I purchased a 1985 H 34 a couple of years ago. I am progressively going through all of the mechanicals and eventually the overall boat to make improvements. There is no autopilot and virtually no instrumentation on board. I am considering installing a Raymarine EV 100 Wheel-pilot. I have seen similar sized sailboats that have below deck units as well. Can anyone share their comments with me on the success and disappointments of the Wheel pilot… It seems extremely easy to install. Thank you
Wheel autopilot or below deck
- Thread starter finegold1
- Start date
Wheel pilots are exposed to the elements more than below deck units. They also have to work much harder, with much less mechanical advantage than below deck units have. So they steer slower and fail more often than below deck units.
But as you note, they often cost much less. And except in challenging downwind conditions, they drive pretty well. But downwind they can suck.
But as you note, they often cost much less. And except in challenging downwind conditions, they drive pretty well. But downwind they can suck.
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Jack's right. Most aps do suffer going downwind because of the usually quartering seas, except for the below deck units.
It all depends on where you'll be sailing, too.
It all depends on where you'll be sailing, too.
AP
I installed a RM wheel pilot on our H28 some years ago and really enjoyed the freedom and reliability. The wheel pilot should be a good choice for someone doing mostly local extended cruises. If you plan on going off shore to distant places you will need something quite different.
I installed a RM wheel pilot on our H28 some years ago and really enjoyed the freedom and reliability. The wheel pilot should be a good choice for someone doing mostly local extended cruises. If you plan on going off shore to distant places you will need something quite different.
When I bought my 34 in 1991, autopilot was on the list of stuff I wanted on the boat. It had an old belt drive Autohelm unit that worked fine until the touch panel for the switches failed. I replaced it with a Raymarine Wheelpilot 4000+ (2003) which has been fine. It could not drive the 34 until I put in a rudder position sensor. I understand that the new Ray Marine units work very well .. as has been stated, in big following seas, it can't handle the boat.. but otherwise it is great .. The internal drive belt is looking like it needs to be replaced, but otherwise I am very pleased .. indispensable on long wind-less motoring days.
You can always do this in pieces and upgrade the wheel to below deck at a later point or when it wears out. All that will require is buying a control unit now that can drive the linear unit later. This means the ACU-200 as opposed to the ACU-100 that comes with the wheel "kit".. If you buy the WP "kit" the ACU-100 would not have the oomph to drive the Type 1 linear at a later point in time and you'd also need to pony up for the control unit.......
IMHO most of the reasons people complain about WP's are..
#1 Poor installation
#2 Poor set up
#3 Poor usage (eg: sails not balanced before engaging AP)
We have a WP on a boat 4K heavier than it is rated for and it has done well in excess of 10K nm and steers down wind quite well. I did buy a course computer that was ready for a linear drive (older S1G) so when the wheel drive fails I can easily drop in a Jefa LD100 or a Raymarine Type 1...
IMHO most of the reasons people complain about WP's are..
#1 Poor installation
#2 Poor set up
#3 Poor usage (eg: sails not balanced before engaging AP)
We have a WP on a boat 4K heavier than it is rated for and it has done well in excess of 10K nm and steers down wind quite well. I did buy a course computer that was ready for a linear drive (older S1G) so when the wheel drive fails I can easily drop in a Jefa LD100 or a Raymarine Type 1...
Ditto
I have the S1 auto with sensor and computer factory installed and has
done very well since 07 and it tells me when I need to reef when it
won't hold a course.
I do have the raymarine Linear drive 1 ready for install and Eddie Breen
from Hunter did send me all the factory install info and just waiting to
decide to do the install on my 07 H-36.
I don't know if Hunter did below deck auto for your model and my install
not too hard for my rack & pinion steering and need one more part for the rudder
post and also cut a hole under the flooring and need to move a auto switching electrical box in the spot for my linear drive.
Hoping you can get the diagrams for your model and here is mine if it can give you any help deciding and have heard the new ray units work very well.
nick
I have the S1 auto with sensor and computer factory installed and has
done very well since 07 and it tells me when I need to reef when it
won't hold a course.
