Autopilot installation

13footbeam · Post by **13footbeam** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:57 am

Hi all, I am new to this forum and will be a new owner of a 1977 36' Flybridge Tri-Cabin. My question to anyone here is... if the lower helm has a chain running from the back of the wheel to the bilge, does this mean the boat is a manual steer boat? I did not look at the inner workings of the upper helm yet. This is important in determining which autopilot components well be needed. If you are familiar with this, please respond. Thanks in advance.

Pat

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:13 pm

If it's like the sedans, yes, most likely...

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:16 pm

I have seen some weird setups on Vikings where it's chain from the wheel to a hydraulic pump and then hydraulic from there on, but believe that in Trojans if you see chain its all mechanical. My father's '69 certainly was.

13footbeam · Post by **13footbeam** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:12 pm

Thank you both for your input, sounds like maybe mechanical all the way so I will have to install a rotary drive unit most likely.

Pat

13footbeam · Post by **13footbeam** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:14 am

If anyone else has suggestions/info, please respond. Thanks

Pat

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:51 am

Our 1973 F36 has an autopilot. Our steering is all mechanical. From the flybridge to the lower helm, cables in tracks link a spool on the wheel up top to a spool on a shaft in the bildge. The wheel at the helm drives the same shaft by chain and a sprocket on the same shaft is driven by the auto-pilot gear box (the gyro is located below the guest berth forward of the gear box by about 6 ft. At the transom, an articulating arm off the steering shaft moves the rudders.

Since we are inland boaters on the Mississippi, and there isn't more than a few miles of straight river to be found, we've never used the autopilot. The chain to the gear box is hanging on a hook in the engine room and I've removed the fuses to the controls.

13footbeam · Post by **13footbeam** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:30 am

So, you are saying the autopilot gear box drives the same shaft both helms are conected to by use of chain and sprocket?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:13 pm

You need to look at it .It could have been changed by a nother owner or had a option installed . My f36 ( 1977/78)came with Hydraulic steering from trojan I belive it was a factory option on many Trojans

13footbeam · Post by **13footbeam** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:55 pm

You are correct, I will need to make a trip back down and look at the boat again, unfortunately it is a 12 hour drive round trip. I just received a copy of a survey that was done 2007 which says the boat is a hydraulic steer, but he also said it was a 1976 boat and the last 2 #'s in the SN was 77 which means 1977.

gjrylands · Post by **gjrylands** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:10 pm

If the boat has hydraulic steering there will be a hydraulic cylinder that drives the rudders. I donâ€™t know of any system that Trojan installed that used a chain to link the upper and lower helm and still was hydraulic steering. I would think that you have a mechanical steering system. I certainly could be wrong, and would take Paulâ€™s advice and personally checking the system.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:58 pm

Hands on is going to be the only sure way to tell . If there is a chain it could part of a old auto polit take some photos of both helms and by the rudder arms . that way if you still have any questions we can tell you what you have your boat is 30+ years old no telling whats been changed . I have seen some crazy stuff .