J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Autohelm's

Any comments on how well the various autohelm
products perform on J-30's. I have a friend trying to talk me out of the purchase of a J-30 because of the heavy helm. He claims even
an autohelm would be worthless.
Thanks

In another discussion of autopilots, one respondent suggested that the question was akin to "how long is a piece of string". This question is very similar! What is your expectation for a autopilot? Should it be able to steer the boat to windward with a 165% genoa with winds at 25 kts apparent? No, I don't think that an autopilot will do that for very long. On the other hand, do you expect that the pilot should be able to steer the boat under motor when it's mill-pond calm? In this case the answer is yes. If you want to use a tiller pilot, you do need to spend a little time finding out how to balance the rig to lower the tiller loads. A J/30 does have significant tiller loads esp if the sails are old and baggy. You can moderate this force with early sail changes and use of the running rigging adjustments.

One of my favorite crewmembers is "R2D2" a Autohelm ST 2000 who never complains, always shows up on time, never has a hang-over, and loves to drive (even in heavy air). I think R2D2 is a thing for my GPS, because he does whatever the GPS says to do. My only complaint about R2D2 is that he's a little sloppy when driving downwind with a spinnaker.

I have used an older Autohelm 1000 for the past 10 years and I'm actually going to replace it this winter. Quite frankly when crusing, I can't think of going without it.

I have to agree with Joe. I have an older Autohelm (3000?) and don't go crusing without it. As long as you pay a little attention to balancing the loads, it works great. On a reach, we don't carry as much sail as we would if we were racing.

I have an Autohelm 2000. It used to do a lot of "Crazy Ivan" turns until I fixed the sleeve that it fits into. Don't leave home without it!

I just purchased a J30 in Annapolis. I installed a ST4000+ Autohelm because it is a little more powerful and the compass and electrics are better protected than the cheaper units. It performed admirably for the delivery to North Carolina. We motored a lot and steering the whole way would have been torture. I used a 1" tiller bracket mounted on the bottom of the tiller to complete the installation.

Proper sail trim is essential to reducing the heavy helm. I use a Ratheon tiller pilot and would not cruise without it.

Other than the proper sail trim what sleeve did you fix to reduce the "CRAZY IVAN'S". I would love to reduce this most disturbing event.

We have an Autohelm ST-2000 and had a chance several years ago to give it a work out in heavy air on a two man delivery from Chicago to Muskegon. We were motor sailing with full main and #3 in 18-25 apparent and 3-4 ft waves, then later with reefed main and #3. The Autohelm drove all the way (19 hrs) and did a great job even in the waves at night! Bob Cox, Ricochet