Alera came with a Raymarine wheel pilot. I think that a below deacon set up is superior in a lot of ways. But our wheel pilot has served us well considering the way we use the boat...cruisers in the Pacific Northwest. We have full chain and anchor forward and our dinghy w motor other transom. So we are probably comings closets your weight.
It is great for motoring and light sailing and we use it all the time. But it does not do well in heavy seas. Flowing seas can be a problem once the wave height gets much above 4'. Last year we were heading out Admiralty Inlet running with the current into a 25kt+ winds and it was useless. My conclusion if that if your not headed offshore it should be fine...and a joy. Tom B Tom Buscaglia S/V Alera 1990 C&C 37+/40 Vashon WA P 206.463.9200 > On Apr 20, 2016, at 6:50 AM, cnc-list-requ...@cnc-list.com wrote: > > From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Danny > Haughey via CnC-List > Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 8:44 AM > To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com > Cc: Danny Haughey > Subject: Re: Stus-List Autopilot purchase and solar panel install > > OMG! > > I need an Autopilot but I think my boat is too heavy for a wheel pilot. > However, at that cost it might work as way to let go of the helm for short > periods of time! > > I was going to wait and do a below decks autopilot but this could buy me > some time maybe. Any thoughts? its a 40 footer with 17,250 lbs of > displacement. I would imagine that would be a bit higher with our stuff on > board. > > Danny > _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated!
