Raymarine Autopilot

Project of upgrading the boat with internally autopilot has proven a great success but it was hard work!!  There  is a lot of work is in tight spaces behind the cockpit. There is some hard work in modifying the rudder shaft to hold the tiller lever arm. The rudder has to come off, the rudder well has to be cut and the top rudder bering welded in place. A reflexion if I where to do it again i would chance the rudder bearings to new during this procces, All in all i used 30 hours off work time, with a lot of help from friends and about 10 to 20 different work prosses. Deffently the hardest work i have done on the boat to date.

The system where tested with great succes again during this summer'14 and the Silverrudder singlehand race. The system funktion best with a low response rate. I use 2 both in wind mode and compas mode. This system is the S1G with the Gyroplus II this gives a good and strong response to waves.

Illustration of placemnet of autopilot drive motor components. 

1) Ruddershaft with tiller lever from Jefa. The rudder wheel has to be cut in order to mount the arm on the shaft.

2) Shelf for mounting the rudder position sensor.

3) Shelf for mounting the drive unit - Raymarine type 1.

Princepel sketch of aligning the autopilot drive to the rudder shaft.

1) Placement on the rudder shaft is critical to correct function of the autopilot. But on a Bianca Lido there aren't enough room to fit The Raymarine type 1 drive according to the manual. You have to make adjustments: 1. Angle of attachment/ attack of  tiller lever. 2. Move the drive point of attachment in from 250 mm. to 200 mm (check Jefa site for details) 3. Place the drive according to that.  4. All of this has to be done due to fit the autopilot drive with the boats original rudder stops.

2) Drive must be placed at the end of the space behind the cockpit at an angle to fit the Raymarine drive type 1. MOST IMPORTANT!!!! keep the angle between the tiller lever and drive as close to 90 gr. ass possible otherwise the stroke radius wont work.

Illustration of Raymarine system install on a Bianca Lido.

1) Placement of Raymarine Flux Gate Compas. Just under the seat as far to the centerline of the boat. It works great under sail.

2) Placement for the Raymarine S1 Smartpilot and Raymarine Gyroplus II in the cupboard under the nav station. (se picture)

3) Connecting the Seatalk cable to the other Raymarine instruments wind etc.

4) The drive installation in the room behind the cockpit and cockpit locker.

5) Cables pathway in between drive and smartpilot; seatalk, power, clucth and rudder position sensor.

Raymarine Type 1 drive.

Princip in monting the drive on a shelf.

Cupboard with; Raymarine S1 Smartpilot and Gyroplus II.

Rout off Seatalk cable and power cable in between instruments.

Cables in between drive and Smartpilot etc.

Drive installation. 

Tiller lever ith two connection's; drive and sensor.
Mark the rudder well where cut 300 mm abowe the buttom bearing.

Cable connector for easy service and replacement of autopilot components. 

Spinnaker sailling

The first to small tryouts with the new spinnaker was a good experience.

One day with 1 - 2,5 m/s the sail poled nicely around 1 to 3,5 kn. in the light air. But the learning from this thin air is that we should use smaller dimension off sheets maybe 8 mm. to reduce the weight of the sheet on the sail.

The other day light winds 5 - 6 m/s the sail poled OK again but felt a that it maybe a bit to small 80 kvm it should be around maybe 100 kvm? Besides that we sailed about 5 to 6 kn.

Learning place the spinnaker pool high on the mast 50 cm under the motor lamp.

Light wind 1 - 3 m/s.

Light wind 1 - 3 m/s.

Wind 5 - 6 m/s.

 

Wind 5 - 6 m/s.

Wind 5 - 6 m/s.

 

First small easter trip

The boat got in the water and we got away for some first short trips off the year sailing this Easter. Just sailing outside the harbour. We did one sleep over it where COLD!!

the view from Øresund towards the harbour.

The boat got a dockside rig tuning because there weren't any tuning guide with the boat.  It was decided that it was in good order to get it tuned. It got really hard and nice. I have the measures but i am not really sure on the % of each stay but here it goes.

We used http://www.riggerservice.dk/ and where really satisfied with the service and we can recommend it.

• top stay - 17 to 20 %
• back stay - 16  but should be over 20 % but the stay where to long new one is needed.
• intermediate shrouds - 15 %
• fore shrouds - 20 %
• back shrouds - 18 %

Furling genua nice tension on the stay but it should be hirer.

Main sail.

Good speed 8.6 kn off wind 7.3 kn of speed.

Sunset over Copenhagen.

The shrouds after dock side tunning.

Really nice weather.

Spring prep

Long time no see. After one year in the water we thought it was time to get the boat in shape for the new season. I just finished prepping the boat for the next season. Wax on wax off wax on wax off. Painting the bottom.

The side of the boat where treated three times. Beginning 1 .with rubbing the with Farecla G6 2. polishing with Farecla G10 and 3. waxing on/off with Hempel Wax telcel.

The bottom where treated in three steps 1. power wash 2. sandpaper rup 3. paint, Jotun NonStop VK white paint. The sail drive got to coats of Hempel's Alusafe.

Just cleaned the cockpit, elbow grease, soft bush and soap.

Nice and clean on the top/deck before lifting.

In the crane before power wash, after one year in the water.

After power wash.

Rubbing and polish.

The transducer's.

Bottom paint and wax.

Finished and ready for the blue water again.

Spinnaker bag - Northsails

Got a new spinnaker bag for the new used spinnaker. Looking forward to se it in action soon around the second week of april. I will post it ASP after the test run.

http://www.northsails.dk/

Link to a good video in packing a spinnaker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XttiLcYPBQI

Packed in the bag.

Cloosed bag.

Spring time

Just went out in the sunshine fixing bits and peaces before the season starts. Not a lot of people getting there boats ready yet only the "early" starters the ones wanting there boats in water ready to get an early start on the summer. Cant wait bring the sun and wind.

port side early spring.

Sunshine at the docks.

The harbor in spring.

The new engine break from the inside of the cabinet.

View from inside the engine room. On the left Volvo Penta D1-30.

Spinnaker 73 kvm

New used spinnaker for the boat. It will be nice to have for the next trip round Copenhagen. Looking forward to some downwind sailing in light breeze. I bought it Sweden via  Wasa Yacth nice people doing business with and good quick service. they have a lot off used stuff for boats; sails, motor parts etc.

http://www.wasayachts.com/

Spinnaker medium 0,75 oz

I 12,75, J 4,00, Luff/ Leech 12,35 Meter, Foot 6,80 Meter

SMW 6,60 Meter

YTA ca. 73 kvm

Spinnaker type radial head

Sail firm: Gransegel - http://www.gransegel.se/