"I have an Alpha 3000 autopilot that came with the boat, uninstalled. It
appears to be unused. There are no specifications or paperwork accompanying=
.
Can anyone offer information or advice on installing this autopilot in a
Panda 40? Photos of installations? Successes?
Thank you.
Tom Beard
MOONSHADOW"

Not the 3000 but the "Spectra", probably very similar. The driving arm is
mounted to the inside of the combing on the starboard side of the cockpit
with the rudder stock attachment going off to starboard, the central
processing unit is located in the knee space under the nav table (it
shouldn't be exposed to water), the control head is at the rear of the nav
table, the cable to engage the arm is in the starboard winch-handle puka, a=
s
well as a remote control connection. The linear arm should be half out with
the rudder amidships - you can screw the arm in or out along its length. Ou=
r
compass is outboard of the sink in the galley it just needs to be aft of
amidships. The remote control - on a wire - is great because we can overrid=
e
the autopilot course to avoid crab pots, logs, whatever and then return to
our former course with a toggle and a thumb switch, all in the cockpit. If
it ever gets really rough, the autopilot can be controlled from down below,
altho we have never used this feature (when it gets really rough and we wan=
t
to maintain a set course, we hand steer). The unit is pretty tough though
and has never failed us, even in 45 to 50 knot following winds and seas.
Will try to get photos, but they don't come out well in close dark spaces..=
.
Michael & Elizabeth
S/V Cambria

P.S. Were we side by side in Grand Marina in the late '90's? Did you have a
Tayana 52 then?



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Received on Sun Apr 09 19:11:14 2006