Autohelm fit to pivoting wheel.

[tyce]

I would like to fit the Raymarine EV100 autopilot to my Beneteau 343 which has the pivoting wheel assembly.
Raymarine were rather non committal as to if it would fit or impede the pivot.
Has anyone any experience of fitting an auto helm to one of these wheels.
I have thought about a linear set up but access looks like a nightmare.

 

[Tranona]

Better to pursue the under deck type. There are several ways of installing the drive, and I would be very surprised if Beneteau have not worked out a way of doing it. There are hundreds of these boats in use and I can't believe nobody has fitted an autopilot.

The wheel pilot will struggle with the boat, even if you can overcome the problem of mounting it. I guess the problem is that the wheel is no longer in line with motor if you use the pivoting facility and the motor cannot pivot with the wheel as it is clamped firmly to the pedestal.

 

[prv]

Better to pursue the under deck type.

+1

Having had both, the only good reason for a wheelpilot is that it's cheaper than a proper drive. If cost isn't your overriding consideration then go for a below-decks drive. You don't necessarily need to use the Raymarine linear unit, they are just motors and the Raymarine motor-control box will power a Jefa or Octopus motor just as well if those happen to fit better in your installation.

Pete

 

[pvb]

I guess the problem is that the wheel is no longer in line with motor if you use the pivoting facility and the motor cannot pivot with the wheel as it is clamped firmly to the pedestal.

A quick Google at pics of 343s shows lots with wheelpilots fitted, so it's obviously feasible. However, I'd agree that a below-decks pilot is infinitely preferable for lots of reasons.

View attachment 72228

 

[Tranona]

A quick Google at pics of 343s shows lots with wheelpilots fitted, so it's obviously feasible. However, I'd agree that a below-decks pilot is infinitely preferable for lots of reasons.

View attachment 72228

looks like the whole pedestal pivots at the bottom. I imagined from the photos I looked at without the pilot that the pivoting part waa the ring below the compass.

Should be straightforward to fit with the Raymarine Pedestal bracket - if not the best bit of kit available.

 

[prv]

looks like the whole pedestal pivots at the bottom. I imagined from the photos I looked at without the pilot that the pivoting part waa the ring below the compass.

The picture's not very clear, but I think it pivots at a point just below the grey-handled knob just above where the black wire joins the motor. I believe the grey knob is pulled out to release the rotating part.

This owner seems to have had a ring made up (either it's laminated wood, or stainless reflecting the surrounding teak; again hard to tell) which swivels around the fixed part of the pedestal, hooks around the grey-knob latch to hold it in place, and has the wheelpilot locating pin mounted to it (visible just above the motor).

Doable, but not as simple as just screwing the locating pin to the body of the pedestal as normal on a non-rotating one.

Pete

 

[wizard]

Having had both, trust me and go for the underdeck. It is by far the most efficient and reliable there is.

 

[tyce]

Well thank you for helping everyone, much appreciated.
Maybe I should look again at a linear set up, are the wheel mounted ones really that bad especially the new Raymarine kit.

 

[Tranona]

There is nothing wrong with the electronics. The weakness has always been the power of the motor and the puny gear train. I had one on a Bavaria 37 which behaved fine when it was on charter in the Ionian when it was mostly used for motoring but the one time I used it in heavy weather it could not steer properly and afterwards the gears were noisy. So I bought a new one for a long trip across the Med and the gearbox broke as soon as we tried to use in any sea. So bought another complete new unit in Sardinia with supposedly a better drive and electronics. This one lasted until Majorca when the drive broke again. Eventually Raymarine did replace the whole drive but it was still not great and I actually ended up with the old one rebuilt and a new spare. Then sold the boat. So maybe OK for light use but not for serious offshore sailing.

Now have a Garmin with a Jefa drive which so far works perfectly.

So, in my view well worth paying the extra and getting below decks and as I said earlier can't believe nobody has worked out how to fit it on such a popular boat.

 

[ithet]

Has anyone any experience of fitting an auto helm to one of these wheels.
I have thought about a linear set up but access looks like a nightmare.

I have an ST4000 wheel system set up on my Beneteau 331 (was fitted by previous owner) which has the Goiot pivoting wheel unit, like the ones in the pictures already posted. The wheel unit is fixed on to the upper part of the pedestal, with the bracket mounted over the label that tells you how to use the wheel lock. It fits fine. I believe the latest drive units are identical.

I contacted Beneteau (via Ancasta parts) about fitting a below deck linear drive, and they kindly sent me a diagram. The details were for an old B&G unit, but it also appeared to show a Raymarine linear drive. Included on the drawing was a part number reference for a tiller clamp for the drive. This might be a project when the ST4000 fails, but it would be a very tight on my 331, maybe the 343 has a little more room?

 

[mbroom]

Well thank you for helping everyone, much appreciated.
Maybe I should look again at a linear set up, are the wheel mounted ones really that bad especially the new Raymarine kit.

I have both. All new Raymarine kit. The wheel pilot was installed as a backup, but compared with the linear drive, it really is awful....

 

[tyce]

Again thanks to everyone its all really helpful.
I think a few 343's did have the Linear drive fitted but most were fitted by Beneteau during production. It is possible to get access but it looks bordering on the impossible and compounded by mine being a twin rudder (lift keel) set up. Has anyone put a linear drive on twin rudders, is there any difference.