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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    77

    Default Pelagic Autopilot - any experiences?

    I'm looking for a new autopilot for my Olson 30 after my 10 year old Raymarine finally died. I see California company Pelagic is claiming several users from our group (http://pelagicautopilot.com) including an Olson 30 and other boats of similar ilk. What are your experiences with it? Can it handle 20-25 knot winds with a spinnaker?

    From the website I can't figure out if they just sell the computer, or if they also have a ram, rudder sensor and control head. Comments are welcome.

  2. #2
    pogen's Avatar
    pogen is offline Sailing canoe "Kūʻaupaʻa"
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    927

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    Over half the SHTP fleet this past year had Pelagic I think. The owner is an SSS member of some repute. What repute? Well, some!

    Superb bang for buck, excellent course keeping (including under spin at 25+), wind-steer mode available, actuator strong enough for an Olson 34 (or bigger) let alone an Olson 30.

    Very good customer service and support. Buy one before marketing catches up with product quality and they raise the prices!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
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    3,688

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    Just don't wire the Pelagic's actuator (ram) in parallel with your Raymarine ACU (thinking you'll be able to switch between AP's on the fly). The owner - whose last name sounds a lot like that German dishwasher company - will have to rewire a smoking motor drive box. Ask me how I know this...

    Andy, I've had the Pelagic actuator for almost two years and it still runs as smoothly as when I installed it. I installed the Pelagic controller and motor drive box last weekend - well, sort of (see above).

    Yes, it's a complete system. There's no separate rudder reference (it doesn't seem to need it) and the heading sensor is inside the controller box. This means you need to be careful and strategic about how you install the controller box.

    Pelagic is the bees knees.
    Last edited by BobJ; 12-06-2016 at 05:38 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Alameda CA
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    Truth be told, my pelagic steered my entire SHTP this year, excepting perhaps an hour getting out the gate and about 45minutes of fluky transition around the Farallons.
    Never even turned the Alpha Pilot on.

    Appears to have worked out alright.

    DH

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Austin, TX
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    Dave, were you using the Pelagic controller as well, or did you have the ram interfaced to something else?
    Life is not a dress rehearsal.

    Bermuda 1-2 on a Schumacher 28

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Alameda CA
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    yes, using the Pelagic controller.
    Interfaced that to my B&G wind instruments via NMEA 0183 [you'd have to talk to Brian about that SeaTalk bullshit], which worked OK until I lost the windex after my 2nd or 3rd round down.
    after that in compass/gyro mode.

    DH

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    119

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    Didn't the first to finish Olson 30 use a Pelagic as well?
    Life is not a dress rehearsal.

    Bermuda 1-2 on a Schumacher 28

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