Chuck, My 1982 C&C37 came with the older Autohelm 4000 (Raymarine) autopilot. The unit is supposedly not that different than the latest model you are considering. Mine is inadequate downwind even in our relatively protected central Puget Sound waters. It is affected by more than wind speed - random puffs, wind shifts, crossing wave patterns, large boat wakes, boat roll, etc. All give it panic attacks 😱 and me the need for a beer once I am safely back on the dock.🥴 As the wind rises to the upper teens the unit is often inadequate upwind. As the wind rises further into the twenties I have found the unit to be useless. More experienced friends and marine tech sorts are not surprised. Fancy that. As my budget allows I plan to install a below deck unit, hydraulic or direct drive. That will be a bit of fun. FWIW, at 16-18K lbs. loaded, my boat is over the recommended displacement for the Autohelm wheel unit. I believe yours is similar. I have had to replace the little SSTL drive pins often. I’ve also changed drive belts and otherwise kept the unit well maintained and clean. I mostly singlehand and a strong, reliable autopilot is critical to my continued use of the boat. I am 70, reasonably fit and grew up around smaller boats and stupidly self-endangering marine situations 🙄 but am no champion or truly experienced old sea dog. So … happily not dead yet. 😊 Twixt and ‘tween is not a generally happy place to be in, so … All the best, Hans R S/V Ete’ 1982 C&C37 Shilshole Bay Marina Seatlle
Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 22, 2021, at 12:13 PM, Don Kern via CnC-List <[email protected]> > wrote: > >  Chuck > minor typo! Fat fingers!! - should have been 20 kts not 29. > Don > > On 10/22/2021 2:51 PM, Don Kern via CnC-List wrote: >> Chuck >> >> I have a C&C 35 Mk2 that has the older Raymarine ST4000 autopilot which is >> being used at its upper limits. It does Ok up to about 20kts on Narra Bay, >> Buzzards Bay and Long Island Sound. Have never engaged it above 20 kts. The >> only problem I have had is the the three plastic "U" brackets that connect >> the unit to the helms spoke have cracked and needed to be replaced. I think >> this was due to the Edson pedestal's brake which has become none functional >> and I initially used the Autohelm to lock the rudder when at anchor/mooring. >> Not too smart!! >> >> Don Kern >> Fireball, C&C35 Mk2 >> Bristol, RI >> >> >> On 10/22/2021 12:10 PM, Novabraid via CnC-List wrote: >>> I’m contemplating adding a new wheel mount auto pilot (Raymarine EV-100) on >>> my 1983 Landfall 35, equipped with an Edson 737 dual lever engine control >>> (the type with the two extra stainless tubes that carry the control >>> cables). I was curious to see if anyone on the list may have attempted to >>> add this style auto pilot to their boat using the same engine control to >>> see if there were any clearance issues between the autopilot motor/drive >>> unit and the control housing. This type engine control extends below the >>> top of the pedestal (beneath the compass) and has up/down levers on port >>> and starboard. >>> I am aware that I’m at the top end of the displacement range for a wheel >>> pilot, however my main reason for wanting a pilot in the first place is to >>> facilitate single handing the boat for setting and dousing sails as well as >>> picking up moorings, etc. I’m not looking to cross oceans, just simple >>> coastal cruising but since my primary crew member has moved out West, not >>> having an auto pilot means the boat will sit on the mooring far more often. >>> A below deck pilot brings with it the challenge of where to mount the >>> drive unit and the cost of the more expensive pilot, the Edson tiller arm, >>> and the fabrication of a shelf to mount the drive unit. >>> >>> Thanks for any advice. >>> Chuck Gilchrest >>> S/V Half Magic >>> 1983 Landfall 35 >>> Padanaram, MA >>> >>> >>> >>> Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with >>> the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use >>> PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - >>> Stu >> >> >> >> Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with >> the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use >> PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - >> Stu > > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with > the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
