I have not read this entire thread and may not be helping any....but my 17 has a tillerpilot. Otto is my best buddy. It is painful to recall the days without him. I swear....Otto is a better helmsman to wind than any human version I have had at my disposal. That would not include any of my experienced racer buddies when slumming on Puff. When the parameters are set well, Otto holds the perfect course and luffs up in puffs every time. Then when the puff moderates he allows the boat to fall off a bit and trundles on. If there is an increase in pressure and I don't trim, he pinches just right. If the pressure settles in I reset with one button push and fall off a coupla degrees. I usually prefer not to pinch unless I want to make my mark, generally I prefer to sail full and by. (I don't race) I sail a lot by myself and generally in a borderline situ when I am near need of a sail change or reef I still allow Otto to drive and might get my butt up on the coaming and take the main sheet along with me. The point I am making is that an auto pilot/ tiller pilot...whatever, is a wonderful tool and makes solo sailing ....all sailing... far more enjoyable. It gives you options. And they work. My unit is quite old and I love the thing. I can only imagine the newer ones are even faster and better. My only complaint is on some points of sail he can be a tad noisy....jumping back and forth pretty regular to keep us on course. If it gets to me I just drive myself. I prefer to keep busy adjusting and trimming or even doing small chores while Otto drives. It sounds like the 15 is a lot more weight sensitive then a 17. But it is still a learning curve with setting an autopilot even with the added stability of a 17. I generally like to set to automatic with my weight as close to where I plan on being as possible....in terms of side to side balance anyway. Having Otto makes spinnaker days possible when solo. Big bonus. This time of the year if it is cold or raining I can go below for a while while we sail along. There are not too many folks out there to bump into when the weather is foul....but I pop my head out the hatch every few minutes or so anyway. Sometimes I get so comfy my main concern is nodding off while Otto drives on. When I get the Lazyboy mod done it will be even more of an issue. ~:0) Highly recommended. They are spendy but totally worth it in my mind. If Otto died tomorrow I would order another one up the next day. As for battery draw. I have cruised for 10 days with two people aboard, interior light, VHF, air pump, anchor light, cel charger, stereo etc... as well as using Otto all day. Under the most demanding conditions I can provide I have never run the battery down. I have a small solar panel...sits on top of the main sliding hatch. And the proper hook up jobbie that prevents over charging. Puff has one regular car battery....I think it might be a deep cycle. No worries. And that was with my old battery, part way through the summer I bought a new one just because the old one was a few years old. I have never tried to preserve battery power as there seems to always be plenty there. Cheers All. ================================ -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of John R. Butler Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 7:40 PM To: Montgomery Boats Subject: M_Boats: Re: Autopilot Captsin Sadler, Sorry, wish I had more memory than hair, but both are gone. I Anchored Joy off my shore home, had a solar charger, rarely stayed out over two days at a time, and would occasionally use a battery charger to shore power while beached. So, the answer on how long my battery would last is I haven't the foggiest! Check specs on newer autopilots, usually different battery drains for "holding course" and "correcting course," and a tender boat like an M15 changes her course every time you shift your gum to the other side of your mouth. I presently have two Group-27 Deep Cycles in Rejoyce!'s bilge to power her auxiliary, a 54 pound thrust trolling motor mounted just aft the keel. My third boat to go for electric auxiliary, I am obviously sold. But now I keep her in a marina with power at the slip, so recharging is no problem. My last one used solar chargers, 0.3 amp max charge rate, and I rarely had to drag the charger and long extension cord down to my private dock. John Butler, not a Captain, just a retired CG Commander. Do it now! You can't do it any younger. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.8/1064 - Release Date: 10/11/2007 3:09 PM