T&T: Autopilot Pumps

[Mike Maurice]

Whereas it is true that many boats have pumps too small to handle rough 
conditions, it is not necessarily true that the manufacturers and 
dealers are trying to sell undersized equipment.

There is a practical limit to the size of motor that can be reversed. It 
is around 1/4 hp, I suspect. Don't come back and holler that any DC 
motor can be reversed. In the autopilot situation the motor may have to 
reverse a few times a second. The inertia limits the size of the motors.

If the motor is not going to be reversed then the flow has to and that 
requires a very expensive, $1K and up hydraulic valve. All of which is 
running off a motor that is always running.

So, the choice is reversing motors and small size or big motors running 
all the time using electricity and switching the flow back and forth.

Mike

+++++++++++++++
Capt. Mike Maurice
Beaverton Oregon(near Portland).