I have recently purchased a Hunter 356 and want to install an autopilot. I have been informed that the Hunter 356 is on the borderline recommended displacement weight for a wheel mounted autopilot (such as the Raymarine EV100), and that I should probably fit an inline drive model (Raymarine EV200). Evidently the only option fitted to new 356 models was a wheel mounted autopilot. I have found instructions to mount an inline EV200 model on the Hunter 36 but the under cockpit structure is different to the 356, and I might have to cut into the aft port side locker to fit the inline drive in place. Can anyone advise me, firstly of any experience they have with a wheel mounted autopilot on a 356 (ie has it performed OK especially at sea), and/or if they have fitted an inline model, and how they went about doing so.
Autopilot for Hunter 356
- Thread starter Ken Archer
- Start date
I'll bite. I had a 356 with a wheel AP. It worked well for inshore. I don't think it would have been adequate for offshore - but I never tried it. I did sail the boat in offshore conditions during a race, and several helmsmen found the boat challenging and tiring to steer in quartering downwind seas. It was a race and AP wasn't allowed, but I didn't think a wheel mounted AP would have been up to the task.
We've had the wheel mounted autopilot on our 356 since 20002 and it's generally worked well. You can install a belowdecks pilot - I've looked at the ray and simrad units, but it's complicated and expensive - I don't think it's worth it
Thanks Jerry, this is very useful information and confirms what I thought would be required. Could you also please tell me 1. what you attached the linear drive onto, 2. was it mounted upright or sideways, 3. where was the exit point of the drive arm into the cockpit, and 4. what length tiller arm did you attach the rod end to? On this last point, Raymarine recommends a 250 mm (10 inch) arm but most pictures I have seen, the tiller arm seems to be the same length as the other arm for the helm, about 200mm or 8 inches. I really appreciate your advice!
Here is info from hunter install a below deck linear drive.
Sorry looking for the install document from hunter
Nick
Sorry looking for the install document from hunter
Nick
Hi Nick - no document seemed to be attached. However, I note you have a Hunter 36, and I have an install document for a 36, but the 356 is sufficiently different to be of little use for installing the linear drive. Hunter also told me that they only ever installed a wheel mounted pilot in the factory. Thanks for your response.
Ken: On your questions, it has been so long ago that I don't remember much about it. The drive unit and arm is under the box and goes under the removable panel behind the helm and attaches there to the rudder. We cut out the fiberglass in the side of the lazarette to let it pass through to get under that removable panel. As I remember, it is only a few inches tall. I remember more about this part as I had to re-tighten the connection bolts to the rudder once several years ago. As I remember, there is a bracket that attaches to the rudder and then the arm attaches to the bracket. That moves the rudder when actuated by the drive unit (electric).
The drive unit was attached to some wood we epoxied to the hull, then mounted the drive unit on that. I haven't opened the wood box since it was installed when I commissioned the boat. I have no idea what length arm was used. Sorry I can't be more specific.
I have found the file, hat Nick tried to post. I forgot I had it. I had downloaded it from him several years ago. He has a 36, but the hull is the same. This should give you a better idea of how Hunter figured it out. They basically used the technique developed by must Installer at Lighthouse Landing.
The drive unit was attached to some wood we epoxied to the hull, then mounted the drive unit on that. I haven't opened the wood box since it was installed when I commissioned the boat. I have no idea what length arm was used. Sorry I can't be more specific.
I have found the file, hat Nick tried to post. I forgot I had it. I had downloaded it from him several years ago. He has a 36, but the hull is the same. This should give you a better idea of how Hunter figured it out. They basically used the technique developed by must Installer at Lighthouse Landing.
Thanks Jerry and Nick. I wasn't aware that the hulls for the 356 and 36 were the same, so that is reassuring. Did Hunter just "re-brand" the model, rather than redesign the boat? I'll check out the specs of both models. I presume therefore that all the lazarettes and supporting structures under them and the cockpit etc are also the same. It's just that the photos in the downloaded document showing the position of the linear drive do not seem to indicate that they have cut into the lazarette. In any case, I am reassured that the linear drive can be installed OK, so that is great. Once again, thanks for your advice and patience in answering my posts. Ken.
The main hull and cockpit are the same as 356 on my 2007
And some things were changed inside and after 2008 some more things were changed out side with the rear hull and cabin top from what I have seen.
Nick
And some things were changed inside and after 2008 some more things were changed out side with the rear hull and cabin top from what I have seen.
