[Rhodes22-list] Tiller Pilot Recommendations

[Reuben Mezrich]

For what it's worth....I had General Boat install my tiller pilot and they
took the power from the motor lift (which comes from battery #2).

Reuben Mezrich
Pelican Cove in Sarasota and Back Bay, Boston


On Mon, Feb 7, 2022 at 3:08 PM Michael McKay <mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Roger,
>
> Thanks again for taking the time and effort to provide such a detailed and
> complete description of the options for installing the Tiller Pilot.
>
> I returned to my boat yesterday to take more detailed measurements and
> found that the tiller pin actually should go on the bottom of the tiller,
> so that is consistent with what other owners have done.
>
> While sailing her yesterday (one advantage of living in Georgia is year
> round sailing) I realized that you are correct about the advantage of
> keeping the power socket towards the aft of the cockpit.
>
> I also think I’ll get the power from the starter battery, since I have
> easy access to a connection block in the lazarette.
>
> Thanks again for your advice!
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> Michael McKay
> (630) 209-2054 (m)
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Feb 3, 2022, at 6:22 PM, ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
> > Mike,
> >
> > I have an old fashioned varnished wood tiller.  I haven’t seen the GB
> fiberglass tiller.  So, I don’t know exactly how it is shaped.  But, the
> nice thing about the Raymarine pedestal mount is; there is a 3” OD X ½”
> thick base which is thru bolted to the top of the gunnel.  Then, there is a
> cylindrical pedestal that screws into the base.  The Tillerpilot has a pin
> that drops into the top of the cylindrical pedestal.  The cylindrical
> pedestal is available in a variety of lengths to adjust for the difference
> in height between the top of the gunnel and the top of the tiller.  The
> Tillerpilot Owner’s Handbook gives instructions how to determine the
> appropriate length of the cylindrical pedestal such that the Tillerpilot is
> installed level with the top of tiller.  The cylindrical pedestals are
> available in the following lengths and you would need to choose the length
> that raises the Tillerpilot up above the top surface of the tiller.
> >
> > Pedestal Length                Raymarine Part No
> > 38 mm (1.5 inch)                              D026
> > 50 mm (2.0 inch)                              D027
> > 64 mm (2.5 inch)                              D028
> > 76 mm (3.0 inch)                              D029
> > 89 mm (3.5 inch)                              D030
> >
> > I think I needed the D027 Pedestal.  But, I don’t seem to have it
> written down anywhere and the boat is in winter storage for a couple more
> months.  The chances are, your fiberglass tiller would need a different
> length cylindrical pedestal anyway.
> >
> > I looked at all the other mounting options for the Tillerpilot.  Between
> the selection of different length pushrods and the different height
> cylindrical pedestals, this mounting option gives the best overall fit and
> leaves the least intrusive hardware permanently attached to the tiller and
> gunnel.  For example, when the Tillerpilot is not being used, the
> cylindrical pedestal can be unscrewed and stowed with the Tillerpilot.
> This leaves just the base attached to the gunnel, which is small enough to
> sit on and not likely to snag a line or stub your toe.  There is also no
> permanently attached bracket on either the top or the underside of the
> tiller.
> >
> > Regarding the plug and socket for the Tillerpilot cord - The socket
> comes with a waterproof cap, which has a retaining lanyard, so you can’t
> lose it.  The plug itself is waterproof and I’ve never had an issue with
> water intrusion in 22 seasons.  For me, running the cable thru an area of
> the cockpit wherein you are unlikely to sit on it &/or foul a line on it is
> a more important issue than protecting a waterproof socket from the
> elements.  But, that’s just me.  Certainly, mounting the socket inside the
> coaming compartment will work.
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows
> >
> > From: mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com<mailto:mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 3, 2022 12:19 PM
> > To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Tiller Pilot Recommendations
> >
> > Roger,
> >
> > This is very helpful information.  Other owners like Peter and Bill
> > installed the mounting socket directly into the gunnel as opposed to
> using
> > the pedestal mount.  Bill installed his tiller pin on the bottom of the
> > tiller using the 1" tiller bracket, but that won't work for me.
> >
> > I have a GB fiberglass tiller.  The bottom of my tiller is exactly level
> > with the height of the gunnel.  For that reason I think I need to put the
> > tiller pin on top, which may require the use of the pedestal mount to
> keep
> > the Tiller Pilot horizontal.  Is that what you did?
> >
> > I'll reconsider where to put the electrical socket--you make a good point
> > about keeping the seating area clear.  I also need to replace my tiller
> > extension with a shorter one since the current extension covers the point
> > where the tiller pin needs to be.  These boat projects have a nasty
> habit of
> > growing as you get into them!
> >
> > Thanks again for your support.
> >
> > Mike McKay
> > s/v Liber (2006/2018)
> > Allatoona Lake
> > Acworth, GA
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> On Behalf Of
> ROGER
> > PIHLAJA
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 2, 2022 4:44 PM
> > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Tiller Pilot Recommendations
> >
> > Mike,
> >
> > In my previous post, I gave Raymarine Tillerpilot P/N's.  These
> pieces/parts
> > assumed the gunnel end of the Tillerpilot would be mounted on the top of
> the
> > gunnel on the starboard side.  The pedestal mount is thru bolted thru the
> > top of the gunnel using 4 SS fender washers as backing plates.  This
> type of
> > mount will load the gunnel in shear.  The 4 fender washers will provide
> more
> > than enough shear strength for this application.
> >
> > Far more critical is the installation of the pin in the tiller.  It
