Hi All,
I'm after opinions for which way to go with an autopilot.
I have Raymarine gear throughout my boat so am limiting my choice to Raymarine but I'm between the cut off of
the official recommendations.

EV -100 sail with a wheel drive - $1600
or
EV - 200 with add on linear drive - $3300

My Hanse 400 is right on the limit of the displacement recommended for the EV-100 ,
but comes with a balanced rudder.
As such the loads on the wheel are virtually non existant - 1 finger steering.
So the lighter forces of the EV - 100 will most likely be adequate.

I'm not planning on sailing round the world, mostly river racing and so use the autopilot simply to hold straight during
sail set up when light handed or if something is jammed. I will likely do some coastal cruising with the odd coastal overnight race ie the Geraldton. I'd obviously carry spares for a gruelling race like the Geraldton. But cant afford to carry a spare linear drive, as such the idea of a wheel with such a simple mechanism of a belt driven motor. I could carry 5 belts and 2 motors spare - all likely within my budget.

Anyone got any good or bad experiences with either.

Cheers Craig

Hi Craig,
I also own a Hanse (575) . I believe that Auto pilots an like anchors and that is always go 1 up on the recommended size. If you do any coastal cruising you will be glad of it. A couple of weeks ago we sailed our boat from Sydney to Brisbane. We had 14 hrs of 30 knot northerly and then 21 hrs of 20 to 35 knot southeast and 4 mt seas, all of which we sailed with the autopilot. Generally the more expensive pilots has better electronics and handle a sea better, especially these new generation pilots. Your Hanse probably steers similar to mine, which is really good at all angles to the wind, but you still need as good pilot, it just means you will have less ware and tare on the hardware eg. the linear drive. Linear drives are generally quicker and are generally pretty reliable. I would not carry a spare if only coastal cruising. Remember money is better spent on something that works rather than spending a little less on something that does not do the job.
regards
John

Hi Craig,

Completely agree with Jode, I have a Bene 46 that I sail mostly single handed up and down the East coast, she has a Raymarine ST 7000 [outdated now] suitable for 48 to
55ft and this does a great job. However a yacht I deliver occasionally with a longish keel has the ST6000 ok to windward, off the wind though it struggles especially in 30+.
So highly recommend the bigger the better.

I had old Raymarine gear on the boat and had the option of getting better equipment and went to B&G with a linear drive and all the add like a new transducer and log, a little more expensive than Raymarine but I found the multi function screen to be excellent and includes world charts.

Hey Sunseeker39, Don't skimp on the Auto Pilot!!!!. You can install what ever type you like but my boat was fitted with a TMQ AP4 when I brought it. This thing is bullet proof (but unfortunately not waterproof, hence mounted in side in a dry place, if there is such a thing on a boat). TMQ have other models as well. I recently did a run to Lord Howe and back with a following sea, and the 10 position response settings allowed me to reduce nearly all movement from the auto pilot while still maintaining a course. None of the repeated port/starboard corrections that plague some auto pilots until they trip out. Even with 30knts up the clacker it had no problems. I have not got around to connecting it to the chart plotter (to follow your planned track) but the local electronics guy at the shipyard says it can be done.

Good luck with the big decision.

Hi Craig,
By the way my pilot is also a B&G connected to a Jeffa linear drive. My previous boat, a Catlina 445 had A Raymarine auto pilot connected to a 20ton hydraulic drive. The B&G is better, though Raymarine now have got their new model out, which my brother has on a cat and he said it works fine.
good luck

Select to expand quote

Crusoe said..
Hey Sunseeker39, Don't skimp on the Auto Pilot!!!!. You can install what ever type you like but my boat was fitted with a TMQ AP4 when I brought it. This thing is bullet proof (but unfortunately not waterproof, hence mounted in side in a dry place, if there is such a thing on a boat). TMQ have other models as well. I recently did a run to Lord Howe and back with a following sea, and the 10 position response settings allowed me to reduce nearly all movement from the auto pilot while still maintaining a course. None of the repeated port/starboard corrections that plague some auto pilots until they trip out. Even with 30knts up the clacker it had no problems. I have not got around to connecting it to the chart plotter (to follow your planned track) but the local electronics guy at the shipyard says it can be done.

Good luck with the big decision.

My fishing vessel had a TMQ AP4. Hydraulic direct to the ram. Wheel did not move and there was instant action, ideal for crossing bars! It was driven by an old JRC Gps.

TMQ in Queensland used to be excellent for maintenance etc. All the commercial boats here had the same gear, presume they still do.

Hi all, I fitted a Raymarine EV 100 wheel auto pilot to my boat some months ago, ( Cav. 32 ) I tested it on a few little trips and it worked Ok. I took the boat on a bigger trip from Mooloolaba to Manly harbour and back single handed, the thing worked fairly well
Considering the wind and seas were all over the place crossing from Tanga. to Manly, proper sail trim would have helped, it would go into alarm when a sudden gust would push us off course but it managed to bring us back on track most of the time.

The unit has a sensitivity setting that I will have a play with next time I go out, it's making micro adjustments to the wheel which really aren't required as under normal conditions the boat tracks fairly well.

The unit cost me a $1 shy of $1600 at Whitworths on the Sunshine Coast.

Bill

I installed the EV200 withRaynarne linear drive around 12 months ago. Love the thing. Once you have it you will use it more that you think. Using the linear drive direct to the quadrant also provides redundancy to the wheeel / cable steering, which is not provided by the wheel pilots.

With faster yachts a direct connection to the quadrant is vital. Do a search on the Figaro and 21 foot racers and see what pilots they use when flying spinnakers solo in crazy conditions. Racing cats too where acceleration can be a problem.

Many thanks for everyones comments.

Linear drive direct to quadrant appears to be the recommendation.
I have a strong dislike of hydraulics.
(constant leaks from previous systems - backstays and autopilots)
Hence I'm drawn to the mechanical linear drive by Raymarine.

But before I purchase I will make a visit to the TMQ shop in Freo.
I've used them once before and their service was excellent so worth
seeing what options they have to fit in with my raymarine system.
I'm keen for the unit to sail on apparent wind not just on compass heading.

cheers Craig

I have a Raymarine SmartPilot X-10 and a a rotary drive unit driving the steering via a separate chain and sprocket. Steering cables are probably the least likely component to fail in your steering system. I carry spare chains though - just in case.