Simrad TP32 User Manual

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Appendix
Advice on operation
When used correctly, your Tillerpilot can maintain as good a course
on most points of sail as a skilled helmsman, with the advantage
that it never gets distracted. A human can start showing lapses of
concentration after as little as 10 mins.
The following advice should improve efficiency when sailing using
your Tillerpilot:
1. When sailing close to the wind, it is easy to forget to trim the
mainsail, allowing excessive weather helm to build up. Where a
human helmsman can quickly weigh up the situation and adapt
to circumstances, the autopilot will struggle on and the boat will
be sailed less efficiently. Whereas a human normally likes to feel
some weather helm, this is not necessary for the functioning of
the Tillerpilot. Power consumption, wear, and drag will be greatly
reduced, if the mainsail is freed or reefed a little sooner than normal
when sailing manually.
2. It is also advisable, when sailing close-hauled, to set a course a few
degrees free of that normally sailed under manual control, to avoid
luffing into the wind.
3. When running dead downwind, a human pilot can see visual signs
warning him if the boat is about to gybe, which the Tillerpilot
cannot sense – it is advisable not to sail as close to the gybe as you
may do when sailing manually.
4. When broad reaching or running fast, particularly with quartering
waves, a helmsman will naturally apply periodic larger angles of
helm than when beating or sailing slowly. This is the equivalent
of increasing rudder gain, and it may be a good idea to adjust the
Response control on the Tillerpilot. Many people prefer to find a
compromise setting which is used for all sailing, but with practise
it can be optimized for different conditions, e.g. low for motoring
in a calm sea, or high for running fast. If the Response control is set
too low, the boat will go off course, because insufficient rudder is
applied in time; if the Response control is too high, the boat will
overcorrect, increasing power consumption.
5. The Tillerpilot is a highly advanced piece of equipment. However, it
would be a mistake to become complacent. As with all electronic
navigational equipment, it is an aid to navigation and should not be
used as a substitute for conventional navigational practise.
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Simrad TP32 Specifications

General

Type	Autopilot
Operating Voltage	12 V
Auto Seastate	Yes
Course Accuracy	± 1°
Operating Temperature	-15°C to +55°C
Keypad	Yes
Power Supply	12 V DC
Power Consumption	0.5 A
Peak Thrust	80 kg (176 lbs)
Display	No