Ev 100 wheel pilot, any good?

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steve yates

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If I can't get my old autohelm 300 control unit repaired, I notice that ray marine are offering this for £1400 as a brand new unit.
Is it any good and will it handle a 32ft westerly longbow ok?
Or are there any better or cheaper options.
 
The Evolution system generally is very good, but the actual drive mechanisms are the same ones Raymarine has used for a couple of decades now. The wheel drive is not well liked, being underpowered, noisy, and prone to wear (most of the ones in service have a bit of line or bungee holding the clutch lever in place).

The same pilot control system with Raymarine’s linear drive attached to the rudder stock below decks is an excellent combination.

Pete
 
Steve.

I have the Evolution 100 tiller fitted to my Fulmar. It works far better than the old Autohelm 2000. The electronics are now under deck for better protection from moisture, the ram is far more powerful and combined give far better control under autopilot, especially in rough weather. Pete's advice of using a linear drive on the rudder stock is definitely the way to go as it remains permanently available at the push of a button.

As to the price, it is a lot of money. When I bought mine, the suggested retail price was £1500, and available discounted to £1250. After advice on this forum, I managed to find the exact same model available in Sweden and after paying their VAT and carriage to the UK, it cost me only £920. Shortly after the Southampton Show was on and the UK discounted price was down to £1100. Raymarine have a world wide guarantee, that means it does not matter which country the electronics are bought from, who or where they are fitted to a boat, and neither does it matter where they go wrong as the nearest dealer will repair it. In other words I bought in Sweden, fitted if the UK and will still be covered if it breaks down in Spain or the other side of the pond.
 
Agree that the wheel drive itself is pretty rubbishy. I have two - which says it all: one in use and a spare...…

Linear drives are a beefier stronger version of tillerpilot rams, which attach under deck to the rudder quadrant. Work very well indeed, but expensive to buy and fit.
 
steve yates said:
So what is required to have this set up without the wheel drive? I don't see any options on line for it except, wheel drive, tiller, hydraulic or for power boats?
Click to expand...

Raymarine's autopilot system comprises a number of different components, which they package up and sell in various combinations. I haven't checked but I think your "EV100" package is the EV1 sensor and "brain", the P70 control head, and the ACU-100 drive-power box. The ACU-100 is only shown as compatible with the cockpit drives; I guess this might be because it doesn't have a clutch line needed to engage and disengage a below-decks pilot. Or maybe it's just less powerful.

I think for a linear drive you need at least an ACU-200 box. The rest of the system would be the same. Presumably Raymarine also have a package name for this combination.

steve yates said:
is a linear drive just a tiller drive?
Click to expand...

It's a similar idea but it's not the same thing.

Pete
 
The problem with the under deck system is it's over twice the price and probably beyond the budget for a lot of folk.

I did a write up after using our Evo100 for 2 years. Delighted with it so far, thought I am astonished that several folk decided to fit the system to much larger and heavier yachts then attempt to sail solo across the Pacific with no other back up. One individual then had the gall to blame Raymarine.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...-100-wheel-autopilot-pack-reviews-136885.html

Hudson Marine are normally pretty good on price and very helpful when I bought mine

https://hudsonmarine.co.uk/

Sell the old stuff as individual parts, it goes for good money at this time of year.
 
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