Tiller Pilot or Not to Tiller Pilot

[AirborneJarhead]

That is the question.
So I have the opportunity to snag an ST1000 relatively cheaply. Any of you fellow CP16 sailors have one? Any thoughts on the subject? I had a Tiller Tamer on my old Columbia 28 and was less than pleased with its performance and always fantasized about the luxury an auto pilot.

[carry-on]

Probably a nice feature for a large sailboat. Seems like too much tech for a 16.
If your sails are great and other expenses are covered, you could try the ST1000 and resell if it does not meet expectations.
My 16, and my doctor, are sensitive to my weight shift. It would be interesting to see how the ST1000 holds the heading into the wind while setting or doucing sails.

We had a Tiller Tamer and switched to the Tiller Clutch ($70 +/-). The clutch works better for me, to take a short break or to set the rudder and adjust sails to maintain a course.
Personally, I like a hand on the tiller and an eye to sea.

[Bob23]

I'll echo Carry-on's take on the tiller clutch. I love mine, never fails and it's been hanging out on my 23's tiller for 6 years or so now. Well made and does it's job with no complaints.
  A friend of mine had an ST2000 on his Norwalk Island sharpie and it worked flawlessly but- and this was big for me- it's noisy. Constantly recorrecting and I resented it's interrupting the conversations. I like the sound of water and wind and I suspect we all do.
  I've found on my 23, that when the sails are trimmed correctly and tiller set just right, under certain conditions, she'll sail herself. Doesn't work all the time but like carry-on, I prefer to steer the boat myself.
   

[Finbar Beagle]

I guess the key question is, 'how long do you plan to sail without a hand on the tiller.

I am definitely a day sailor, but some of those days are 12 + hour marathons.

Tiller clutch work great for 10-15 minutes, enough for a bio-break, or quick visit to foredeck to adjust something.

Heaving to gives me time for lunch, hour +.  This is a key skill, and it has never let me down, but it needs to be practiced, especially in heavy wind/water.  The water may be more important as big powerboat wakes can knock you out of your heave to balancing act.

Autotiller, by my definition, would be for 1 hour + sailing without any sail trim adjustments.  Not sure what I would be doing during this time, other than sleeping.

You may have more reason than me, but I suspect it may be overkill for a 16. 

[brackish]

I can't speak to a tiller pilots worth for a 16.  But for my 23 it is the best investment I've made.  I single hand a lot and the TP lets me leave the dock and then putter around the boat, raising and setting sails, allows me to eat lunch in relative peace, go forward to set the whisker pole, and to complete various other tasks.  When I return to port it lets me furl the jib, douse, flag and cover the main, complete all other tasks while motoring in so all that remains is setting the dock lines when I get in.  In hot weather I prefer to do those things while moving and not have to do it sitting still in the heat at dock.

It does not do well under sail on a close reach in gusty conditions.  Unlike a human helmsman it cannot anticipate and react fast to gusts.  It is also a little sloppy with following seas.  Once again, unlike a human helmsman it cannot anticipate the rhythm of a following sea and adjust before the fact so it ends up having to make drastic course corrections once the boat is off course.   

[Finbar Beagle]

Brackish,

Good point on the whisker pole.  That takes too long, and my shifting weight forward does not work well for the tiller clutch.  It is a crew job for me, so pole has not been set since we went to a roller furling jib.

We have halyards led to (sort of) the cockpit.  So only when they get stuck, do I need to leave the cockpit.

I forgot about the use during motoring part.  My mighty torqeedo eggbeater/margarita mixer, is not used outside of the marina channel, if at all possible.

Where I sail has very predictable currents, so I just gage my drift when putting on the main cover and packing up.  I know others are not as lucky.

[AirborneJarhead]

I didn't think about weight shifting affecting sail trim and course. I would probably be better off applying that money to a new mainsail kit from Sailrite. She has her original suite of sails, and though I have yet to splash her, I'm sure they are less than ideal. So I know what the Tiller Tamer is...what is a tiller clutch? I'll go ahead and Google it.

[cdflan]

Have both the Tiller Clutch and an ST1000 on my Horizon Cat.  Agree Tiller Clutch better than Tamer but the ST1000 beats both.  As mentioned above, great for getting underway or the various tasks before docking.  Also great to use on long reaches down the Gulf coast when you can just sit back and relax!