Trailer Sailor Discussion Forum
Home Forums Search Trailer Sailor Roster Chandlery Events Classifieds Resources About TSBB SBO Sites	Instructions/FAQ | Rules & Etiquette | Edit Profile | Forum Login View Thread | Post Response | Return to Index | Read Prev Msg | Read Next Msg | WE ARE MISSING SOME CRITICAL ISSUES!! Posted By: Dave Chase P15 #1074, Lk MI Date: 12/12/08 5:59a.m. Report: outside forum guidelines In Response To: Watts and Amps and Volts -- Oh my! (link) (John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Edmond, OK) Speaking as one who has used an autopilot on a larger boats, I'm wondering if we are missing the weakness of all autopilots - the inability to predict the boat's response to given sea and wind conditions and to be proactive. Additionally, no autopilot will set our boat up properly for a given set of conditions. It will only be able react to our skill or lack thereof in sail trim and sail plan balance. It will be difficult at best for any autopilot to handle an off wind course in heavier wind if the sail plan is not balanced between main and jib and each sail is flattened accordingly. I often see larger boats struggling with heavy air off wind conditions under main alone - and the main is not even flattened properly!! Adding an autopilt to this mix will only aggravate the entire situation. A properly set up P15 will often sail with little or no attention to the helm. Remember also that the P15's centerboard can be raised slightly to help balance the helm off wind. Beyond that, a good system of sheet to tiller self steering can be set up easily. I admit to being an old goat about such things, but 40 years in sail have taught me that we cannot replace boat handling skills with gadgetry without a whole raft of unintended consequences. Dave

Messages In This Thread

Watts and Amps and Volts -- Oh my! -- John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Edmond, OK -- 12/11/08 6:34a.m.

Need more information -- Chris J, P19 "Rocky" SLO CA -- 12/11/08 8:08a.m.

Found a little more info -- John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Edmond, OK -- 12/11/08 8:27a.m.

OK, 22 aH then... -- Chris J, P19 "Rocky" SLO CA -- 12/11/08 7:08p.m.

An alternative... crew! -- Eric, P-19, #1221 Austin, TX -- 12/11/08 8:56a.m.

Maybe a little help from the Sun -- John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Edmond, OK -- 12/11/08 10:19a.m.

John, I plan to do the same with my P-15, -- Ken Lockhart, P-15 #1121 Indianapolis -- 12/11/08 2:14p.m.

Maybe we should experiment on your boat, then perfect it on mine! -- John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Okie Land -- 12/11/08 5:50p.m.

I'll watch, too! -- Katie Lea P-15 "Follow Me" Santa Clara -- 12/11/08 6:12p.m.

I did install the one on my P-19, it was not too difficult, -- Ken Lockhart, P-15 #1121 Indianapolis -- 12/11/08 6:29p.m.

 WE ARE MISSING SOME CRITICAL ISSUES!!  -- Dave Chase P15 #1074, Lk MI -- 12/12/08 5:59a.m.

"ISSUES!" -- Dan Phy P15 #1051 Ol' Geezer , Ft. Bragg, Ca. -- 12/12/08 7:23a.m.

LOL! Dan and Dave, here's to simplicity. -- Steve Haines, catboats, Goose Bayou, FL -- 12/12/08 8:22a.m.

How do you heave-to in a catboat Steve? -- John Madill WWP15 Mackinac Dreamer -- 12/13/08 6:09a.m.

Lash the tiller -- Steve Haines, catboats, Goose Bayou, FL -- 12/13/08 7:48a.m.

yarning with Stanley Smith -- Dave Chase P15 #1074, Lk MI -- 12/12/08 4:20p.m.

These are critical issues, all right, but... -- Chris J, P19 "Rocky" SLO CA -- 12/12/08 7:39a.m.

Good thoughts, but... -- Dave Chase P15 #1074, Lk MI -- 12/12/08 9:14a.m.

It will be interesting to see how it can be used -- John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Okie Land -- 12/12/08 12:27p.m.

Tetra -- Dan Phy P15 #1051 Ol' Geezer , Ft. Bragg, Ca. -- 12/12/08 2:12p.m.

John, are you thinking T200 in '09? -- Westcoaster - O'day 19 -- 12/12/08 2:38p.m.

Are YOU thinking about going? -- Tim..."Morning Dove" P19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 12/12/08 3:09p.m.

Just not sure. -- Westcoaster - O'day 19 -- 12/12/08 7:17p.m.

Three events in a short amount of time -- John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Where the wind comes sweepin' -- 12/12/08 6:42p.m.

Tetra's Events -- Dan Phy P15 #1051 Ol' Geezer , Ft. Bragg, Ca. -- 12/12/08 7:13p.m.

It'd be a helluva season, wouldn't it?! -- Westcoaster - O'day 19 -- 12/12/08 7:17p.m.

Dates and Info -- John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Where the wind comes sweepin' -- 12/13/08 3:57a.m.

Events -- Ron -- 12/13/08 4:38a.m.

Ron tell me more about the festival at Cortez, please. -- Steve Haines, catboats, Goose Bayou, FL -- 12/13/08 7:49a.m.

Events/Tetra -- Dan Phy P15 #1051 Ol' Geezer , Ft. Bragg, Ca. -- 12/13/08 7:55a.m.

If anyone could Dan....... -- Tim..."Morning Dove" P19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 12/13/08 9:53a.m.

Northern Calif. PYC -- Dan Phy P15 #1051 Ol' Geezer , Ft. Bragg, Ca. -- 12/13/08 12:20p.m.

Road trip -- Kurt-P15 "Sea Gypsy" -- 12/13/08 2:59p.m.