garrymny

Thanks Longbow, I think I will try it on my old boat it is really dull.

I just made a throttle controller for kicker motor. Used a servo for an RC airplane/car and a servo tester box. Simple. Cost is about $30. I couldn't post a video, which is on my Droid phone, it wouldn't accept an mp4. I will try to post some pictures later. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Well I guess he is not going to tell us what exact ZEP product he used. As mentioned there are a few different ones, and without telling us exactly which one the entire post is not helping as much as should. Please tell us, and thank you. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Yes, connected the return line and both pressure lines. Checked and triple checked the connection. According to the auto pilot drawing, I connected the starboard hose to the helm fitting marked "R" and the port hose to the helm fitting marked "L". Even if I had them wrong, I believe the commissioning procedure will account for it. Yes I did that procedure many times. The hds 7 gen 3 software would not allow power steering function to work until you did commissioning. This is a glitch in their version 5, because you need to be able to do power steering for the bleeding, before you can do proper commissioning. But that's another topic. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Hi all, hoping to get some feedback on this weird issue. I installed a lowrance outboard autopilot on my 1982 Grady. The autopilot drives the steering wheel, but motor barely moves, if at all. If I hold the wheel, the autopilot drives the motor just fine. So I installed a lock for the wheel and I am anxious to try it on the water. I spent 3 days bleeding the air and I finally got the air out. I think it is something to do with the my helm pump. The fluid is taking the path of least resistance. Can't read the decal very well but I do make out that it says teleflex, and on the cylinder it says marketed by teleflex. I think it may say syten but the letter t is a funny font . Any ideas will be greatly appreciated. I don't mind locking the wheel, just want to know what is going on, and that nothing is amiss. Thanks in advance. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Check out my posting in this forum for the raymarine ST 1000. Maybe it will work for you, depends on how your main outboard is steered. The unit only costs $353, and it works great. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

That's the beauty of fiberglass. Easy to repair. You can use the auto body resin with cloth, dries in 20 minutes. Or get the epoxy resin and use cloth. Dries in 24 hours. The epoxy resin has very little smell and had a works time of about 20 minutes versus 2 minutes for the polyester resin. Just scuff the surrounding gel coat to get good adhesion. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I got the one for hydraulic steering. It came with a pump and the hoses to connect to the helm pump. I'm anxious to try this on the water and see if it works. I don't mind locking the wheel when using the autopilot, if that's what it takes. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

what kind did you get? I got the Lowrance Outboard Pack. Pretty easy install but my helm pump has compression fittings coming out of it, so had to run to West Marine and they had a kit with some compression tees, etc. Heck of a time getting all the air out, and the autopilot will only drive the steering wheel. Motor does not move. But...if the hold the steering wheel, the motor drives fine. So I make a steering wheel lock and I will try it on the water. Good luck with yours.

weird, if I hold the steering wheel, it drives the motor fine.guess I'll have to call tech support. Maybe my helm pump is and old style that acts funny. In the mean time I made a steering lock and I will try the autopilot on the water.

Got it installed FINALLY. It does not work. It drives the steering wheel but does not drive the motor. I keep pushing power steer back and forth, and all it does is drive the steering wheel, motor does not move. NUTS! Fishing tomorrow without it.

Got it installed I watched his video on the installation. Looks easy enough. He is doing a newer boat, and he had a fitting that screwed into a threaded port on top of the steering unit. Mine is not threaded. Just a rubber cap you remove, and there is a very small hole, maybe 1/8 inch to 3/16 diameter. down in the hole I can see a ball, and the spring pushing it.

ok so the dock is no longer under water?

I'm not a charter. Last year my arrangement was I would get 60% and the other fisherman would get 40%. My reasoning is that I have spent MANY thousands on the boat, the equipment, the insurance, the gas, the learning, etc. They show up, reel in a fish, after I have set the lines tied the knots, you name it, and theye get to keep 40% for their $40 entry fee. More than fair.

UPDATE: checked it tonight. It unscrews just fine. We missed UPS today, so I will not get autopilot till Friday, UGH! Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I watched his video on the installation. Looks easy enough. He is doing a newer boat, and he had a fitting that screwed into a threaded port on top of the steering unit. Mine is not threaded. Just a rubber cap you remove, and there is a very small hole, maybe 1/8 inch to 3/16 diameter. down in the hole I can see a ball, and the spring pushing it.

Did you install the unit yourself? Mine is supposed to be here tomorrow 8/24. After work I will start installing it. I need to get it done before Saturday Fishing. My biggest worry is my old hydraulic steering gizmo behind the steering wheel. It has a little fill cap on top, and when I look down in there it looks like a small ball held by a spring. I guess I will have to rig some type of filler tube that maybe pushes the little ball? Also, worried they won;t give me the right TEE fittings for this old boat. Also I hope they give me the NMEA cable to go to the HDS7. If not, I will be scrambling around trying to get more parts. Oh by the way, I updated the software, Thanks for that info.

Is the Launch at Tuscarora back to normal, or do you still have to motor over to another floating dock?

Good to hear. I should get he AP today and hopefully it will install with no problem. The HDS is supposed to sue NMEA to connect. I hope they gave me a cable. I will be one mad hombre if this unit does not work well, because the ST 1000 Raymarine I put on my old boat worked perfectly in 3 to 5 foot waves. It only cost $353. I just could not adapt it to the hydraulic steering. I cut and spliced the transducer cable made it an extra 5 feet long. Shame they don;t sell them with 25 foot cables.

Just got my HDS 7. Of course the transducer Cable is too short. autopilot should be here tomorrow. I hope it has the nema cable to go from the NAC 1 to the HDS7. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app