This is the Autohelm 3.5 pedestal and mounting socket. It includes all the hardware and an aluminum backing plate. You install it by drilling 3 1/4 diameter holes and installing it with 3M 5200. The pedestal post unscrews from the mounting socket, for swimming. The multipin power socket comes with the autopilot. There is a templete for installing it.

Pedestal and power socket

This is the heavy duty 5 inch tiller bracket. It is installed on the underside of the tiller with 2 1/4 20 X 3 Machine screws and nuts that pass through holes drilled in the tiller. The marina only had 3 long screws, 2-1/2 would be optimum.

Tiller Bracket installed

This is the tiller pilot hooked up and ready to steer. The owners manual is very specific about the installation dimensions.

Ready tp go

One of the big hassles with the H26 and her water ballast sisters is the lack of spare breakers. I added a Seafit 12 Volt power panel. It has 3 lighted switches and fuse holders, a 12 volt receptacle and a battery monitor and selector switch for monitoring two battery banks.

New Power Panel

This is the tiller pilot fully extended.

Tiller Pilot fully extended

This is the pilot fully retracted. Its decieving due to the angle, but the tiller does move the same distance off center in both directions. We tested the tiller this afternoon, and it held course very well until the wind piped up. It did have a little problem heading upwind, mostly because we were a little overcanvassed.

Fully Retracted