that the next time we take off we will carry a stand alone wheel pilot in a box. That failure taught me that I'm to old to withstand the riggers of day after day hand steering. I did it when I was 40 for several days when my Autohelm 3000 broke a belt and as I recall, didn't like it back then either. It's the same old story. I had a spare but didn't actually install it and it turned out that they sold me the wrong size belt. When I get the wheel pilot I will totally install it and test it out. Then I will repackage it, bag it and stow it where it won't take any hits. The mounting holes will be drilled and then plugged with plastic snap in caps. The wires will be run with fused water proof sockets and it will be plug and play. If the weather turn bad enough that it won't handle the boat then I'll spend a day or two hove to playing "Tick" or some other card game. I've done it before. The thing is, if I can help it, I'm not going to be forced into hand steering any longer then it takes me to get out of a harbor. IMHO, sailing and cruising should be fun, not drudgery. As far as it being "part of the adventure, I'm over that kind of "adventure".