Today I ventured out with my newly install Raymarine S1 Wheel Pilot. Not fully installed though, I only installed the working parts; compass, wheel drive, and rudder position indicator. I decided to not mount the control panel and computer box until I got a little use, good thing too.
My first thoughts was to install a nav pod onto the pedestal for the control panel. Many are done this way. I noted some C27s in the marina with the autopilot control mounted next to the engine control panel. It only took a little use, and a few tacks, to realize that the only place to mount the control panel is next to the cabin hatch on the cabin aft wall. I acquired the autopilot so that I could comfortably single hand, and having the control panel behind the jib sheet winches would be less then optimal. The autopilot works great!!!!! This morning was a typical lake Travis sailing day, with winds in the 10 to 15 Knts range. The auto pilot held course with the accuracy that I had hoped and expected. I don't have any wind instruments, so the autopilot can not feel the wind in it's face, or the heal of the boat, so some rounding up is unavoidable. But after a few seconds, it would head back off the wind to the set heading. It reacts slow to changes, as one would expect. I needed to increase the rudder gain some from the factory setting, and may add a little more next time. I set the auto tack setting to 120 degrees, and was quite pleased the the tack performance. Next to learn. How does one cut a hole in the cabin wall to mount the control panel? Some pictures at http://www.sailtravis.us/etc/autopilot.html John C27 5956 Cool Change Lake Travis, Austin, TX
