Simrad Autopilot

by John May 19, 2007

For a short handed crew, a reliable autopilot is one of the most important pieces of gear on the boat. After some initial teething problems our Simrad autopilot has steered us some 45,000 miles with no problems. Great gear!

Simrad Autopilot, Problems

by John May 19, 2007

The Problem During the winter of 1996/97 I was single handing in the Caribbean and our trusty old Neco autopilot bit the big one. Gear always dies when you need it most! I replaced it with a Simrad autopilot controlling the old Neco rotary drive. After a few hundred miles of sailing, the Neco drive [...]

Windvane Or Autopilot?

by John May 19, 2007

Question: Do you prefer a windvane or an autopilot for longer passages? I currently only have an autopilot and am wondering if I should fit a windvane as well? My boat is a Nauticat 32 (10 meters) displacing 5.4 tons.

Which Autopilot Drive?

by John May 19, 2007

Question: I am planning a long trip in June (Sardinia to Canaries) and then the ARC in November. A working autopilot would be nice. I’m looking at Simrad autopilots. What drive would you recommend for a Swan 44 (displaces about 30,000lbs)?

Neco Autopilot Drive

by John May 19, 2007

Question: I have a Neco autopilot in my (1973) Swan 44. Last year, the pilot control head stopped working and does not seem fixable. I spoke with a Simrad representative who said it was possible to replace the ‘brain’ and leave the drive in place. My drive seems to work fine and is chain driven. [...]

Windvane Or Autopilot?—Part I

by Colin December 8, 2011
Windpilot in control

Sitting in the Canaries watching all the yachts turn up to make the transatlantic crossing has been instructive in one sense. I’ve spent some of my time counting the number of boats equipped with what used to be the long distance boat’s badge of honour—a wind vane. And talking to the owners has been instructive, [...]

Windvane Or Autopilot?—Part 2

by Colin December 19, 2011
Blade angle

The first time I used a windvane in anger was back in the early 1980s, aboard my newly purchased UFO 34 cruiser-racer whilst delivering her home from Scotland through the Irish Sea. Fitted with a then state-of-the-art Aries vane, we had strong tailwinds for much of the way, which the vane handled fairly well, impressive [...]