I'm looking at the Raymarine EV-100 autopilot package for my 82 30'. Anyone using that system or have any opinions? It's rate for up to 16,000 lbs, my boat comes in at 10,000. Is that a heavy enough autopilot for a MK1 30?
Raymarine EV-100 Sail for Catalina 30
- Thread starter jakez
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I had an AH400 for years on a C36, and it was generally O.K. In heavy weather it was not up to the task. For example, 30 kt. on the quarter in 5' seas it wasn't strong enough to steer the boat.
If you can at all afford to do so I highly recommend a below-decks drive unit.
That said, it looks pretty cool, looking at the brochure!
If you can at all afford to do so I highly recommend a below-decks drive unit.
That said, it looks pretty cool, looking at the brochure!
I just received mine but won't be doing the install for a little while. I'll take pics when I do and post my impressions.
The EV 100 is a new system from Ray but still uses the same old wheel drive.. I have not yet installed one as I tend to wait until Ray works the bugs out on other installers...
That said the WP is fine for a C-30 so long as you follow standard AP good use practices. This means balancing the helm BEFORE hitting the AP button and keeping a light helm on her.
We are running the same wheel drive (different course computer) on a 19,000+ pound CS-36T. She's got over 8K nm on the wheel drive thus far. It has NO PROBLEM steering our 36' vessel but she balances easily, a lot easier than our old C-30, and has a very light helm...
She's kind of a pig, 9600 pounds on the front straps and 9300 on the rear straps or 18,900 pounds. This scale had recently been "calibrated" but they are still never 100% accurate.
For reference this weight was no spar, no sail inventory, no water, no fuel, empty holding tank, no canvas, and most gear already removed.... She carries 100 gallons of water, has a 38 gallon holding tank and a 42 gallon fuel tank so add all that to the scale weight to see what a wheel pilot can really do.........
Wheel drives work well if you use them correctly...
I installed the WP and figured it would be dead in a year and I would replace it with a below deck Octopus drive, but the damn thing keeps going....
Finished installing the EV-100 and am very pleased with t. The install was super easy and it performs really well, I would highly recommend this autopilot
Just installed it in my Hunter 34
I just installed that very system in my Hunter 34. Mine is the wheel pilot. The hardest part of the installation is deciphering the manuals. Really bad. Fortunately the system is pretty simple. Goes together like a stereo system. I took it out for a couple hours last weekend and it works great except that it's a bit zig zagy in the steering. Varies 7-8 degrees either side of the heading. I am told that will improve as it 'learns" the boat. If you have any questions hit me up.
I just installed that very system in my Hunter 34. Mine is the wheel pilot. The hardest part of the installation is deciphering the manuals. Really bad. Fortunately the system is pretty simple. Goes together like a stereo system. I took it out for a couple hours last weekend and it works great except that it's a bit zig zagy in the steering. Varies 7-8 degrees either side of the heading. I am told that will improve as it 'learns" the boat. If you have any questions hit me up.