Beneteau 36 cc autopilot installation

[Mattcia123]

Hello all, I’m looking at buying a 1998 Beneteau 36cc, boat is in great shape, only thing is it does not have autopilot. The displacement weight is 13,500 lbs. it is cable steering. Has simrad electronics with autopilot capabilities. Can’t seem to find below deck autopilot compatible with cable steering. (Simrad doesn’t seem to make them) I’ve installed wheel drive before on another boat so I know I can do that. my questions are:
1. Has anyone used a wheel drive autopilot before on a similar size vessel? Did it work out?
2. Does anyone know of any below deck autopilots compatible with cable steering? If not, how hard would it be to switch steering to hydraulic and instal a hydraulic autopilot?

Will be coastal sailing/island hopping in the tropics, not crossing any oceans (yet)
Thanks in advance

Matt

 

[Davidasailor26]

Should be no need to switch to hydraulic steering. We have cable steering with a hydraulic autopilot ram that connects to the rudder post. In general an under deck ram like that is more expensive than a wheel pilot but much more robust. Ours works very well and has plenty of power.

Here’s a couple pictures of the pump and ram:

 

[dlochner]

Below deck APs should connect directly to the rudder post. Edson makes a short tiller arm for this purpose.

A wheel pilot on a 36' boat will only work well in the most benign conditions, when the going gets tough as with gusty winds or bigger seas the wheel pilot will not be up to the task.

 

[kappykaplan]

A wheel pilot on a 36' boat will only work well in the most benign conditions, when the going gets tough as with gusty winds or bigger seas the wheel pilot will not be up to the task.

This is why I upgraded to a type 1 linear drive.

 

[jssailem]

A wheel pilot on a 36' boat will only work well in the most benign conditions, when the going gets tough as with gusty winds or bigger seas the wheel pilot will not be up to the task.

I have found the same results.
I have a wheel pilot on my 35ft 15K lb boat. The wheel pilot is employed when the conditions are mild to calm and no following sea. On open water passage I have (yet to be installed) a Monitor windvane to address need for 24hr steerage based on wind angle. One benefit of a windvane is no electrical power needed. Windvane also provides emergency steering ability.

I would suspect your boat is on the upper limit of the wheel pilot specs. I would look at either the simpler linear drive pilot or the hydraulic drive you are exploring.

Follow Dave's advice regarding the attachment to the rudder shaft and do not use the quadrant. The quadrants are often cast aluminum and not designed to sustain the stress of the AP rams.