Igot the TillerPilot today and took a quick look at it on the boat. It would
indeed be much easier to do the installation with the bracket mounted under
the tiller than trying to install it with the piston attached to the topside
of the tiller. In order to install it on the top of the tiller, I'd have to
have it several inches above the coaming. That would necessitate building a
block to raise it up.
Of course, my tiller (!!) may not be at all like your in terms of drop. It's
several inches lower and 6 inches longer than the ones IM is putting on the
boats these days.
I'm happy to hear that knees and the mainsheet aren't a problem with the
bracket under the tiller. That gives me more options. I'll be waiting to
hear your measurements.
The critical measurement seems to be installing it 18" forward of the
pintles. Is that the measurement you changed?
Judy B
In a message dated 9/19/99 10:20:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
ttursine@gnt.net writes:
> First off, realize that what I've done fits on my boat (#439) but may
> not on yours. Since the tiller and deck molding are among the least
> likely things to change over time, the odds are good that the same
> measurements will work for most P19s.
>
> The outboard rudder on the P19 leads to a very high tiller position,
> which CREATES a need to adapt the autopilot mounting system. The
> autopilot must be level, so the choices are to raise the stationary
> end or lower the tiller end.
>
> The stationary end is nominally mounted via a short pedestal which
> bolts to a horizontal surface or via a cantilever bracket which bolts
> to a vertical surface. The cockpit coaming is a handy horizontal
> surface and the cockpit seatback could serve as a usable vertical
> surface. I immediately eliminated the latter choice so as not to
> interfere with seating.
>
> The pedestal can be ordered in sizes from 1.5" to 3.5". I chose to use
> the shortest since I wanted to keep the body of the device as low as
> possible, protected by the aft end of the cockpit rail, so as to
> minimize accidental disengagement by limb or line. Experience has
> shown this to be a good decision.
>
> The mounting pin for tiller end can be mounted on top of the tiller
> itself, on any of a range of extension brackets mounted above the
> tiller, or on any of the same brackets mounted underneath the tiller.
> The high tiller position precludes either of the first two options, so
> the decision devolves to how much to raise one end and lower the other
> end.
>
> I won't have the measurements at hand until tom'w (OK, OK, I lied!),
> but I seem to remember the total height difference to be corrected for
> is in the vicinity of 7", implying the need for the 5" drop bracket in
> combo with the 1.5" pedestal, for the same combo in 2.5"/4" sizes, or
> for the same combo in 3.5"/3" sizes.
>
> I did indeed worry about a bracket under the tiller being in the way
> of knees and mainsheet, but a bit of experimentation seemed to show
> this as more of an imagined than real problem. Such has indeed been
> the case. I used quite large oval head SS machine screws to attach the
> bracket to the tiller and countersunk the heads. Presents a reasonable
> appearance and a snagless surface.
>
> I mounted the electrical connector (2 in my case) on the coaming
> sheltered by the aft loop of the hand rail, keeping the cord out of
> the way. If you intend to have a mount on each side (which I do not
> recommend as unnecessary and potentially cumbersome), a more central
> location for the connector may be called for.
>
> Again, the sizes mentioned above ARE NOT ACCURATE; I'll get the real
> measurements tom'w.
>
> Probably the most crucial dimension is the mounting position for the
> tiller bracket, since this determines the mechanical advantage and
> total adjustment range available to the autopilot. I think I modified
> the recommended dimensions by a bit -- for reasons I don't recall --
> but whatever I did works well, so it's probably worth copying.
> [Speaking of adjustment range, a pushrod extension is needed to center
> the actuating rod at neutral helm. I think 4" is the right size but
> will check.]
>
> So, here're the sizes I owe you:
> size of drop bracket (1,2,3,4,5, or 6 inches)
> size of pedestal (1.5")
> size of pushrod extension (1,2,3,4,5, or 6 inches)
> distance on tiller from the plane of the pintles to the rod
> attachment pin
> location on he coaming of the pedestal (note that this is
> determined by the preceding measurement since the
> autopilot must be perpendicular to the tiller in
> the neutral position)
>
> Tom'w ... I hope and plan.
>
> Regards,
>
> Bill Combs
> WWP 19 #439 (Aug 1987)
> "Ursa Minor"
> Fort Walton Beach FL
> ttursine@gnt.net