Autopilot Project Finished

I finished installing the Garmin Autopilot on the IP-32 yesterday and completed the dockside commissioning.  Will do the on water commissioning next week when the owner is here.  Today was spent replacing a few defective breakers on the boat and fabricating a cover panel to protect the AP computer unit and wiring.

Also worked on an IP-38 refrigeration project at Gasparilla Marina and a water leak on an IP-31 at All American Covered Boat Storage.  It was an all IP day....

We also got our new main sail from Mack sails today.  We unrolled it and then re rolled so that that we can fit it in the shipping barrel.  The sail really looks good and should be a major improvement from our blown out 14 year old sail currently on the boat.  

Time Out

We left Burnt Store Marina yesterday morning early and drove to Atlanta.  Taking a few days to visit Lesley's niece here and plan to visit the Georgia aquarium as well as a few Civil War sites.

 

IP-32 Autopilot Nearing Completion

I spent most of today completing the wiring for the autopilot install.  Yesterday was a shocker when I found out that Garmin has sent me the wrong parts!  I ordered the GHP-12 Sailboat Autopilot and got the GHP-10 power boat package.  They got the RAM right but that was it.

Ignore all of the images and narrative if this is to boring but trying to pass on installation information to a friend up North who will soon be doing the same installation.

  RAM installation is complete - the shelf is 1.75 inches below the fore_aft stringer.  I cut some of the stringer out just a bit further aft so that the RAM arm and motor would clear.

Lower view of shelf showing ram/motor clearance.

I cut the power cable very short and terminated the cable on a high current terminal block under the shelf.   The power pigtail was about 8 ft long and included a fuse but I needed the fuse at the battery.

 CCU/ECU interconnect cable run up along the starboard side under the seats and then back into the engine compartment along the starboard wall.  I had to drill two additional holes for these cables in lateral baffles and then one to get up into the lazarette.

 New 40 amp fuse and high current relay.  Relay is controlled from the DC "electronics" circuit breaker and provides power to the ECU/RAM.

 Forward cabin below the floor looking aft.  CCU "compass" cable on the left and NMEA 2000 cable (18ft) on the right.

NMEA cable run through two lateral bulkheads the up through the battery compartment and into the space below the breaker panel where the existing NMEA Buss connectors are located.  Cable was just long enough!

Final picture of the installed RAM and all cables under the shelf.  Cable for RAM power, ECU power, Rudder feedback, CCU/ECU Data.

I mentioned yesterday that I should have positioned the shelf about 3/4" higher - no.....  shelf is properly positioned and 3/4" block under the left side of the RAM provides a clear shot into the area under the helm seat.  



Next - update drawings and label all cables.  Then hopefully the new Core pack will arrive next week.

Autopilot RAM

I mounted the support shelf earlier today and just completed installation of the RAM.  Overall travel stop to stop is 11" and the RAM and the motor easily clear all obstacles!

Ram is mounted toward the forward edge of the shelf with the larger part of the motor unit facing also facing forward. 

 

RAM extended into area under the helm seat - well clear of the cockpit drain.

Motor unit clears vertical support.  After checking the angle between the mounting foot on the RAM and the attachment point on the tiller arm I raised the foot an extra 3/4".  After the paint dries in the lazarette I'll post a few extra pictures.












As I began hooking thing up I noticed that connectors did not mate - Garmin had sent me the correct RAM but the wrong Corepack - so now I'm waiting on a replacement!

Support Shelf and Cleats

Sequence of images showing how I made and then attached a shelf to the interior hull on an IP-32

I first made a template out of cardboard then transferred the template to 3/4" plywood.  Once verifying the fit of the shelf I then shaped and attached cleats made of 1x2 oak and dry fitted again.

This is the underside of the shelf with the cleats attached with screws.  I overlap the edges of the shelf with plastic film so that when I glue the cleats in I do not also glue in the shelf.  I prefer to make anything I add to the hull easily removeable!

Cleat

I leave all the cleats screwed to the shelf and then  epoxy to the hull.  This insures that the cleats are properly aligned to the hull and shelf.

Cleat attached to hull with thickened epoxy.  I still need to sand the edges of the epoxy and repaint the hull.

The bare spots shown are areas that I cleaned before choosing to relocate the shelf lower in the lazarette.

Rudder post Access

I cut the access port in the aft cabin this morning.  I will now be able to drill the two set screw holes in the rudder post as recommended by Edson.

Using the Formica covered piece that I cut out, I added teak trim matching that used for the water heater access panel for the new cover panel.

 











I'm off to West Marine now to purchase the #6 duplex wire and a circuit breaker for the installation. 

Autopilot Project Island Packet 32

I started work on the installation of a Garmin GHP-12 Autopilot on an IP-32 several days ago.

The most immediate issues were:

  -  Access to the rudder post - not good.


  -  Rudder post keyway - none.

-  Mounting location/method for the RAM - building one.

 

-  Clearance for the RAM/actuator - between the exhaust and manual bilge pump drain hoses.

The new Edson steering arm temporarily installed on the rudder post and have confirmed the RAM attachment point at 8.5".  This limits the required travel of the ram actuator to 11" between stops - the Garmin design spec says to not exceed 11.57"

Ready to glass in mounting cleats to support the RAM Shelf










I just finished cutting a new access port in the aft cabin so that set screw holes can be drilled into the rudder post.  There is no keyway on the rudder post so once the new steering arm is in final position two set screw holes will have to be drilled.

The Ram will be attached to the top of the shelf and the ECU will be installed below it.  A plywood/epoxy shield will cover everything once installed so that there is no risk of damage from the elements or from anything that might be stashed in the locker. 


Still trying to determine the best place to install the CCU (Compass).

I will add images and additional installation notes as the project progresses.

Thanks for the input Simon.......

Water Filters and Waste tank

I spent the morning finishing up the new holding tank that I made for Gra'inne last summer.  Threaded ports are installed and the tank is complete.  In a few years when we return with the boat from our travels in the Caribbean I'll install the new tank, uugh!











While I was working on the tank FedEx showed up with my filter order.  Water filters for the boat, water maker charcoal, shore water charcoal, drinking water, sediment, etc.  These are heading to one of the barrels and then on to Grenada later this fall.