It's never easy. Autopilot install.

[SycloneDriver]

If have no idea about a pivoting wheel pedestal. If I have one it's news to me. The previous owner knew nothing about the boat, he couldn't explain how to operate any of the equipment. I never saw it out of the slip in over 5 years.

Several people mentioned that I will have to cut the pin down, of course I will. No need to cut this pin if I'm not going to use it though.

 

[SycloneDriver]

Here is my pedestal installation

Nice bushing. I'll keep that in mind.

 

[SycloneDriver]

I would reach out to Ray Marine first. This can’t be the first time someone has encountered these issues. They’ll likely have a solution: be it alternate parts, adapters, or some kind of work around.

I started to do just that but I got interrupted. I got a phone call from a guy that I have been helping at the marina needed some help with his boat, that gave me the opportunity to measure my wheel spokes and look for a manufacture sticker on my pedestal. I also got paid for my time, win-win.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Here is my pedestal installation

Nice installation. What's the backing material if it's not "classified" ?

 

[Tally Ho]

Here is a photo of the pivoting wheel on the 373…

I don’t know who makes the pedestal…but I do not believe you can put a wheel pilot drive on it (if you intend to pivot the wheel…

 

[jssailem]

do not believe you can put a wheel pilot drive on it

I believe that to be true. The Raymarine Wheel drive needs to have a fixed point to hold the back of the Wheel drive in place while the helm wheel rotated.

The other wheel drive options use a motor and belt system the fixes the motor to the deck. I do not believe it will allow a helm wheel rotation without removing the belt. Out of the box idea perhaps building a base that rotates with the helm wheel might be possible it would be a complex design.

 

[danstanford]

Here is a photo of the pivoting wheel on the 373…

I don’t know who makes the pedestal…but I do not believe you can put a wheel pilot drive on it (if you intend to pivot the wheel…

View attachment 211390

My 323 had exactly that pilot and had the pivoting wheel. There was some compromise with the mounting of the drive but it worked perfectly. Sorry I cannot remember what the compromise was

 

[joker460]

I came across this thread on this site. You may need a special bracket to allow you to pivot the wheel with the wheel autopilot installed.
See pictures from Bigeasy at post 17 on his 343. Same type of pedestal.

Auto pilot Beneteau 323 Oceanis Clipper

Hi. We just bought a Beneteau 323 2005 without Auto pilot. We have look at Raymarine EV-100 or SPX-5 wheel pilot ( I don´t know the different on the 2) Have enyone tried to install this pilot.? And does it workshop with the pivoting wheel..? I dont want to loose that funktion. Regards Rasmus

forums.sailboatowners.com

 

[BigEasy]

I came across this thread on this site. You may need a special bracket to allow you to pivot the wheel with the wheel autopilot installed.
See pictures from Bigeasy at post 17 on his 343. Same type of pedestal.

Auto pilot Beneteau 323 Oceanis Clipper

Hi. We just bought a Beneteau 323 2005 without Auto pilot. We have look at Raymarine EV-100 or SPX-5 wheel pilot ( I don´t know the different on the 2) Have enyone tried to install this pilot.? And does it workshop with the pivoting wheel..? I dont want to loose that funktion. Regards Rasmus

forums.sailboatowners.com

Joker,
Thanks for posting my previous post with photos from a similar thread from the past. The helm on the 3_3 models from approximately '05 thru '09 had a Goiot pivoting wheel that pivots clockwise to the port side of the cockpit. If your wheel pivots, the post mounted bracket that Raymarine supplies, will interfere / prevent the wheel from pivoting. Beneteau no longer has the bracket available; however, they should have a drawing that will enable you to have the necessary bracket fabricated. Contact me if you need additional info,

 

[BigEasy]

I'm tempted to have a custom torque restraint made or just offset it slightly.
Anyone have a better idea?

Syclone,
I have attached a rough drawing of the custom bracket that Beneteau fabricated for the 3_3 boat series that used a wheel pilot. Others have said that Beneteau no longer has the bracket in stock: however, they may be able to supply a more exact drawing to enable you to have one fabricated.

 

[SycloneDriver]

Syclone,
I have attached a rough drawing of the custom bracket that Beneteau fabricated for the 3_3 boat series that used a wheel pilot. Others have said that Beneteau no longer has the bracket in stock: however, they may be able to supply a more exact drawing to enable you to have one fabricated.

That's interesting. I don't see how that would work in my application. I am 99% confident that my pedestal/wheel does not pivot. The standard torque restraint will work with only an adjustment to the pipe diameter it's designed to fit. Finding the part is now the challenge.

 

[SycloneDriver]

Look what arrived today. Now I should be able to finish installing the wheel drive/motor.

 

[SycloneDriver]

Well I forgot to bring my saw, so I'll have to come back. Not complaining.

 

[SycloneDriver]

I finally got the wheel drive motor installed. As you can see in the photos, I had to mount the pin slightly off center. If the motor touches the pedestal it makes noise every time the wheel motor runs, ask me how I know.