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My 505 DD2 autopilot upgrade |
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Sailing Pilot 
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Joined: 24 August 2016 Location: Maine, USA Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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 Posted: 10 December 2023 at 06:40 |
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I now have the DD2 autopilot installed. It seems to be over correcting a lot. I saw you changed the gain, but I have not found the right number yet. Could you please tell me the gain number you are using and counter steering number and any other settings you think might help. Thank you again for all your help!
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Carter
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Rewild Steve
Sub Lieutenant
Joined: 22 January 2025 Location: Pacific Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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Posted: 25 February 2025 at 08:52 |
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I have also installed the DD2 on my 505 about 2 years ago and done many miles since then. Overall it’s a great auto pilot though is very water sensitive I have found. I have had 2 corrosion related issues with the clutch motor in the past 6 months but nothing prior to that point.
Have you had any issues with the clutch motor? Since my issues I have pulled the clutch apart a few times and realised how little protection there is, in regards to waterproofness besides the outer case itself. Water resistant is a mild way of putting it. I see in your pictures you didn’t install the gaiter. I also done the same but since having my issues I have cut the rudder tube down by 150mm and installed the gaiter. Seems to be preventing any splash back onto the drive unit. I also installed better seals around the hatches to help prevent any water overflow from getting into the hatches and running onto the DD2. It might be worth you doing the same and hopefully saves you some $$$
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ohthetrees
Captain 
Joined: 24 November 2019 Status: Offline Points: 189 |
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Posted: 25 February 2025 at 11:09 |
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I have had no issues. Mine didn’t come with a gaiter, I’m not even quite sure I understand where one would be installed. The way mine is installed it stays bone dry. How does water reach the DD2 in your system?
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Rewild Steve
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Joined: 22 January 2025 Location: Pacific Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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Posted: 25 February 2025 at 11:44 |
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I can’t identify for sure but the most likely culprit is when your in breaking following seas or at times when water is been pushed under the stern it creates water to splash up the rudder tube. I have been down there and noticed this on anchor when wind and sea state are opposing or when a tender creates wake.
 The other possibility is when there is too much water in the cockpit (for example if using a hose to wash down the teak) that the locker channels overflow causing some water to drip into the locker and somehow run onto the drive unit. I have not seen this though is the only other possibility I have come up with. I have sailed over 20,000nm in 2 years on my DD2 so the timeframe I have encountered these issues may also be put down to the miles covered though I would of thought this should not be the case and the unit could handle the miles traveled. Hard to say for sure the cause besides that’s it’s from corrosion related damage. Might be worth taking some preventative measures if you have the chance. See picture for how the gator sits. |
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ohthetrees
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Joined: 24 November 2019 Status: Offline Points: 189 |
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Posted: 11 March 2025 at 15:20 |
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Thanks for the pics Steve. We are at anchor here in Les Saintes Gaudaloupe, and just took a mighty slap to the ass from a passing ferry. It even splashed up into the cockpit. I took the opportunity to go down into the aft locker and look for signs of splashing up the rudder tube – all was bone dry, no signs of salt or of previous splashing.
We put our DD2 in in San Diego in 2020, and are now in the Caribbean, and have put on some 10,000nm on our DD2, and no signs of splashing from the rudder tube. I'm curious why you would get splashing up that tube and I don't. I'm wondering, do you think it is possible that you have salt water running down a bolt from above instead? Are you sure you get splashing up the tube? Edited by ohthetrees - 11 March 2025 at 15:21 |
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RMY72
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Joined: 06 May 2025 Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Posted: 06 May 2025 at 17:09 |
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I realize it's been a while since this original thread was posted. Would like a follow-up post to see how well the DD2 has been performing.
Question. Not sure what brand electronics you have, but i'm assuming some changes needed to be made with the chart plotter/AP control unit? Can you elaborate on that, please.
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2018 Moody DS45
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ohthetrees
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Joined: 24 November 2019 Status: Offline Points: 189 |
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Posted: 06 May 2025 at 20:04 |
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I'm OP, and I'm actually on passage right now Bahamas-->Maryland and the DD2 continues to be great! We had one day of very short sharp seas, and 25kn from behind, surfing up to 11kn. Wind wasn't bad, but the steep seas kept lifting a stern quarter and pushing us around. DD2 continues to be a wonderful upgrade considering this boat chewed up and spat out 3 DD1s previously.
I made no changes to my existing electronics, though the previous owner did spec it with a H5000 system, don't know if the base one would be the same. I just ran the "Dockside" and "Sea Trial" commissioning on the autopilot controller. |
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SVZara
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Joined: 04 November 2018 Location: Boston, MA Status: Offline Points: 235 |
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Posted: 23 May 2025 at 17:28 |
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I am still on my DD1, but have eyes on your DD2 upgrade. I have been fortunate to not have issues and have been out in some stormy weather. I do believe its a matter of when not if, however.
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Marc
S/V Zara 2016 Hanse 505, Hull #129 |
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ohthetrees
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Joined: 24 November 2019 Status: Offline Points: 189 |
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Posted: 23 May 2025 at 18:13 |
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If you daysail, or stick close to home, I might not bother. If you passage-make, I think it is a critical upgrade. Steering effort gets quite high surfing down waves at more than 10kn.
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rperezalbores
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Joined: 25 October 2024 Location: Dubai Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Posted: 10 December 2025 at 17:19 |
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I have upgraded to DD2 also but it is not going well. The tiller arm slips from the rudder shaft causing a big mess. I had to unbolt the 4 bolts at sea to recover manual steering. At that point i have noticed that the tiller arm is not locked up to the rudder stock as per jefa recommendation, either a key or 2x10mm bolts.
My rudder does not have any key so only optiom i see is to use 2x10mm bolts. Did you drill holes in the rudder stock to accept tbese two bolts?
Edited by rperezalbores - 10 December 2025 at 17:20 |
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