CPT Auto Pilot

[peislander]

As the new owner of Dalliance, hull #83,  I was aware that the old Raymarine auto helm on the wheel was not operational. When I looked into replacing it I was somewhat dismayed to find that Raymarine Smart Pilot X5 is not recommend for boats over 16,500 lb displacement. Which leaves out the 17,700 lb 365. Their under deck model ringing in at $3000 ++ can handle the displacement, but my wallet can't. To the internet I go, and I discover the CPT AutoPilot made in California. Is anyone on the board familiar with CPT Auto Pilot, and if so, how would you rate it?
al holman

[graemek]

Hi
  I have had a Raymarine Smart Pilot X5 fitted to my 365 for the last 4 years and have had no problems with power,i think it comes down to setting up the sails correctly to cut down on weather helm,only problem i have had is down wind in roly-poly sea's it steers to late then over steers,but i think this is a problem with them all as thay cannot anticipate

[Randy]

I too have the Raymarine X-5 on my boat. It's been doing great for 4 years. In heavy winds it strains, but they all do in heavy winds. On those long days under the motor it is great! I guess it all depends on where you sail. For the Chesapeake Bay the thing is perfect.
Randy

[SailingSeaDragon]

Al,

For what it is worth, many 365/367 are using the Raymarine wheel pilot and they are happy with its performance... Others have gone with the below deck unit... I love my below deck unit which has served me well in all conditions. It is a "pricer" option to purchase and install... You can add another $700-$1,000 for tiller arm, backing plates, and materials if you do the work yourself.

The link below will give you a feel for what is involved installing the below deck unit.

http://www.sailingseadragon.com/AutoPilot.htm

Good luck and welcome aboard.

Garner

[POG]

Welcome to the gang!  My Pog had an Autohelm 4000 on it when I bought her in March 2010.  This pilot is the forerunner (and supposedly somewhat better put together) of the Raymarine wheel pilot which took over the design.  I have since bought a secondhand spare 4000 off another boat.  Believe I paid  about $350 for that.  The 4000 works well and handles the boat if you don't demand too much from it.  I have installed a windvane (Monitor) for the heavy steering work.

Ask yourself what you need the pilot for.  If you plan to cross an ocean using this as your 24-7 robot helms-person I think you should forget about using a small wheel mounted pilot.  If you are asking it to steer when you are motoring or in moderate wind and seas, making an effort to balance and trim well, you will get good performance and the pilot should last a reasonable time in such service.

As for the CPT I seen it around for a long time though I have not used it myself.  It is an old design from the time when it and the Tillermaster were made by small and not very high tech outfits.  Autopilots have come a long way since, it seems to me.  I would be biased towards the Raymarine.

Carl   

[Henri Hali]

I like Garner opted for a below deck unit. A Raymarine ST5000 Plus.
The Raymarine tech told me I needed the ST6000 which was about 1000 more. (I wonder if that's how they came up with their part numbers.) Well for the last six or so years the unit has more than met my needs.
Only once was I in a situation where it was overpowered. 
In dealings with Raymarine I have found them to be extremely conservative.

Henri

[peislander]

Thank for the welcomes to your club. They're most appreciated. I'm still undecided on the issue of the auto pilot.  I'm not planning any cross ocean passages. Most of my sailing will be coastal cruising with a few two or three day passages, some of these will be open ocean sailing. My plans are to sail the south coast of Newfoundland to St. Pierre and Miquelon, if not next summer then in 2013. After that I'd like to gunk hole along the fiords of the southern Labrador coast. Some of this could be heavy weather sailing and I'm a little concerned Raymarine X5 maybe a little too light for the job. If could I afford it I'd be inclined to the below deck Raymarine. Hence the interest in the CPT. I concede that it is not as sophisticated as the X5, but being a bit of a Luddite, I think I can forgo a machine that will do everything except make me a cappuccino, in favor of one that will steer a simple compass course. However, as I won't be sailing anywhere until next spring I've plenty of time before I need to make a decision. Still would love to hear from anyone who has any experience with the late model CPT.
Al Holman   

[ishmael]

Hi and welcome,

I ran into the same problem when I was looking to upgrade my autohelm.  Like you, I was uncomfortable with the ratings on the commonly used wheel pilots and did not want to go below decks.  I put in a CPT about a year ago and have enjoyed it ever since.  To be honest it has not had to deal with any serious weather but handles 15 -20 knots of air and 4-5 ft seas, even following, very comfortably.  It appears to be well built.  The folks at CPT were great to work with.  If you go that route pay attention when you install it to position the compass as far from you GPS unit as possible. 

Ron
S/V Matchmaker
1980 Pearson 365 ketch hull number 311

[peislander]

Thanks, Ron
It's nice to hear from a CPT user? You don't, by any chance have a picture of your installation?
Al Holman

[ishmael]

In fact, I am down at the boat now.  It's on the hard for some extensive refit while I earn some more cruising cash.  I'll take some pictures tomorrow and see if I can figure out how to post.  Boat is getting ready to have blister repair, bottom job and topsides paint, new cutlass bearing, pss dripless shaft seal, etc, etc.

Ron

[peislander]

Ron,
I'm looking forward to the pix on how you mounted the CPT, especially the compass part.
Dalliance had her bottom done about 10 years ago. She's to be hauled for inspection later this week and I've got my fingers crossed that there'll be no serious problems down under. I don't need any additional expense at the moment.
I re-did the bottom of a Cape Dory three years ago, and to clean all the layers and layers of accumulated painted, I had her soda blasted below the water line. It saved me hours and hours of scraping and sanding. After the soda blast, I filled in a few deep scratches, after a light sanding I put on four coats of Interprotect 2000 and two coats of bottom paint. By gum, she looked some good, I tell ya.
It was a very minor job compared to all the work you're facing.
ah

[ishmael]

Sorry for the delay.  I was just really busy.  I'm also unable to get pics to upload correctly.  My e-mail is rc_norton@hotmail.com.  If you send me your e-mail address I'll send you the pics.

Ron