In between rain showers yesterday, I managed to halfway install the new Raymarine X-5 autopilot that will serve as US 101’s back up during Transpac. Until I get the primary autopilot, i’ll be using this one in next week’s “Three Bridge Fiasco” and some training. I still need to tidy up all of the wiring inside and mount the drive unit, but the course computer is all wired up, and the control head has power and works. Looks like the weather should clear up on Tuesday and Wednesday, so hopefully i'll get the install all finished up and head out for a practice sail and some AP calibration! Also hoping to install my cockpit sheet bags this week so that I can use them on 3-Bridge.
New autopilot control head mounted on starboard side cockpit coaming. This is the X-5 unit, which will serve as my back up on the race.
This is the gyrocompass for the X-5. My primary AP will have it's own gyrocompass, which will probably go in the same place as this one. This mounting job is probably temporary. I'm thinking os some sort of modular, custom, quick-release mounting system that would allow me to quickly change between primary AP compas and back-iup AP compass if the need arises. Just forward of the bulkhead, this is probably the best spot on the boat for a gyrocompass, but puitting two of them next to one another would probably hurt the performance, hence why I want to be able to quickly swap them.
Sort of a blurry pic, but this is the X-5's course computer. The whole electrical system is going to be re-done very soon, and the primary AP will have it's own computer, so like the compass, this computer's location will probably change. Therefore, i've left all of the data cables extra long, to allow me to move it anywhere. I'm thinking about moving this computer to the back of the boat, just in front of the rudder tube.
What 101 looks like when i'm in full-on project mode...