Arto,
After thinking about it for a few days, I'm still waffling, but am
now leaning back towards having a rotating instrument mast on the
windward hull instead of dual electronics systems.
That would allow for a single wind sensor, without the need for a
mast rotation sensor, and would definitely simplify everything
else. The thing that started me back down this path was the
autopilot remote. Who wants to have two remotes? That would be a
pain, and could even be a problem if you take the wrong one out of
your pocket in when steering from the bow in the dark.
Then there's the problem of creating a unified system where wind
and depth data feed into the chartplotter, gps data flows into the
Tack Tick instruments, and the autopilot gets both the wind and GPS
data from the other two in order to do its thing. Plus, if you have
to switch the nav lights on each shunt, perhaps it makes sense to
just switch everything.
I don't know. What do you think?
- Mike
If you decide to go with one central controller for two working units you also need two sources of input for heading and possibly wind direction. May be a switch for them too? Or easier to just have two of each?Arto
From: Mike Crawford <mcrawf@nuomo.com>
To: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2013 12:23 AM
Subject: [harryproa] Re: Survey/build/feature discussion - Rudders/foils
How many autopilots? Good question.
One central controller with two separate mechanisms, using a simple switch to change between the two? Just one autopilot, which might work the same in both directions if you use a Speer section and keep the tiller on the same side? Or just get two complete systems so that you have some redundancy?
I think any of the above could work. Like you point out, the huge savings (when compared to buying a new or even a used F36) would cover the second autopilot. And then you'd the extra it if you needed it.
- Mike