

such an awesome life you guys lead. helps me get through my night shifts watching your videos. also I love your dog such a lovely pooch.

[@rayk469]

In the aircraft world, what you called the "compass" (and it really is a compass without a direction card) we call a "flux valve". Just like you have on your trawler, we also have a "heading hold" function that relies on that flux valve. One thing I noticed was you only mounted the compass and relied on that. The FAA requires us, periodically, to "swing" the flux valve. To do that we have on many airports a "compass rose", nothing but an area that has the points of a magnetic compass painted on the tarmac. You line the plane up on that rose and then check to see what the compass on the panel reads. If it's different, and it often is, you adjust the flux valve until the panel read-out matches the painted compass rose. The flux valves are mostly mounted in the vertical stabilizer on the tail of the plane. Swinging the flux valve can be a pain in the rear, but when you're done, you know that setting the heading at, say 270 degrees, the plane will actually fly a heading of 270 degrees. I own a 47' Chris Craft Commander and probably need to check more closely the settings on the flux valve in my boat, too. Enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work. Ray

[@raymondkoonce5827]

Mike Mc Where do you think autopilots originated? And what are you? Tula's comment screener?

[@annewinning5151]

You guys are the real deal! Love watching the 3 of you.

[@kenlynch6332]

Excellent tutorial on the Si-Tex Auto Pilot system

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Thanks Ken!

[@kevintwiss3495]

I saw this on the Sitex website "Built-in NMEA-0183 Loran/GPS interface for precise course-line navigation along routes." sounds like it will work if you ever buy a chart plotter in the future.

[@Humidor-zl3oe]

Fantastic explanation. I enjoy your vids. Dreaming..... dreaming of a better life, missing the ocean. Live it for all of us!

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Thank you!

[@fxpthl]

Very informative video. Looks fairly simple and direct IF you are handy with simple tools. If I may suggest, try to move your camera less or slower when videoing. I was starting to get a bit motion sick from your rapid movements. Not a complaint just an observation.

[@mrdave22]

I concur. love your vids but you need to improve on your filming, constructive criticism not hating or putting you down, saying it to help you make your channel better.

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Thanks guys. I try to keep them casual and the background always interesting but I will try to move the camera slower and steadier. appreciate the feedback.

[@mrdave22]

keep up the good work. its encouraging to hear you are open to suggestions, we make them to encourage you. thumbs up

[@advgabe]

not a bad summary. the only recommendation I would make to viewers is to use different fittings on the hydraulics. this is completely a preference thing though! I'm sure the brass compression fittings will gives years of reliable service at steering system pressures. cheers!

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

What fittings would you use? Just curious. These were the types of connections the p/o used so I just went the same route

[@advgabe]

Tula's Endless Summer well, I'm not sure what the line pressures are in your steering system: if they are low pressure like 200psi, those compression fittings will be fine, but if the pressure is much higher than that, I personally, would use a flared fitting or a fitting that does not ferrules/olives as the securing piece. sorry I'm on my tablet or I would give a link for what I am talking about.🙂

[@Jimmy1971240z]

And here I was waiting to see the dogs paws velcroed to the helm and a treat dangling in front. ☺️

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+Jim Daugherty this is the absolute best comment we've seen so far haha

[@glennboland4673]

Hi watching your videos for years and love the way ye live. I am looking to fit autopilot to my own motorcruser and am struggling to find a autopilot or remote steering with out having to pay over 3000€$. Do you have any recommendations as the 1 in the vedio is discontinued.

[@spinnaker5514]

Hi, I know this is a little off topic but I know you recently sold your trawler in favor of a sailboat. I am looking at buying a 1970 GB's trawler, but it's hard to find sales prices on boats that old. I was wondering if you would tell me approximately what you sold you trawler for. The boat I'm looking at is approximately the same condition and equipment. I just want to make sure I do not over bid or over pay. Thanks for any assistance you can offer.

[@BigMarty45s]

I think the extra line wrapped around near the compass creates a magnetic field of its own somehow and it seems to me that will interfere with the compass so the extra line should be someplace else other than wrapped around next to the compass I would think

[@jacko74fisher70]

My boat (lobster boat) has hydraulic steering and i really need a pilot, i was looking to just get a simple belt type wheelpilot, glad i didnt now! See how my season goes and i might buy one like yours, cheers for the info.

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+Jacko74 Fisher this would be absolutely perfect for your boat!

[@iangoodnow6500]

Si-tex U.S office is on long island I believe. I like thier products. Good choice man.

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Yes! Riverhead I believe.

[@johnciliberto2942]

I got the same boat with the original steering and a cpt pilot works great not much money

[@dragonblee1]

That was a very interesting vid. Do you have a similar setup on the catermarans.

[@acmeopinionfactory8018]

That's the loudest A/P pump I've ever heard. Is there air in the system or is one or more of the hydraulic lines smacking against some structure?

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Lines hitting each other and structure. been working on padding them...

[@ryansterling5676]

Love the videos and the lifestyle what app do you use for navigation

[@kufd]

quick question, I just installed the sitex SP-80 unit and for some reason when I power on the unit, it would show SP, then 207A just like yours did, but it will not leave that screen to out from that 207a reading. any ideas?