Nick
Nick's right - the early 36s were the same Hull and cockpit, there were some deck changes and a lot of changes down below. The later 36s ( I agree probably after 2008, when they changed to iron keels) had different cockpit and sugar scoop lockers which would inpact your autopilot install
I have had a linear drive a few years now and because the hard part is installing
the linear drive in very tight location and when few years younger and less back problems
was ready to go up side down in the rear stern compartment to install it where I would need to also move 2 electrical boxes that are for auto switching of my Gen and inverter I think.
I guess the sailing I have been doing since retiring to florida has my autopilot been doing a good job but every year I seem to have less time to do upgrades which I have done all my
own upgrades since 2007.
Every year I say I will start the install of the linear drive but seem to get side tracked do to
so much cruising on our 36 with our sailing club and even got into racing a few years but
I will look into how I can do the install by what Jerry said he did,the Hunter install was done at the factory and most likely easier.
Nick
the linear drive in very tight location and when few years younger and less back problems
was ready to go up side down in the rear stern compartment to install it where I would need to also move 2 electrical boxes that are for auto switching of my Gen and inverter I think.
I guess the sailing I have been doing since retiring to florida has my autopilot been doing a good job but every year I seem to have less time to do upgrades which I have done all my
own upgrades since 2007.
Every year I say I will start the install of the linear drive but seem to get side tracked do to
so much cruising on our 36 with our sailing club and even got into racing a few years but
I will look into how I can do the install by what Jerry said he did,the Hunter install was done at the factory and most likely easier.
Nick
Jerry's document on installing the drive shows a different construction than the 356; the steering quadrant is very different from the 356, and the bulkhead in the port lazarette doesn't exist in the 356 - that spot where they mount the drive is in the aft cockpit locker, not the stern locker (356 doesn't have the stern vertical locker)
More info chuck please.
From what I have seen on the 356 is the rear stern lockers
open from side to side and my 36 open straight up wards and
access to the bulkhead between the cockpit locker and rear stern locker.
Are you saying the 356 is different.
Nick
From what I have seen on the 356 is the rear stern lockers
open from side to side and my 36 open straight up wards and
access to the bulkhead between the cockpit locker and rear stern locker.
Are you saying the 356 is different.
Nick
Thanks for pointing out the differences Chuck and Nick. I didn't know they changed the hull, just thought the kitchen was different. If I was near the boat i would open up that plywood box and take some photos. Since I didn't install it myself (and the guy who did has died), I
am going off old memory. I just remember Hunter told Tim Colburn at Lighthouse Landing it couldn't be done and he did it anyway and then sent them the instructions on how he did it. Mine has worked fine now since May 2003 and over 7500 miles, so he did it right.
am going off old memory. I just remember Hunter told Tim Colburn at Lighthouse Landing it couldn't be done and he did it anyway and then sent them the instructions on how he did it. Mine has worked fine now since May 2003 and over 7500 miles, so he did it right.
No, not really Nick, you're right about the sugar scoop lockers - the picture in the 36 install instructions shows the drive mounting on a vertical bulkhead in the lazarette that doesn't exist on the 356. Where Jerry has his box for the drive ram was really tight for clearance when we looked at installing a belowdecks system - there's not much vertical room - that's not to say it can't be done - it just has to be planned and executed carefully - by someone who's very flexible;-)
I know Jim Seamans added a below deck drive but completely different from the
raymarine type that I got from Hunter.
I also know some one else on 36 had the below deck drive installed.
I am shocked that the bulkhead in the port cockpit locker of the 356 is different than the 36.
Nick
raymarine type that I got from Hunter.
I also know some one else on 36 had the below deck drive installed.
I am shocked that the bulkhead in the port cockpit locker of the 356 is different than the 36.
Nick
Hi again and here I am stuck in my house keeping from going out or from doing any thing on my 36 and have this terrible cold and have nothing but time been looking at owners manual of 356 and the 36 and don't see
where there is no rear bulkhead in the port cockpit locker.
I looked at the photo of the 356 hull design and looks very much like the my 2007 36
and the hull design and bulkheads all look the same.
Nick
where there is no rear bulkhead in the port cockpit locker.
I looked at the photo of the 356 hull design and looks very much like the my 2007 36
and the hull design and bulkheads all look the same.
Nick
it's the bulkhead in the lazarette where they mounted the drive, not the aft cockpit locker. I tried to get a pic of the quadrant - it's definitely very different from the 36.and doesn't have the second lobe where the drive is attached.. the cockpit locker has a space - where Jerry's box is mounted - and if the drive shaft is at the very bottom of the drive it could go thru the side of the locker and come under the cover over the steering (where the helmsman stands). It will take careful planning to make the mechanical link to the quadrant - there's not much room.