Cockpit sailboat autopilot (tiller)
Hydrovane International Marine

The Hydrovane is designed to be connected to a tiller style autopilot for use when motoring or when sailing in very light winds with sloppy seas. Because the Hydrovane rudder is relatively small and it is 'balanced' it needs only the smallest of the tiller pilots.

Tiller style Auto-pilot retro-fit

The installation requires a minor retrofit. A 3/4 in. (2 cm.) wooden dowel can be used to extend the tiller and readily adapted to whichever connection is required by the tiller pilot manufacturer. Although wood is the easiest to work with the extensions have been made from many materials: PVC, plumbing copper, stainless steel etc. The tiller pilot manufacturers typically require an 18 in. (45 cm.) radius which means the extension need be 12 in. (30 cm.) or so. The extension is held in place with the rudder locking pin. The autopilot itself needs to be fitted nearby - either on the deck or rail or attached to the stern pushpit.

HYDROVANE owners have installed such tiller-pilots report strong preference for them over their expensive below deck autopilots: less noise, not under a bunk, small electrical draw, saves the larger unit for a 'rainy day' - and a cheap way to have yet another back-up.