Antares 30 auto pilot

[Rangerman]

Hi all, Just purchased a 2011 Antares 30 (30 foot) and I love it! I would like to add an auto pilot to the existing hydraulic steering anybody out there with previous experience on doing the same? What system and pump size? And is it for a DIYer
Thanks

 

[Rappey]

Is it a powered hydraulic steering system or just mechanical with no motors ?
The size of your hydraulic steering ram as in the volume of fluid it holds dictates what size pump you need for an auto pilot.
If its a system where the helm unit is the pump you just tee into the existing hydraulic steering lines for the autopilot pump.
I used seastar as they were great at doing all the calculations when i initially converted to hydraulic steering.
I then added raymarine autopilot some years later . The raymarine and seastar already have non return valves built in. If the non return valves were not used then the autopilot would turn the wheel and not the rudder.

 

[Rangerman]

Cheers Rappey

 

[Rappey]

Doesn't seem to be too much choice with brand of autopilot so maybe ray marine?
If so i would ring them , tell them the boat and would assume they could tell you exactly what parts you need.

 

[yachtbits]

Hi all, Just purchased a 2011 Antares 30 (30 foot) and I love it! I would like to add an auto pilot to the existing hydraulic steering anybody out there with previous experience on doing the same? What system and pump size? And is it for a DIYer
Thanks

If you've got the part number off your steering ram, I can tell you what size pump you need.

 

[bluejasper2]

Hi all, Just purchased a 2011 Antares 30 (30 foot) and I love it! I would like to add an auto pilot to the existing hydraulic steering anybody out there with previous experience on doing the same? What system and pump size? And is it for a DIYer
Thanks

hi rangerman i fitted the raymarine auto pilot to our antares 9 last year acu 150 with 0.5 litre pump fitted pump under bottom step teed into lower hem and ran hoses back to steering ram. control box fitted in holding tank cupboard. i fitted it myself over 3 week ends, easy diy job, you just have to work out lengths of hydraulic hoses and the route through boat.