Dwight,
It’s been quite a few years since I got my setup finely polished, but I do remember this little tidbit from one of the Raymarine techs that made it work better – Lee Tang of Raymarine told me upon upgrading the 80CRC to change the AUTOPILOT setting to 5000 Whl when I add the rudder sensor. This helped a LOT. Bill Coleman Entrada, Erie, PA From: dwight veinot via CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, October 25, 2021 12:31 PM To: Stus-List Cc: dwight veinot Subject: Stus-List Re: Engine controls and Auto Pilots Same for my 4000 plus. It needed the rudder sensor to work at all. What a PITA installing the rudder sensor was. When the Raymarine 4000 plus works well on my boat I can use it to steer the boat straight upwind to hoist the mainsail and I can use it while motoring but it seems to adjust too much when sailing off the wind so I just don’t use it for that. On Sun, Oct 24, 2021 at 8:02 PM Bill Coleman via CnC-List <[email protected]> wrote: That's what I was wondering about. When I bought my 4000 Plus, the sales guy at defender said I didn't need the rudder feedback unit. But it was pretty worthless and I was very disappointed. Once I put the rudder feedback unit in, it worked brilliantly. The brains need to know where the rudder is otherwise it's just shooting in the dark. I wouldn't want to dissuade you from going to the hydraulic unit, as they are definitely superior. But I think you would be very surprised at how good it would work with the 4000 Plus and a rudder feedback. Bill Coleman On Sun, Oct 24, 2021, 4:45 PM Hans Reinhardt via CnC-List <[email protected]> wrote: Bill, My manual and technical records are on the boat so I had to google “rudder feedback arm”. Ete’ does not have a separate one. All feedback signaling appears to happen via the wheel apparatus and dealt with in the control head. As arms are readily available new I would guess that they are used in more current models. My Autohelm Wheel Pilot is quite old - 20 years? Shortly after I bought the boat in 2015 I looked into replacing the autopilot. I remember that the latest wheel units were rated for no heavier a boat. It’s at that point that I realized I would need to spring for and shoehorn in an under deck unit. An engine replacement and compartment refit in 2019 put that item off a couple of years. I hope this helps. Hans R S/V Ete’ 1982 C&C37 Sent from my iPhone On Oct 24, 2021, at 12:10 PM, Bill Coleman via CnC-List <[email protected]> wrote: Hans, does your 4000 unit have the rudder feedback arm? Bill On Sun, Oct 24, 2021, 1:52 PM Hans Reinhardt via CnC-List <[email protected]> wrote: 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 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 -- Sent from Gmail Mobile
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
