My future plans involve mostly single-handling. Hopefully over distance. So I have been taking steps to ameliorate the dangers and difficulties inherent in that, including:
- refrigeration, to reduce trips ashore for supplies (and to handle medications)
- dinghy stuff (davits and sponsons) to increase trips ashore
- solar - to reduce dock time, with beefed-up battery bank
- windlass - to reduce midnight terror when leaving a lee shore in a high onshore wind, and heart-attack avoidance pulling deep-sea weeds
and now . . . autohelm! Old school 3000 wheel pilot, which I am used to from sailing in the 80s. $500 from Dan, coming next week. No bells and whistles but it will hold a course while I freshen my orange juice or even sit up on the bow for a break from the freaking diesel banging. This is actually the final requirement for my perfect solo adventure vessel. I can't imagine crossing big water (like Lake Ontario, or the gulf stream) without it.
As for the old Volvo powerplant - finger-crossing should handle that issue adequately! From Cuba to Isla Mujeres? And down to Rio Dulce?
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A25 Autohelm
- Sunsetrider
- Gold Member
- Posts: 488
- Joined: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:49 am
- Home Port: Gananoque ON
- Location: Sharbot Lake Ontario Canada
- Contact:
A25 Autohelm
1976 Albin 25 Hull 2529
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- Gold Member
- Posts: 619
- Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2015 1:44 pm
- Home Port: Biloxi MS
Re: A25 Autohelm
The AH 3000 should serve you nicely - I used one on a sailboat for several years
Don
You're gonna need some extra fuel - Half a dozen 5 gallon plastic jugs?
Don
1984 A27 FC #116 'Beta Carina'
Yanmar Turbo Intercooled 100 HP
Homeport Biloxi Back Bay
Yanmar Turbo Intercooled 100 HP
Homeport Biloxi Back Bay
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- Gold Member
- Posts: 2777
- Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:58 pm
- Home Port: Peoria, AZ USA
Re: A25 Autohelm
Hi Stephen! Yes, we're back home now after 9,800 road miles, 28 US states, 2 Canadian provinces, especially yours & Andrea's hospitality, and 55 days.
Wheel autopilot sounds like the way to go. Our boat came with a tiller auto pilot which I tried once but never used since. To use it one has to pull up the floor board in the aft cabin, attach a short emergency tiller & the tiller pilot. It has a wired remote control at the helm, but didn't seem to hold course very well. Total PITA. Wheel autohelm much better idea.
Wheel autopilot sounds like the way to go. Our boat came with a tiller auto pilot which I tried once but never used since. To use it one has to pull up the floor board in the aft cabin, attach a short emergency tiller & the tiller pilot. It has a wired remote control at the helm, but didn't seem to hold course very well. Total PITA. Wheel autohelm much better idea.
La Dolce Vita
1971 Albin 25 #736
Yanmar 3GM30F
Gig Harbor Boatworks Nisqually 8 dinghy
Residence: Peoria, AZ
Homeport: Lake Pleasant, AZ & beyond
1971 Albin 25 #736
Yanmar 3GM30F
Gig Harbor Boatworks Nisqually 8 dinghy
Residence: Peoria, AZ
Homeport: Lake Pleasant, AZ & beyond
- Sunsetrider
- Gold Member
- Posts: 488
- Joined: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:49 am
- Home Port: Gananoque ON
- Location: Sharbot Lake Ontario Canada
- Contact:
Re: A25 Autohelm
Quite a trip, Steve! Must feel good to put your feet up at last. But now I have to figure out where to put those 30 gallons of fuel Don wants me to take! My "boat clothes" already smell of diesel . . .
1976 Albin 25 Hull 2529
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- Gold Member
- Posts: 2285
- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 10:48 am
- Home Port: Hood Canal, WA
Re: A25 Autohelm
No.. Your diesel smells of boat clothes!