OceanHawk autopilot question

[OceanHawk]

Hi,
I just bought a used 1996 Hunter 376. I love the boat but as I was sailing it home from Maryland to NY the auto pilot locked....No one in my marina knows much about auto pilots and I called hunter they told me I could access the mechanisim from the 2 panels on the ceiling of the aft cabin....I opened the panels and saw only bolts no gears or controlls for stearing....before I start tearing apart the pedistal can someone advise me how to view autopilot controls with the least possible disassembly to cockpit.....any info would be highly apprerciated.....I am a new sailboat owner and never delt with this before.....thanks

 

[sailaway78]

Has to connect

It has to connect to the steering at either the wheel or the rudder quadrant. If not a wheel steering unit, then look around the top of the rudder post, where the quadrant is located.

 

[zeehag]

my quadrant is forward of the rudder post and has not much to do with the rudder post. my hydraulic autopilot is affixed to my quadrant and when engaged will not allow manual steering at all unless disengaged by placing into standby mode. i have a place under my helm station for the quadrant--is only thing in htat space--- do you have this on your boat?? look for hatches at the helm station and see if under the decking htere is a unit. if is hydraulic unit, there will also be computers and boxes of black color sitting in odd places inside your boat. do you have these?? .
pix would be of great help so we could see more how it is set up.. gooodluck
if there is a magnet near the units in the boat, could be a problem. are stereo speakers placed far enough away from the auto pilot so as to be not affecting it?