Instruction manual

Instruction Manual

E04818 Issue 1.0

6 APPENDIX

6.1 Advice on operation

When used correctly, your Tillerpilot can maintain as good a

course on most points of sail as a skilled helmsman, with the

advantage that it never gets distracted. A human can start show-

ing lapses of concentration after as little as 10 mins.

However, there are certain circumstances where a human has

the advantage in being able to anticipate events, which no

autopilot can sense, typically in a heavy following sea. The

following advice should improve efficiency when sailing using

your Tillerpilot:

1. When sailing close to the wind, it is easy to forget to trim

the mainsail, allowing excessive weather helm to build up.

Where a human helmsman can quickly weigh up the situation

and adapt to circumstances, the autopilot will struggle on and

the boat will be sailed less efficiently. Whereas a human nor-

mally likes to feel some weather helm, this is not necessary for

the functioning of the Tillerpilot. Power consumption, wear, and

drag will be greatly reduced, if the mainsail is freed or reefed a

little sooner than normal when sailing manually.

2. It is also advisable, when sailing close-hauled, to set a

course a few degrees free of that normally sailed under manual

control, to avoid luffing into the wind.

3. When running dead downwind, a human pilot can see visual

signs warning him if the boat is about to gybe, which the Tiller-

pilot cannot sense – it is advisable not to sail as close to the

gybe as you may do when sailing manually.

4. When broad reaching or running fast, particularly with quar-

tering waves, a helmsman will naturally apply periodic larger

angles of helm than when beating or sailing slowly. This is the

equivalent of increasing rudder gain, and it may be a good idea

to adjust the Gain on the Tillerpilot. Many people prefer to find

a compromise setting which is used for all sailing, but with

practise it can be optimized for different conditions, e.g. low

for motoring in a calm sea, or high for running fast. If the Gain

is set too low, the boat will go off course, because insufficient

rudder is applied in time; if the Gain is too high, the boat will

overcorrect, increasing power consumption.

5. The Tillerpilot is a highly advanced piece of equipment.

However, it would be a mistake to become complacent. As with

all electronic navigational equipment, it is an aid to navigation

and should not be used as a substitute for conventional naviga-

tional practise.

Remember – Maritime Law requires that you keep a good

look out at all times.