The A27 AutoPilot SportPilot Thread

[JT48348]

Who's running one of these as their autopilot? I saw an old post from Smacksman, anyone else besides me and him?

From the boats I've seen, I suspect these were common in Albin 27s, although perhaps not very effective. Looks like this was a relatively inexpensive autopilot solution for boats 27' or less at 7k lbs. This unit is no longer in production, but it's a helm mounted electro/mechanical autopilot, came in a couple variations under a couple of brands most notably Raymarine. They're all basically the same.

I have an Autohelm Sportpilot, the fluxgate compass, and what appears to be a Raymarine St6000 control unit display.

I've tested the flux compass which seems ok. The sportpilot powers up and beeps. I connected the sportpilot to the control unit, and the compass to control unit but I have no idea how to operate it. I've got all the manuals but it's like 100 pages and there's no real overview.

[dkirsop]

I have a Sport Pilot + in my Albin 25. It is essentially the same unit with a slightly more powerful motor. Initially I had problems with it which turned out to be a loose connection where the power cord plugs into the unit. Once fixed, it worked but sometimes had to hunt in order to hold a course. Since then I have connected it to my GPS which greatly improves course holding.

Occasionally it requires linearization of the compass. This is best done with two people - one reading the steps out from the manual and the second controlling the boat.

I find it really useful as it frees me up to use the binoculars or check the chart while under way; also I can check out the surrounding scenery from time to time. If you fish it is very useful for holding course while you set your lines.

[JT48348]

Do you have it connected to a control unit or display?
And how are you connecting it to the GPS? I'm assuming it's via the NMEA cables which are part if the power cord?

[dkirsop]

It is connected to the GPS via the NEMA cable. Other than that I only have the flux gate compass connection to the autopilot. It didn't come with a display unit and I am not sure it would be of any use.

[JT48348]

I spoke with Raymarine and determined the following:

-the ST6000 control unit is really a display that allows minor adjustments to course and also tells you the direction you're traveling.

-the fluxgate compass is connected to the Sportpilot at the back, not the ST6000 unit. The ST6000 is just an auxiliary controller/display

[JT48348]

Also, my fluxgate compass came with the plug missing on the wire to the Sportpilot. On the back of the Sportpilot there's a spot for the "compass" plug which is a 5 pin Raymarine plug. You can wire this without the plug using 2.5mm automotive spade terminals.

The wire from the Fluxgate compass is 5 colors: blue, yellow, green, red, and silver(shield). The colors match to the pin position on the back of the Sportpilot as such:

Looking at the "compass" plug spot on the back of the Sportpilot there's 3 pins to the left and 2 to the right. Starting at the top left and going down the colors are: blue, green, silver. The two pins on the right top to bottom are: red and yellow.

[DCatSea]

I have just removed the Sportpilot from "Mazboot". I have never used it, and suspect the PO didn't either. The control stalk is damaged, but the rest of the unit seems sound. There is a compass, installation kit and head unit and everything else you need to install.

It seems that this may be the only system that is appropriate for the 25/27s. That said, I will no doubt be quietly researching alternatives (Anyone have ideas on that?) and may get around to fitting something more modern in the future. Until then, my better half is a very good substitute to an autopilot (Can hold a course just as well)

That said, I have a fairly well-kept Sportpilot in need of TLC and a new home , that I will be putting on Craigslist or in the Herrington Harbor yard sale this year. So if you need parts for your Sportpilot, PM me.

[JT48348]

PM sent

[DCatSea]

Replied to PM - Let's talk

[Hobbit]

I am running an Autohelm 4000 sailboat autopilot. I had one in my previous 37' Irwin and figured my 27FC has about the same motoring characteristics. It works just about the same. Good, not great performance but for 300$ I love it.

[smacksman]

On Free State the SportPilot compass was mounted in the table seat/locker just across from the galley. Although the manual advises mounting it low down I think it would have been less affected by metals if it was mounted high up on the heads bulkhead by the door so just as close to the center line as it was in the locker. Albin 27's don't heel much in autopilot weather.
The SportPilot didn't work very well for me but then I didn't spend much time fiddling with it.

[tribologist]

Picked up a second Sportpilot+ to allow me to figure out its inner workings in the comfort of my basement. Both my old unit and the one i bought had shot stalks but i found a guy selling copies of the service manual so i digged in to the one I picked up. The ribbon cable has 6 leads and connects with a 0.050 pitch connector. I happened to have some 0.036” PCB sheet do i cut a piece that had the right width. After inserting it an mucking with it it was quite easy to scrape the copper to make a connector. I'm thinking of either 3d print a new stalk or possibly make a cable connected box separate from the unit with long enough cable so i can steer standing behind the seat. The unit actually works without the stalk. It will just run on the lowest gain when it gets power but it will hold heading.

If anyone has a fluxgate for it I would love to buy it so i can make my hack unit work. My next thing is a NMEA 0183 wifi box so i can run autopilot from iNavX

[Lockerman]

how do you test the fluxgate? My just purchased A27 has ST6000 and Smartpilot computer. When powered up, display shows "no data"

[tribologist]

No data typically means that you put it in NAV and you don’t have the gps feeding it the proper nmea sentences.

Easiest way to test the fluxgate is to turn it on in non gps mode and bring a piece if steel near the fluxgate. That makes it start turing.

[tribologist]

http://www.uchimata.fr/wp-content/uploa ... nglish.pdf


I think the connection between the course computer and tge st6000 is bad. Look at last page in this manual. It references “ the navigator”. Im thinking that must be the course computer.