[@jimmyjohnson7249]

Great tutorial, thanks!

[@philipcharnock3567]

Bill, what size pump did you get for the 34. I am going to do the same with my trawler 36. Apparently there are 3 to choose from. Thanks for the help. My wife shari is a new patron for you.

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Hey Philip! To be honest I don’t remember what size pump we used on this boat. I think I just went with their recommendation based on displacement.

[@philipcharnock3567]

@@Tulasendlesssummer no worries, I will contact si tex. Hope all is well with the both of you and Jetty. looking forward to the next video.

[@allendabold5611]

Where do you keep your truck?

[@williambowler1801]

What size pump did you end up getting? Im looking for an auto pilot for a 38ft twin engine crusier

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+William Bowler I forget the two sizes but we went with the larger one

[@ronaldgriffin6963]

how long did it take to bring your boat from long island to fl. and how many fuel stops ? enjoy your videos

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

12 15-hour days single-handed. 50/50 icw/ocean

[@CheersWarren]

I have similar small old trawler with Hydraulic retrofit steering. I'm not sure why the center point matters for a wheel steering system . It should only matter if there is a limited number of rotations. They don't seem to recommend wheel systems for hydraulic steering. Dunno , autopilots are so expensive I would think the system should just see you are off course , turn wheel until you are back on course. Did you read anything else why they would not work? Prehaps they are too complex now? Cheers Warren

[@acmeopinionfactory8018]

warp21drive Wheel pilots use the wheel as the reference point for determining the rudder position. If the wheel is anywhere and the rudder is anywhere, the pilot will go crazy, not knowing whether to turn the wheel left or right to steer the course. The rudder is affected by water flow and the boat moving side to side while the wheel is stationary, never providing a 'last position' for a reference as to what to do now. This is complicated even more by having a second helm as on the flying bridge, as a second input to the hydraulic system is completely independent of the other helm, it moves the rudder without moving the other wheel. I don't know if they have an upper helm though. In a hydraulic system, the wheel does not move when the A/P pump pushes fluid to the rudder ram, thus the reference point is a dedicated rudder position indicator which moves only with the rudder, telling the pilot to move it left or right.

[@CheersWarren]

+acmeopinion factory ......thanks, I guess it might be ok if you started the pilot with the wheel in the center but if the helm was say hard over the pilot would get confused and then it would go on being confused.

[@acmeopinionfactory8018]

warp21drive Once the rudder is moved by water pressure, when you start moving, and the wheel stays centered, the A/P no longer knows where the rudder is and cannot steer. When the rudder moves back towards center, trying to align itself to the water flow, it pushes the hydraulic fluid back into the helm bypass valve and not the helm pump, this is why a hydraulic steering system has no 'feel', or 'feedback'. After a very short time, the rudder can be anywhere and the wheel gives no indication of location. Even if you start out with both centered, thirty or sixty or ninety seconds later the pilot would be lost.

[@CheersWarren]

+acmeopinion factory , Thanks it clearly could be a problem. I was checking out the unfortunately discontinued ray marine sport pilot mechanical steering that is similar to the wheel version , the sport pilot mounted direct to the steering column shaft which is simple. The are only good for up to 30' boats but they are approved for use with hydraulic and cable steering. Since it does its auto steering the same way a person would steer I guess it has no problem with rudder position . You don't have to have a rudder position indicator and it had nema interface. The price was not much better than the current hydraulic system but much simpler. Oh well I guess I will have to buy a hydraulic system when the time comes. Link to sport pilot. www.raymarine.com/view/?id=733. Cheers Warren

[@acmeopinionfactory8018]

Interesting A/P, wonder why it's discontinued? And what Smart Rudder SensingTM was or is. Although, apparently one could add a rudder position sensor post- installation. At a weight limit of only 7000 pounds, sounds like it would have come up short for your application by about double that, in addition to the LOA constraint. Look on the bright side- a good hydraulic system is almost bulletproof and may well outlast you or the boat.

[@mikeoconner1356]

How difficult was it bleed your hydraulic system after the install?

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Really easy with the upper helm. Just took the cap off, attached the fluid tube to it connected to the container of hydraulic fluid, and held it upside down while I worked the wheel all the way lock to lock. You see the bubbles coming up the tube into the contrariness as the fluid fills those spaces in the system.

[@captlarry-3525]

oh man.. this is where used boat gear is your friend. Look around for an Autohelm 3000 or ST3000. dirt simple, reliable, good.

[@rem9607]

whens the next trip to the Bahamas?

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Hopefully May!

[@buffettfanman]

Very interesting

[@mchaves7663]

Have you seen the PyPylot project (pypilot.org)?

[@tifik42]

Love your videos, just a quick question. Before you did all your updates to the trawler, what did you pay for the boat?

[@MrJonathansmith14]

The extra wire raped by the compass will jack up your magnetic reading. Thanks for the video though!

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

never had a problem

[@davidhamzik8070]

are you still living on the boat

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+David Hamzik yes

[@nuttintoseehere9141]

Thats an ugly sounding pump. Sum Ting Wong.