Bav 38' 2008 best auto-pilot?

[solar]

Bav 38\' 2008 best auto-pilot?

Hi,
I'm looking to add an auto pilot to my boat.
I have a Raymarine RC 435i plotter on board.
Balast is 7,800 Kg +20% = aprox 9,500 Kg.
Some off shore cruising & mostly weekend family short & easy sailings with plans to move to the Med in a few years.
What will work best for me?
Where are the best places to buy? (boat in NL)
How hard it will be to installed DIY?
Any other do & don'ts?
TIA

 

[branko]

Re: Bav 38\' 2008 best auto-pilot?

Hi, I have B40 and Raymarine S1 computer, linear drive S1 and st6002 control box. Work perfect.Before I have st4001 and it was not good for that boat.

 

[Tranona]

Re: Bav 38\' 2008 best auto-pilot?

The Raymarine Smart Pilot was the one fitted when your boat was new (as an extra). In UK fitted cost on a new boat was £2600 Plus VAT.

If you go onto the Raymarine site www.raymarine.com you will find a section on selecting autopilots from which you will be able to work out which components you need.

Raymarine are desparate for sales so you will find any of the UK mail order retailers such as MES, Cactus, JG Technologies (there are many more) only too willing to provide advice and do a deal.

 

[solar]

Re: Bav 38\' 2008 best auto-pilot?

Thanks guys ,good advises so far.
Here are some more questions...
-Will I need a constellation drive to connect the A P arm to the boat's qvadrant? if yes ,which one?
-Where & how will be the best place to connect the A P arm base to the boat's body? Can any BAV owner send me some pic's about this?
-How will it work /connect with my Raymarine plotter?

 

[jackho]

Re: Bav 38\' 2008 best auto-pilot?

Can only advise on B37 (2006) if similar? Mine has Lewmar steering gear and has a "spare" sprocket on the wheel for a chain drive to the motor which has a dedicated frame below the wheel for the drive to mount. (Also a Lewmar drive).
My system dosent have a quadrant on the rudder but rather rack and pinion with a rod attachment to the rudder. Hope I've explained this ok but the point I now wish to make is that the wheel mounted steering hasen't a hope of controling 8ton of boat and requires a dedicated motor drive . The computer system can be any brand provided it can output up to 16amps to the drive motor.
hope this helps

 

[Tranona]

Re: Bav 38\' 2008 best auto-pilot?

As I suggested above you need to go to the Raymarine site and follow their selection procedure. The most common drive is a linear drive that attaches to the steering quadrant (if you have one). My earlier 37 does, but I am not sure about yours. This is the preferred choice because the AP is then independent of the wheel and cables.

The alternative is a motor in the chain section of the gear in the binnacle. Both Lewmar and Raymarine sell these motors. The advantage is ease of fitting. Disadvantage is that drive is still dependent on the cables.

You will be able to see very clearly once you get through the hatches into the stern compartment whether you have a quadrant or not. You will however need to construct a strong point for the other end of the drive as well as a secure method of attaching it to the quadrant. Unless you are very confident about doing this yourself, I suggest you leave this to a professional installer.

The connection to your other Raymarine equipment is through the Seatalk network and is just plug in.

Installing an AP is a major job and you would do well to talk through your options with Raymarine or a qualified installer.

BTW do not be tempted by the much cheaper and simpler wheel mounted S1 System. I have this system on my 37 and it is very good, but near the limit in a much smaller and lighter boat than yours.

 

[cobolt]

Re: Bav 38\' 2008 best auto-pilot?

Skippersolar,

The advice from Jackho is correct and also valid for your boat. You will find that the steering system is also rack and pinion, chain driven through the pedestal, not wire constellation steering with a quadrant.

You will already have a spare sprocket and mounting studs ready to accept a Lewmar Integra drive, which is the solution fitted at the Bavaria yard.

89300136 is the part number you would require if you do decide to go with the Lewmar solution. This is a kit of drive, specific mounting bracket and appropriate chain kit.

Fitting the motor and chain is an extremely easy job, I would have no doubts about recommendnig an end user could accomplish this themselves. However, wiring in a course computer etc. may require expert assistance.