Tiller pilot · Simrad
Simrad TP22 and TP32 Tillerpilots
The other cockpit tiller pilot: quieter than the Raymarine, with a rudder-angle sensor built in.
- Indicative price
- $1,200–$1,800 unit
- Fitted
- $1,300–$2,100
- Rated for
- Sized by drive or pump
- Editor score
- 60 / 100
Simrad's tillerpilots are the alternative to the Raymarine ST-series on tiller boats. The TP22 is rated for yachts to about 10 m and the TP32 to about 12 m; both are self-contained units with a and a push-rod actuator, and both accept NMEA 0183 wind and navigation data. Owners who have used both generally rate the Simrad quieter and a little smoother, and its rudder-angle sensing gives it slightly better behaviour when the boat is pressed.
The Simrad range has been trimmed over the years and stock in Australia comes and goes, so check availability with a Navico dealer before planning around one. Either way the usual tiller-pilot caveats apply: cockpit-mounted, exposed, and a coastal rather than offshore tool.
Verdict
Simrad TP22 and TP32 Tillerpilots drive sizing
TP22: tiller yachts to roughly 10 m. TP32: to roughly 12 m. Simrad rates by length; heavy boats near the length limit should size up or move below deck.
Specifications
Autopilot components, voltage and steering modes
- Sensor
- Internal fluxgate compass with rudder-angle sensing
- Drive
- Integrated push-rod actuator
- Control
- Keys on the unit; optional wired remote
- Voltage
- 12 V DC
- Network
- NMEA 0183 input, Optional NMEA 2000 via gateway
- Power draw
- 0.5 A typical, 3 A peak. Similar to the Raymarine ST-series in practice.
- Steering systems
- Tiller
Modes
- Auto (compass)
- Wind (with NMEA 0183 wind data)
- Nav (cross-track from a plotter)
- AutoTack
Features
- Quiet drive
- Rudder-angle sensing improves stability
- Accepts wind and navigation data
- Simple to fit and remove
For and against
Autopilot strengths and limitations
- Quieter than the Raymarine equivalent
- Slightly better in a seaway
- Well-regarded build
- Availability in Australia is patchy
- Same exposure and power limits as any tiller pilot
- Fewer dealers know the product
Who fits it
Boats and places where this system is recommended
Boat types
- Tiller-steered yachts → A quieter alternative to the Raymarine if a dealer can supply one.
Australian waters
- Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens → A sound choice for a Lake Macquarie trailer sailer if you can find one, since availability has been patchy. Enough thrust for a light keelboat and simple enough that a club member can learn it in an afternoon.
Questions
Simrad TP22 and TP32 Tillerpilots: frequently asked
TP22 or TP32?
Choose by length and displacement. Anything over about 9 m or 4 tonnes should be on the TP32 for the extra thrust.
Alternatives to consider
The systems most often weighed against this one.
Head to head
Comparisons featuring this system
Autopilot commissioning and operator training
A $2,100 installation with no handover is a gamble. Half a day on the water with the installer or an instructor covers the modes, the override, the alarms and a failure drill. It is the cheapest safety equipment aboard.