st4000 instalation

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Chuck Defever

Am considering an st4000 and owner instalation for hunter 336. Does the standard console/pedestal have room for this product, and does it present any special instalation problems?
 
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Dan

Installation

Chuck, I'm not sure exactly how the pedastal is on the 336, but I was stumped for a short time on this one regarding the 290. The motor for the 4000 needs to install into the pedastal on my boat. This makes installing the little supplied bracket pretty much impossible. I found and copied the installation from another boat, and here is what I did. I carefull (very carefully) marked on the rear side of the pedastal the exact center of where the motor would penetrate the pedastal. I then drilled out a hole just large enough to get a sanding drum into (still needs to be somewhat smaller than the motor diameter). I carefull sanded the hole out to the motor diameter with frequent checks of the fit and position as I went. As I recall, I had already mounted the unit on the wheel, and had the wheel off, so that I could slip it on easily and check alignment. Need to make sure that the fit is tight at the motor / pedastal and that there are no obstructions inside the pedastal where the motor will sit (actually, check that first). The whole operation took me about an hour or so. I did not need to take the pedastal off (man did that look like an awful job). The autopilot works well and no problems to date. I suspect that there is a little pressure exerted on the connection between the motor housing and the drive unit, but the distance is not large and I think the lever load created is nominal. Besides, I really can't see any other way to do it on the Hunter pedastals. Wouldn't it be nice if they actually planned for future installation of an autopilot. My first choice was an ST5000, but could not find any way to fit the linear drive into the boat unless I left it in the box and just stored it there. Try to find another Hunter around with the same autopilot installed. That will help you work it out. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije)
 
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Gene B. s/v Paradigm

Support Bracket Mounting

Raymarine says that just using the motor housing for support is not right, but apparently that's what everyone I've talked to does. They only provide a bracket for curved pedestals when you buy the unit. There is one available, for a flat pedestal but at an outragious price, and they won't accept a trade-in.
 
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Bruce Mulford

I di it on my 1997 29.5 like this...

I'm sure the pedastles are similar. What Dan describes is probably ok, but I created a substitute for the bracket using a 3/8 hex bolt, the head of which fits in the socket in the back of the round drive gear. Drilled a hole through the pedastle and used a nut and flat washer on both inside and outside to lock bolt in place. TUrned out very sturdy. Once the drive is mounted you can't even see the bolt and it eliminates the concern about possible stress on the motor. One other caution before you drill the console for the motor, make sure it will not interfere with the cable/chain for the steering gear, and be sure to include room for the plug into the back of the motor as well.
 
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Steve

Not Hard of a 320

I installed a 4000 on a 320. It didn't take too long, but I did buy the support bracket from Raymarine. I think the idea posted earlier about using a bolt would work just as well, and cost a lot less. I don't know where Bell River is, but I'm in Port Huron if you want to look at mine. Steve
 
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