I have a Model 14B Benmar-Cetek autopilot, probably installed in my boat in the early 1970s. We enjoy a sort of love-hate relationship. I hate some of the things it does and love the fact that it is simple enough that even I can sometimes solve its problems. Until a very talented friend installed electronic switching relays to bypass the old-fashioned contactors fifteen or so years ago, I used to have to go down to the engine room to burnish the contacts when the pilot started getting a bit twitchy. That was the only regular maintenance the thing needed. The sensing unit (binnacle) of this rig has a light shining from above through a slotted floating card compass down to photo sensors which send steering commands to the main motor unit. When the light burned out in a narrow portion of the GIWW, a hard over steering command ensued - fun! My pilot has never behaved well when heading in the southwesterly quadrant - it sort of wanders about like a drunken sailor (could it be alcohol in the compass?). Heading in the NE quadrant, the boat tracks like it is on rails. I have long thought this quirk had something to do with the fact that the binnacle was mounted about a foot away from the generator (it steers off to port whenever the generator is started up and then returns to course). I have long thought about relocating the binnacle, but overall, the task just never rose to the top of the list. Then, several years back, I installed a Fog-Mate to automatically sound my twin air horns in reduced visibility and found out the pilot had another heretofore unknown quirk (which shows up whether or not the Fog Mate is engaged). Up to this time, I had used the electric hailer horn when I needed an automatic fog signal. Every time the air horns sound, the autopilot commands a hard turn. Well, sometimes. After extensive testing, it turns out that it wants to turn port when heading west and starboard when heading east, and not much of anything happens when heading north and south. Hmmmm. It is likely that this problem has been with the boat forever, but I only noticed it as a problem after I installed the Fog Mate and simultaneously ran the autopilot. I tried running a new ground and then power wires to the horn compressors thinking it was something to do with a ground loop or a power-sucking problem, but, alas no soap. Then I moved the horn solenoid away from the autopilot control wires; again, no change. I finally decided it was time to consider moving the binnacle, which in addition to the generator's proximity, was too close to major battery cables feeding power to the electrical panel. The old-fashioned speedometer type cable between the binnacle and the main autopilot unit only allowed for about eight feet of change, which was just enough to get it to the far side of the engine room, if I removed and remounted the connection point on the main unit. Hoping (after a dockside test) that I had not reversed a gear in the main unit and that the electrical connections to the binnacle had been unmade and remade correctly, I got underway for a test realizing my toolbox was in the closet on the other side of the bulkhead where the binnacle is now mounted. At least I could move the tools if the pilot decided to act goofy. The upshot is that the horn no longer is effective as an auxiliary helm, but the AP no longer wants to steer NE. Its former SW wobbliness is gone, and it steers quite well in any direction but the NE quadrant. After being set on 045, it begins an ever more drastic course correction until it gets to the rudder stops at which point I turn it off. I moved all sorts of metal around to zero effect. Maybe I need quadrantal spheres or flinders bars - or a new sensor. I need to figure out how to link a fluxgate compass to this dinosaur. Rich Gano CALYPSO (GB-42 #295) Southport, FL (near Panama City)

> I have a Model 14B Benmar-Cetek > autopilot, probably installed in my boat in the > early 1970s. We enjoy a sort of love-hate > relationship. I feel your pain Rich. I have many of the same problems with my auto-pilot, but a different model. My solution is fairly simple though. I finally figured out that when the boat starts wondering off coarse, I have to wake up, grope my way up the the pilot house and give Jill a slap. She'll usually wake up with just one well placed blow and then off we go again, straight as rails. The problem comes afterwards; I find it difficult to fall back asleep with all the comments coming down from the pilot house. Fortunately, the comments eventually die out and I can get some sleep, at least for a couple more hours, then it all starts over again. Women! Can't steer a straight coarse for a hoot after 15-16 hours; and what's worse, they usually want a break after 10-12 hours. What are we guys gonna do? Rudy Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl