Wheel Steering Electric Motor Control

[rpwillia]

Does anyone recall the steering motor and control box that were on the Catalina 30? I sailed one once that had a belt driven motor attached to a wheel and had a wired box to give the rudder left and right rudder commands (I recall they were 1 degree 10 degrees). Is there some way to get some information about them? Thanks Ray

 

[Stu Jackson]

Sounds like you're describing an Autohelm ST3000

which were not necessarily "installed on Catalina 30s" but were used on any kind of boat with a wheel. Autohelm was bought out by Raymarine, who discontinued the model a few years ago. That is too goshdarn bad, because it was one of the last of the simpler autopilots in that it was all in one simple box and it actually worked! We've had two, and wish they were still in production.

 

[rpwillia]

Not it.

Stu, Looked at the 3000 and that is not the one I used. This did nothing but hold the rudder steady (using a belt and pulley on the wheel) and turn the rudder left or right 1 or 10 degrees. There was no control head that I recall, just the wired remote with the 4 buttons. The unit turned on when you engaged the belt with a lever. Very simple, very cool.