RIN
Well-Known Member
Anyone had an after market fitting of a Raymarine Autohelm? What should I budget for? Dual helm stations 34ft boat
Many thanks
Many thanks
Fitting an Autohelm
- Thread starter RIN
- Start date
lpdsn
Well-Known Member
How do you intend to fit it?
I went for having the arm connected to the quadrant. It cost me nearly €900 for a new custom Duralium quadrant from Jefa. Excellent quality though.
You should be able to find the price of the Raymarine autopilot online. Nearly £2,200 for the full set. http://www.mesltd.co.uk/raymarine-e...ead-acu200-type-mechanical-drive-p-14316.html
I'm thinking of one day adding a controller at the chart table. About £400 for an additional Raymarine p70.
RIN
Well-Known Member
Hang on, isn't that for those boats with handkerchiefs and bits of sting everywhere? I need something that will work at 20 knots
Bertramdriver
Well-Known Member
I reckon a reasonably intelligent chimpanzee could fit a Raymarine Smart Pilot in a day. It's not rocket science unless you're colour blind. Any chandler will tell you what kit you need to build the system, then just follow the instructions.
lpdsn
Well-Known Member
Hang on, isn't that for those boats with handkerchiefs and bits of sting everywhere? I need something that will work at 20 knots
It included that option on the set up menu, but you can get a different display with a knob.
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
I will show this comment to my friend Rob.
He recently had a P 70 system fitted to his sealine by a dealer, well it still does not work properly.
They have returned endless times now, I have even been on sea trial with him and a Raymarine dealers engineer , it simply does not work anything like my old st6001 system. He also had a new speed log and depth sounder all integrated to his C 120 plotter, he is now at a point of asking for his money back.
The backup is rubbish from Raymarine, the speed log just stops working, now what can go wrong with a paddle wheel, it's not jammed up, its a software issue I'd say, the boat won't steer a course unless its flat calm.
He. Has lost count how many times they have altered software and he fed up wasting fuel on sea trial.
I don't want to rubbish the dealer on here because it may not be the fault and the issue is on going.
If your thinking of fitting your own system be very careful how you do it, don't get involved in something you don't understand.
Bertramdriver
Well-Known Member
The problems arise from integrating all of the systems through the central processor/ display system. If one part of the system fails eg depth sensor, it screws up the whole system, and because the systems are so interdependent it's virtually impossible to trace the problem quickly. I've been there. Now I have split the systems into stand alone functions, each one with its own power display and visual display.
If that route is taken, and yes you lose some of the whizzy capabilities, it is simple to install a reliable system.
If that route is taken, and yes you lose some of the whizzy capabilities, it is simple to install a reliable system.
omega2
Well-Known Member
go to ebay, look for robertson. Bomb proof.
Nigelpickin
Well-Known Member
Genuinely interested, why would you need an auto helm on a boat like that? Are you planning long passages or boating solo?
RIN
Well-Known Member
I had the good fortune to help take a friend's 55ft princess across the Channel and back. He used autohelm which made the journey much easier allowing for a better look out. That in combination with using an EBL on the radar made judging crossing the traffic lanes a doddle, If the tanker was on the EBL, just press the 10 degree button on the autohelm to pass behind. We must have made a dozen passages across the channel in our old (smaller) boat and if its a grey day with an indistinct horizon and no reference points, trying to steer from a compass heading or even a rolling road is really, really hard work.
Bertramdriver
Well-Known Member
Nobody needs an autohelm if they're just pootling about for a couple of hours, but for a five hour passage or longer the electronics give you a chance to move around and keep the blood circulating and stay alert. The downside is that pootling along at 8 knots on a flat sea, sun on face and all the guages steady, sleep creeps up remarkably quickly if you don't keep active. SWMBO helps by keeping me stressed.
My flappy friends without autohelm systems tell me cramps and muscle fatigue is a constant problem on long runs.
My flappy friends without autohelm systems tell me cramps and muscle fatigue is a constant problem on long runs.
Nigelpickin
Well-Known Member
Put in 1800 nm this year without one so I guess its horses for courses...
I guess that I always boat with my wife so have not got the need...perhaps should have the cost of retro fitting added to the pre nup?
Will be having one fitted to my next boat as we intent to be travelling far slower...
