Newly installed autopilot is drunk

Nov 26, 2012
1,654
C&C 40-2 Berkeley
My newly installed Raymarine EV100 autopilot works great except that it's a bit swervy. I took out for a couple of hours on mostly a beam reach in about 12 knots and it zig zags a bit. I understand that this is supposed to improve as it "learns" the boat. Anyone else out there have experience with this system?
 
Jun 8, 2004
2,958
Catalina 320 Dana Point
On earlier models you would reduce the "response" level, I'd try it with yours.
Menu> response level
Instead of a numerical scale as in the past, you'll have a choice of "Leisure" "cruising" or "performance" I believe.
 

YVRguy

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Jan 10, 2013
479
Hunter 34 Vancouver, BC
I noticed the same thing with mine and apparently there is an adjustment you can make so that it responds to the helm more/or less aggressively
 

Les

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May 8, 2004
375
Hunter 27 Bellingham, WA
I have a Raymarine autopilot X-5 and my first couple of times out on the bay it would deviate as much as forty degrees but I kept track and it kept getting better and better. Now it hardly deviates at all even in different types of wave action. I'm quite impressed.

I was told that the computer potion of the autopilot has to learn the boat and its characteristics and that would take a few trips. It appears that it did learn my boat quite well.
 
Sep 23, 2009
1,475
O'Day 34-At Last Rock Hall, Md
About to install one. Where did you locate the EV-1 "compass" sensor?
One boat in our marina has it in the engine compartment just in front of his fuel tank and reports no problems even though it is only a little over two feet from the engine.
 
Nov 26, 2012
1,654
C&C 40-2 Berkeley
ev-1 location

I mounted to the bulkhead just under the companionway in the aft cabin right on the boat's centerline. The ECU is right next to it. I understand you can pretty much mount it anywhere but this seemed a good spot.
 
Apr 11, 2010
978
Hunter 38 Whitehall MI
My newly installed Raymarine EV100 autopilot works great except that it's a bit swervy. I took out for a couple of hours on mostly a beam reach in about 12 knots and it zig zags a bit. I understand that this is supposed to improve as it "learns" the boat. Anyone else out there have experience with this system?

In the instruction manual that came with my X10 it tells you how to take the boat out on a calm day, engage the AP hit a few commands and it goes through a routine where it learns the handling / response characteristics of the boat. Makes turns, goes in a circle or two and when done has a feel for the ruder and the responsiveness of the hull.
 
Oct 27, 2011
154
Hunter 1980 Hunter 30 San Diego, Mission Bay
I have the EV-1 also. Like it a lot. When I first installed it, the installation manual spoke of a learning routine. Hunted through all of the menu settings, but could not find such a thing. Finally called Raymarine support. They told me that the EV-1 does not have such a setting. Just go sail, and it learns your boat.
 
May 28, 2009
764
Hunter 376 Pensacola, FL
Do you have a rudder reference sensor installed? We were never able to get our autopilot to hold a steady course on anything but a beam reach until we installed one. After that it's worked beautifully.