I do have the raymarine Linear drive 1 ready for install and Eddie Breen
from Hunter did send me all the factory install info and just waiting to
decide to do the install on my 07 H-36.
I don't know if Hunter did below deck auto for your model and my install
not too hard for my rack & pinion steering and need one more part for the rudder
post and also cut a hole under the flooring and need to move a auto switching electrical box in the spot for my linear drive.
Hoping you can get the diagrams for your model and here is mine if it can give you any help deciding and have heard the new ray units work very well.
nick
I installed a RM WP in my H34 and I have to tell you that I am sorry I didn't go for the below deck one. I'm still considering going to the below deck option. My 2 cents.
Ev-100
I installed that very unit on my '84 H-34 and I love it. It all depends on how you are going to use it. I use mine so that I can going sailing by myself. It takes the wheel when I want to grab a brew or if I just want to sit back and relax. I did not get the rudder sensor so the system detects a change in heading via the motion sensor. When moving fast the response is quick. In very light air it's a little slow and the boat tends to sail in an S pattern as the steering responds a little late to each course change. I don't mind a bit and I always have the option of installing the rudder sensor later if I want it. If I were to go cruising I would spend the extra money on a below deck unit.
I installed that very unit on my '84 H-34 and I love it. It all depends on how you are going to use it. I use mine so that I can going sailing by myself. It takes the wheel when I want to grab a brew or if I just want to sit back and relax. I did not get the rudder sensor so the system detects a change in heading via the motion sensor. When moving fast the response is quick. In very light air it's a little slow and the boat tends to sail in an S pattern as the steering responds a little late to each course change. I don't mind a bit and I always have the option of installing the rudder sensor later if I want it. If I were to go cruising I would spend the extra money on a below deck unit.
Mark... you mention that it is sometimes fast and sometimes slow to respond. What is the response level set to?
I've had an '86 Hunter 34 for 12 years with the RM 4000 and now the X5 wheel pilot installed. No problems sailing on the Chesapeake bay. I have not seen any reason to go with the below deck unit.
Tom
Tom
Redundancy = good.
Keep in mind that a robust autopilot, connected to a separate steering arm on the rudder shaft, is in effect a backup steering system. Should you jump a cable (and the engine still works), an electric-assist autopilot is better than an emergency tiller. Anything leveraged via the wheel itself isn't; it will rely on the same cables and is vulnerable to the same weakest link in a cable-quadrant steering system.
'Redundancy is the byword of safety.' --engineering adage
Keep in mind that a robust autopilot, connected to a separate steering arm on the rudder shaft, is in effect a backup steering system. Should you jump a cable (and the engine still works), an electric-assist autopilot is better than an emergency tiller. Anything leveraged via the wheel itself isn't; it will rely on the same cables and is vulnerable to the same weakest link in a cable-quadrant steering system.
'Redundancy is the byword of safety.' --engineering adage
I have a CPT wheel pilot and LOVE it!! Strong (1/2 horsepower motor), absolutely silent be and low amp draw. It is not linked to any nav stuff. I use an IPAD with iSailor at the binnacle.
Here are some vids of sailing with the CPT:
http://youtu.be/RyBtTZZPhus
http://youtu.be/BzqWCvYMs14
http://youtu.be/dkmOsa-c5Kw
Ben
Here are some vids of sailing with the CPT:
http://youtu.be/RyBtTZZPhus
http://youtu.be/BzqWCvYMs14
http://youtu.be/dkmOsa-c5Kw
Ben
Wheel Pilot...
I had to replace the RM 4000 AP on my H34 when the wheel unit's clutch failed. Acquired the S-1 on sale as the X unit was coming out, and have been very happy with it's use. Great for single handing and under power. True, it doesn't like a following sea very much, but the trade-off for overall use is huge.
Little tricky to set up initially with a number of parameters compared to the 4000, but well worth the effort to do so.
I had to replace the RM 4000 AP on my H34 when the wheel unit's clutch failed. Acquired the S-1 on sale as the X unit was coming out, and have been very happy with it's use. Great for single handing and under power. True, it doesn't like a following sea very much, but the trade-off for overall use is huge.
Little tricky to set up initially with a number of parameters compared to the 4000, but well worth the effort to do so.