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Kraken

From: Dublin Bay

Registered: 2011-02-24

Posts: 333

F26 - Autohelm installation aboard 'Francesca'

[Moved from 'Technical Advice' pages, dated 10/11/09]

Jonathan Hopper provided his solution to the autohelm problem on the Frances 26. His autohelm sits well outboard but the pivot is on the capping rail. This is further assisted by a tiller bracket with a substantial offset. Purchasing the more expensive 4000 model brings other advantages in that it directly accepts the NMEA interface available from all G.P.S. receivers and so can follow a route in 'track mode'. Here is what Jonathan says:

"Anything less than the 4000 is not powerful (mainly quick) enough, and needs to be mounted further aft and outside of the toe rail.

My version of solving the problem is as per photo – a lump of oak holds the autohelm, and a new pin in about the centre of the oak fits into the self steering fitting.   Similar result as yours, but a different way of getting it.   Whereas the original 1000 was fine motoring, and worked in some sailing conditions, the 4000 can cope with most conditions.   It also has the advantage of the control head being next to the companionway (thus it is possible to steer from the inside), and that the control head accepts NMEA, so can repeat a certain amount of data, including GPS data, so a route set up by the chart table can be viewed whilst helming."