On a very old lady, with a lot of charme, I've found an old Robertson AP100 autopilot. Hydraulic pump is perfect and very well kept. The AP100 has been tested at sea, and is working. Nothing to say. But... coming to your personal experience, what about the reliability of that controller? Anyone of you has any serious experience on that? Can we rely on that old analog device or it's surely recommended to turn toward another stuff? In that case, would you trust more a Raymarine (Evolution + P70R) or better a Furuno NavPilot 700/711?
I have ran most variations of robertson auto pilots I don't have any ap 100's but still run ap 45's wich we are up grading to ap 70's with the much better electronics we have today they track much more accuretly and don't wonder as much travler
It's not just how good the condition of the Robertson is. The problem is whether it will communicate with your other, newer instruments. Doubt it will. Makes a big difference.
The Ole AP100 required a separate NEMA18x I/O box. With it cross track was determined and they ran pretty well. The J box also understood wind input say from an IS11 setup. Very long story short. It's old, unsupported stuff (less e-bay). When It fails, upgrade. The pump will still work with the new stuff.
+1 on this. The front end is past it's life span, The hydraulic portion should be still usable with new or newer electronics.
Thank you for the opinions. So I'll try to get the best from this AP100. If (or when) it will fail, I'll upgrade and save the very good pump.
If it fails. The Robertson stuff was great for it's day and holds up amazingly well. If it's working now, Who knows when it's going to roll over. Chances are, (hopefully) another long while. Tell us more about a very old lady, with a lot of charme.
Surely Rcapps! TSDY. Pilothouse with fly and aft cabin. Hull project by Franco Harrauer. Launched in 1976 by Motomar yard (Italy). Few steps from Sangermani yard. In sixties and seventies the yard built several motoryachts and lots of rescue boats and pilothouses for Coast Guard and Port Authorities. In late eighties the yard turned to GRP. Born 43' hull lenght, 46' including bowsprit, 12'3" beam, 4' draught. Wooden Nelson hull, carvel built, mahogany planks fixed with rivets (bronze), iroko ribs at 10" intervals, large keel and generous keelson. Teak superstructure and interiors. Teak decks, fixed directly on beams. Not a single piece of the boat built of anything but mahogany, iroko and teak. Ops... bronze railings. The lady went back to the yard in 1984 and 3'4" lenght were added, so now she's a 46' (49' including bowsprit). In 1984 original AIFO engines (not reliable) were replaced with two Volvo Penta TAMD 70D engines for 290 hp each. 3 blades bronze propellers. Dry exhaust (I'll have to convert to wet). Cruising 12 kn at 1900 rpm she's burning 7-8 US gals, while her top speed is 16 kn at 2500 rpm. Very seaworthy, registered with no distance limits, capable of handling rough sea, no problems with traverse or following sea as well. Nothing short of brilliant seakeeping. Considering she's a 46'. Pilothouse saloon with helm with lateral and aft doors, second helm on fly, aft dedicated galley/kitchen downstairs, aft stateroom with enclosed head, aft shower cabin, two guest cabins forward, each with dedicated head. All interiors in varnished teak. Every head and shower has laquered finish and granite worktops. Crew cabin at bow with deck hatch. All original instruments, including a Robertson AP100 and a Sailor RT 144c VHF. Few added electronics such as a Geonav GPS chartplotter and a Raymarine depth sounder. Sadly the Furuno radar isn't still there. Shall have to decide which new one to put aboard. Pictures of the lady will follow as soon as we'll have time to make the right ones.
Wow. Now that reads like quite a lady. Look forward to pics of her a##(Stearn). I can imagine a fine rounded transom. ,rc