> needs to
> > be precisely mounted in terms of the distance from the center of rudder
> > rotation and the angle of the pin in the tiller.  The pin needs to be
> > vertical when the tiller is all the way down.
> >
> > I considered mounting the socket for the Tillerpilot in the starboard
> > coaming compartment.  But, I decided against it because the cable would
> be
> > in the way in between the Tillerpilot and the coaming compartment.
> That's
> > very valuable sitting real estate in the cockpit.  Instead, I mounted the
> > Tillerpilot socket thru the side of the starboard gunnel aft of the
> > Tillerpilot.  This puts the cable out of the way of the mainsheet and
> > traveler controls and it isn't in danger of someone sitting on it.
> >
> > Have you ever crawled under the cockpit seats?  On my boat, there is an
> > epoxy coated strip of wood covering the hull/deck joint.  Cables can be
> > anchored to this strip of wood with cable ties & anchors.  As far as the
> > installation of the Tillerpilot socket, the underside of the gunnel can
> be
> > accessed from the lazarette compartment.  Assuming the lazarette
> compartment
> > is cleaned out, I can get my whole body in there and I'm a pretty big guy
> > and not very flexible anymore.
> >
> > You will need to use a fish tape or an unbent wire clothes hanger to fish
> > the wire from the cockpit bulkhead to the circuit breaker box.  It's
> only a
> > couple of feet, so this is a pretty easy fishing job.  The Tillerpilot
> > should be on it's own separately fused circuit.
> >
> > Other than that, refer to my previous post.
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> > Sent from Mail<
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.microsoft.com%2Ffwlink%2F%3FLinkId%3D550986&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cc61deb045f3b4e34337008d9e7526ed8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637795163510316570%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=m2mIbKc28wuZ6wT75jpDglW0mh16Mms%2B5sirULe9lcs%3D&reserved=0>
> for Windows
> >
> > From: mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com<mailto:mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 2, 2022 11:02 AM
> > To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Tiller Pilot Recommendations
> >
> > Hi Peter,
> >
> > I do have Bill's writeup, as well as Roger's email describing his Tiller
> > Pilot installation.  My boat has speed and depth transducers in the
> > lazarette, so the pathway into the coaming is already present.
> >
> > Since I will be drilling holes in my boat for the first time, I want to
> make
> > sure my plan sounds reasonable based on your experience.  I intend to
> > install the electrical socket for the Tiller Pilot in the starboard
> coaming
> > pocket.  I will also install a 12V socket there as well.  Since these
> will
> > be relatively small holes I am guessing that I will need to use a fish
> tape
> > or something like that to get the wiring from the electric panel
> connection
> > to that hole.  Is that how you did it?
> >
> > I'm also hoping that my gunnel is thick enough so I don't have to
> reinforce
> > the Tiller Pilot mounting socket from underneath.  If that is not the
> case,
> > I believe I can reach that point from inside the lazarette.  Is that what
> > you did to put the hardwood backing block in Silverheels?
> >
> > Thanks for all you help and for the amazing library of videos you have
> > shared with our community.
> >
> >
> > Mike McKay
> > s/v Liber (2006/2018)
> > Allatoona Lake
> > Acworth, GA
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> On Behalf Of
> Peter
> > Nyberg
> > Sent: Monday, January 31, 2022 5:59 PM
> > To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Tiller Pilot Recommendations
> >
> > Mike,
> >
> > I'm not Roger, but I'll offer some of my experience anyway.
> >
> > First, I hope you've found Bill Wickman's write-up of the installation
> of a
> > Raymarine ST-1000 on his boat:
> >
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cc61deb045f3b4e34337008d9e7526ed8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637795163510316570%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=0UhN6lzUm4L8Bb7fNpP4WUb%2FTku3fZTlMz%2FLVVwn0tc%3D&reserved=0
> >
> %2Fdocument.html%3Fdocuments%2FTillerPilotSetuponRhodes22.pdf&data=04%7C
> >
> 01%7C%7C46b1c3e18c8d4716342608d9e67e7d8d%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%
> >
> 7C1%7C0%7C637794253233449617%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJ
> >
> QIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=qHOiiYudmChIw13
> > nZzsvDBcaTFJ8DxOZWGu0TMF2joA%3D&reserved=0
> >
> > To answer your second question first, I had an unused circuit on my
> > electrical panel, and used that to power the tiller pilot.  Since that
> > placed a breaker into the circuit, I did not also include and inline
> fuse.
> > It seems to me that would be redundant.
> >
> > As for the routing of wires...  If you have the standard General Boat
> > galley, there's an area that's below the electrical panel, above the
> > counter-top and behind the sliding panels.  If you drill a hole in the
> aft
> > panel of this area, you will have an opening into the interior space of
> the
> > starboard coaming.  Do this close to the hull, just to be sure you're not
> > drilling a hole into the cockpit.
> >
> > Best of luck,
> >
> > Peter Nyberg
> > Coventry, CT
> > s/v Silverheels (1988/2016)
> >
> >> On 2022-01-31, at 16:36:49 EST, Michael McKay wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi Roger,
> >>
> >> I am finally prepared to install a Tiller Pilot on s/v Liber and am
> hoping
> > to
> >> get some additional advice before I start.
> >>
> >> 1) What is the best way to route the wiring harness to the starboard
> > coaming
> >> pocket?
> >> 2) Did you connect your Tiller Pilot to the electric panel or bypass
> that
> > and
> >> connect it to the house battery directly?  I do understand that an
> inline
> > fuse
> >> is required in either case.
> >>
> >> I do plan on eventually installing a chartplotter and integrating the
> > Tiller
> >> Pilot with that, but that is a project for another day.
> >>
> >> Thank you for all your contributions to this forum!
> >>
> >> Mike McKay
> >> s/v Liber (2006/2018)
> >> Allatoona Lake
> >> Acworth, GA
>