CPT Autopilot Review
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- Check out our new autopilot! After reading so many conflicting reviews on forums, we thought we would give an unbiased review with some video to help others out who might be asking the same questions.
Hello Sir, I worked for CPT Inc. in Oakland Park Florida between 1985 and 1989. I was the lead Technician for the CPT II autopilot and Conversions from the CPT I to the CPT II. I ran the whole production line. I hand soldered the control board (which resided in the control housing, with the Bosch Motor, rudder and deadband potentiometers). I also built and calibrated the compass unit (at that time the compass unit needed to be calibrated in a darkroom). I built these CPT II autopilot systems to perfection and it doesn't surprise that the current owner and CPT II model works as well (or better) than it did back when I was building them. If anyone doesn't believe just ask me a question about the electronics or anything else.
Wow! That's awesome! Thanks for the comment and for building the CPTs.
I have a CPT II on my MORGAN 41 and it works well. The only issue I have is the accuracy of compass headings. I'm thinking of installing the current CPT autopilot - can you let me know the major differences between my 25+ year old model and today's?
Hi Chris . Hope you can help since you know the electronics like the back of your hand. And youre still in RUclips and you read this message. Hahaha. I bought this auto pilot and am trying to set it up on my Hunter Legend 40. I try to place it from standby to hold heading and it turns the wheel every second or so until it reaches the end and chatters the belt. Looking at the trouble shooting part of the guide it may have something to do with Magnetic reference. I tried to set the Magnetic reference on page 21 of the manual( the bottom portion) and ran the following procedure.
Steps:
1. Turn on the autopilot and set the Rudder dial to 5.
2. Leave the autopilot on for 10 minutes or more to allow the temperature inside the control box to stabilize.
3. Turn the Rudder dial to OFF and remove the control box from its bracket.
4. Hold the control box so that it is pointed approximately due North and so the top is level and steady; hold it
shoulder-height or rest it on a cockpit seat, but keep it away from metal objects and any possible magnetic fields. The
center of the cockpit, about shoulder high is usually free from magnetic fields on most boats. If resting on a surface,
make sure there are no metal fasteners nearby or metal equipment underneath.
5. While holding the control box steady, simultaneously press and hold both the Port 1° and Starboard 1° buttons then
turn the Rudder dial on (past 1). Continue holding the buttons. The light will blink red 5 times and then remain
solid: you can now release the buttons.
6. Wait 15 seconds more. Do not turn off power to the autopilot before 15 seconds have passed.
The Magnetic Reference is now set in memory and only needs to be set again if you move to a region with a significantly
different magnetic inclination or recalibrate the autopilot compass magnetic sensors. The procedure for recalibrating the
magnetic sensors in the autopilot compass is given in the Operation Manual.
My Drive pulley faces aft. I've done the procedure for that
My question for you.
When I do step 5 I get 10 red blinks, 7 Green ones, then a steady green. I don't see that in the manual.
I had a CPT autopilot on my Tayana 37. Loved it Simple & reliable! You cant\'t get any better than that!
No doubt. Point where you want to go and flip a switch. If you need to make an adjustment, hit a button a couple times.
I had one in my last boat worked great in all conditions! Very simple to install and operate
Agreed!
Years ago I bought a used CPT for my cape dory 30 to replace a non-functioning st2000...Worked okay...but failed downwind in rough seas...sent it in for a "check-up" ... ($160.00). Came back working much better....at all points of sail.. Had a long cable steering box to sit on the bow and steer around crab pots!! Only hand steered under really rough following seas....Now I have a CSY 33...with ST4000....yesterday (1/7/2020) ordered a new CPT ... Will review it after extensive use....
We're still plugging away with it. No issues, but we don't go out in crazy weather too often.
How is the CPT performing on your CSY? Love those solid fiberglass decks!
@@beaconbus fantastic...under nearly all conditions...highly recommended...
@@ckreitleinThanks! Great to hear! I am going to make sure it will work on my boat, then get one ordered.
Thanks for the great video! I’m about to install my CPT on my Hunter 40. Fair winds 👌
You are welcome! Awesome! Its still working great for us.
Hi there, did you finally install if. I have a H40 Legend also and I am thinking about it. Thanks
Yes, it has been our auto pilot for 8 years cruising the Caribbean the last 5
Just wondering if now that you've had the CPT for several years, would you still choose the mounting option that you did. I have the same boat and am trying to decide on a standard mount like yours or the reverse vertical mount. Thanks.
The reverse would be fine and be out of the way a bit more. Ours leaves not much room but doesn't bother me at all. Like anything else, you learn to work around it. Not a wrong answer there, in my opinion
Are you still pleased with the CPT auto pilot
It's still controlling the helm most of the time we are underway in our eighth year and now down in the Caribbean. We've had to send it back in for calibration and update once, but that's been the only problem.
Have you had a chance to use the CPT autopilot in more boisterous downwind conditions?
BTW - Excellent video series. Thanks!
Hey Dennis, I wish I could tell you we had, but with no set schedule, we literally are never out in over 20 knots of wind. We just wait for another day. So, on days when it's blowing 15 to 20 from behind, our apparent wind is only 10 to 15, and seas are never up too much. CPT does great in those conditions. I'll post up if we get caught out in worse, and get a chance to test it.
just what i needed to see thank you
You are welcome!
I would not worry about trying being able to steer better then the auto pilot you wont be able to.
True statement. That is definitely what we have experienced.
I found you had to continually fool with the rudder and dead band. Your setting just in this video are 5-0, 5-2, and 2-4. It was worse than locking the wheel and way worse than the evo100. After $2k I hope further calibration of the CPT will work, but I would feel better installing it to a Raymarine brain (control unit).
Yeah, that was the first time we used it. 2-4 would definitely be bad. Lol. It's dialed in now at always 5 on the rudder, then between 0 and 1 on dead band when motoring in benign conditions or between 1 and 2 when sailing. It's still not perfect, but we use it every time we are underway and no real complaints. It's definitely basic as it gets.
is the belt tension right?
The instructions say just to tighten it by pushing down with moderate pressure when installing and make sure not to over tighten and not to use a tensioner. Says over tightening is one of the main causes of early failure. As long as doesn't slip under normal circumstances, and it hasn't slipped yet. But, I have no idea really. What do you think?
Fun On Holiday Sailing I thought the same thing as I watched - that it seemed loose. How happy are you with this unit a year later?
Still working for us. We've got thousands of miles on it now. Simple course holding tool. Every once in a while hand steering is better for a certain condition. But for the most part we set it and forget it :)
Fun On Holiday Sailing Good to know, thanks for the info. I’m going to look into one for myself.
Power draw?
0.08 amp standby current, 0.4 amp average current draw, varies with load & settings. We never notice it.
Thanks!