The Resourceful Sailor Reinstalls a Classic Electronic Autopilot

Article and photos by Joshua Wheeler

Sampaguita, a 1985 Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 sailboat, came with a Navico Tillerpilot 1600 electronic autopilot when The Resourceful Sailor purchased her in 2013 in Seattle. The previous owner claimed it did not work. It was wired directly to the battery without a fuse, and it would strain the SeaVolt starting battery, which was also the house battery. Initially, I unhooked the wires from the battery for safety, coiled them up, and stowed them in the cockpit locker. The Navico, I put in dry storage.

It took ten years to see for myself if it worked. As my sailing programs and electrical system evolved, energy was less of an issue. As my storage space also changed, the Tillerpilot needed to be useful or be gone. Other boats The Resourceful Sailor has recently sailed on, Breskell and Inook in particular, had autopilots, and they were enlightened to their convenience. Buying a new unit for Sampaguita was unlikely, but if the one owned already could be rejuvenated, that seemed sensible.