Our current new to us boat is a Catalina 380. It came with an older Autohelm autopilot mounted on the pedestal. It needs a lot of work and the display no longer is functioning properly. We are outfitting the boat and doing my due diligence research I find that although my boat weighs almost 20,000 lbs this autopilot is only rated for a maximum of 17,500. Obviously this is why it struggles in a following sea or when close hauled, sometimes to the point of rounding up into the wind helplessly. I am aware that the belt etc could be a problem but here is my question:
We are going to install a new autopilot, I would like to upgrade to a hydraulic system. I am quite mechanically and electrically inclined. Is this something that I will regret trying to do myself or should I hire a professional ( be as it may be difficult to find someone who knows how)?
We are going to install a new autopilot, I would like to upgrade to a hydraulic system. I am quite mechanically and electrically inclined. Is this something that I will regret trying to do myself or should I hire a professional ( be as it may be difficult to find someone who knows how)?