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Montgomery 15 Tiller Auto Pilot
The old unit was installed into a brass oar lock (this is the best description I can provide). The old oar lock's hole was too big in diameter for my TP10 mounting peg. The supplied mounting sleeve for the TP10 fit loosely inside of the oar lock's hole. I epoxyed the TP10 sleeve inside the oarlock. I left about 1/8 of an inch showing from the lip of the oarlock to the lip of the sleeve. Without the extra 1/8 of an inch, the control end of the TP10 would be too low (not level). I also had to over come the angle in the cockpit wall in order to get a fairly close to a recommended 90 degree angle to the tiller. I epoxied a wood shim to the back of the oar lock. I then ground it down to increase the angle. I also made a tiny shim that I epoxied into the sleeve in the oar lock. There was some play in the oar lock hole. The tiny shim changed the angle of the sleeve inside the oar lock by several degrees. This helped to reach the 90 degree angle. And it's pretty close to perfect. I also installed a new electrical plug for the TP10. I'm going to glue some industrial Velcro to the TP10 and stern deck to hold the unit when not connected to the tiller. I don't want to jump in after it if some thing causes it to come loose.
The bottom right photo shows the completed installation and the tiller handle refinished. I can hardly wait to get out on the water. Luckily, I can sail year round. In fact yesterday, in late October 2006, it was 95 degrees here in Southern California. It should normally be in the 70's. But, the heat wave was welcomed because the Cetol applications dried quickly.
The bottom right photo shows the completed installation and the tiller handle refinished. I can hardly wait to get out on the water. Luckily, I can sail year round. In fact yesterday, in late October 2006, it was 95 degrees here in Southern California. It should normally be in the 70's. But, the heat wave was welcomed because the Cetol applications dried quickly.
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Photos and Story by Norm Bundek
I had an old Mastertiller autopilot that came with my Montgomery 15. Unfortunately, it would only work in one direction. I sail single handed most of the time and find it hard to leave the tiller even with bungee cords on it to do important sail handling and personal things. When I sailed on Sean's Montgomery 23 Dauntless (album here) this summer, he put an autotiller on for awhile. This convinced me I had to have one.
The old Mastertiller was attached to the outside of the cockpit wall. My new Simrad TP10 was too short by about 7 inches to reach the tiller from this location. I also did not like the idea of the unit hanging outside the boat. I decided to mount it inside the cockpit, but it was still 2.5 inches short. I did not want anything sticking out 3 inches into the cockpit. The length problem was solved by buying a 60mm screw on extension for the push rod. Now I had to find way to attach it inside.
The old Mastertiller was attached to the outside of the cockpit wall. My new Simrad TP10 was too short by about 7 inches to reach the tiller from this location. I also did not like the idea of the unit hanging outside the boat. I decided to mount it inside the cockpit, but it was still 2.5 inches short. I did not want anything sticking out 3 inches into the cockpit. The length problem was solved by buying a 60mm screw on extension for the push rod. Now I had to find way to attach it inside.
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