Placement of tiller pilot motion sensor unit

[eddystone]

I have an old Autohelm 2000, the sort with separate ram and control unit which unfortunately is no longer reliable.
The Raymarine EVO-100 tiller pilot has a motion sensor unit which is quite large (140mm across) and is supposed to be not less than 1 metre from a source of electromagnetic radiation or large lump of metal. One possible location (on Sadler 32) is inside the lazarette in a corner but that is near the ECU for the Eberspacher. I also thought of making a platform to clamp to the outside of the push pit assuming s/s tube is non magnetic. Anywhere on the coachroof is going to get walked on
The Simrad TP32 is probably adequate but by all accounts doesn’t like water. Jesame and I are going to Scotland next year so I need a unit with the qualities of a duck

 

[Daydream believer]

TP32 was much better than the AV100- that is my experience on a 30 ft boat. I cut the sleeve off an old yellow PVC single skin work coat. I cut it at an angle from the armpit to the shoulder so the extra length went over the buttons & part of the push rod. Placed that over the controls, taped the end to the base of the unit & just pushed this "cover" back to access the buttons.
The 9 rate gyro on the AV100 is just a gimic. If the boat is on a big quartering sea & the boat rounds up too fast for the pilot to stop it ( A human helm would react before it happened) the raymarine cuts out when the boat is 70 degrees off course holding the tiller there. If the crew do not notice ( may be below- sleeping, in the heads etc) the boat will then bear off & go into a crash gybe. Not the sort of thing you want in a F6. This has happened to me on a number of times & the raymarine people know about it.
That is why I installed an Aries. It goes off course, but always comes back, eventually.
I cannot recall the ST2000 or the TP 30 cutting out & I never suffered a crash drive with either. The Simrad lasted longest. I am on my 7Th autopilot repair/renewal in 20 years.

 

[ithet]

I was advised by my supplier (Hudson Marine) to fit the EVO core sensor forward of the centre of the keel. Although this is not mandated by Raymarine Hudsons said it gives better performance as it ensures the unit always turns on the same sense as the boat. I have no way of knowing if this is really necessary, but the system (EVO 200) performs really well.

 

[Daydream believer]

Under the saloon table was a position suggested by someone. I suppose it depends where the kids keep their smart phones.

 

[thinwater]

... I cut the sleeve off an old yellow PVC single skin work coat. I cut it at an angle from the armpit to the shoulder so the extra length went over the buttons & part of the push rod. Placed that over the controls, taped the end to the base of the unit & just pushed this "cover" back to access the buttons.....

Clever bodge!

You can buy covers on eBay.

 

[Tranona]

Usually fitted in the saloon as close to the centreline a possible, although one Bavaria I had it was in the lazarette on the centreline, but that was accessed through the aft cabin. On another it was under the chart table and the last 2 in a hanging locker in the aft cabin. I have also seen them mounted in an under bunk locker attached to the main bulkhead.

 

[eddystone]

I could make a little shelf for it on the fwd side of the bulkhead between heads and saloon. It would be off the centreline because of the door opening but not too far off - does that sound OK?

 

[eddystone]

And that would be over the keel but nearer to the front than the centre

 

[Martin_J]

And depends on how muxh time you have to spend routing the cable..

You could spend all weekend and then still find it's not optimal.

If it's simple to put it in the aft bunk area then I'd do that and see how it works.. If that's the side you're powering the drive unit from it would only take a minute to put the EV1 there as well..



Otherwise worth trying out of the way behind the cockpit seat the other side..

If it doesn't work you've not wasted a lot of time (but it will probably work fine).

 

[alahol2]

If I am on the boat my TP32 is in the cockpit. No cover, rain or shine. I take it apart every winter and have never seen any sign of water ingress. I consider it fully weatherproof.

 

[ithet]

I could make a little shelf for it on the fwd side of the bulkhead between heads and saloon. It would be off the centreline because of the door opening but not too far off - does that sound OK?

That would be equivalent to where it is on my boat (under forward end of saloon settee against back of fore cabin bulkhead).

But maybe try as Martin_J says first if that is easy. I did need to buy an extra 9m backbone cable for my install.

 

[BabaYaga]

It would be off the centreline because of the door opening but not too far off - does that sound OK?

I could not find a practical spot on the centre line for mine, so put it in a locker under the chart table approx. 0.7 m off.
Doesn’t seem to be a major drawback, as I think my evo tiller pilot performs really well.

 

[Pete7]

I was advised by my supplier (Hudson Marine) to fit the EVO core sensor forward of the centre of the keel. Although this is not mandated by Raymarine Hudsons said it gives better performance as it ensures the unit always turns on the same sense as the boat. I have no way of knowing if this is really necessary, but the system (EVO 200) performs really well.

We followed their advice too, middle of the boat, low down. They also strongly recommended the rudder reference unit which we fitted. Together they changes made a big difference to the way the pilot handles the yacht.

 

[Daverw]

Ours is fitted on the bulkhead behind chart table high up and off centre, never been any issue for past 4 years, couldn’t find a centre line position where it would not get knocked

 

[jane444blue]

Whatever you do don't do what I did. Remove a speaker to avoid interference , 25° + deviation beforehand. Then store said speaker in the same locker pending installation elsewhere. and wonder why bearings were so far out on some angles......

 

[Poey50]

I have an old Autohelm 2000, the sort with separate ram and control unit which unfortunately is no longer reliable.
The Raymarine EVO-100 tiller pilot has a motion sensor unit which is quite large (140mm across) and is supposed to be not less than 1 metre from a source of electromagnetic radiation or large lump of metal. One possible location (on Sadler 32) is inside the lazarette in a corner but that is near the ECU for the Eberspacher. I also thought of making a platform to clamp to the outside of the push pit assuming s/s tube is non magnetic. Anywhere on the coachroof is going to get walked on
The Simrad TP32 is probably adequate but by all accounts doesn’t like water. Jesame and I are going to Scotland next year so I need a unit with the qualities of a duck

I have ours fitted in the quarter-berth of our Sadler 32. It is attached to the portside wall up near the ceiling around halfway down the length of the quarter-berth. It has operated faultlessly there for 5 seasons.

 

[Martin_J]

I have ours fitted in the quarter-berth of our Sadler 32. It is attached to the portside wall up near the ceiling around halfway down the length of the quarter-berth. It has operated faultlessly there for 5 seasons.

That looks like about where I put the red 'blob' marker on the picture in post #9..

And being towards the ceiling should keep it slightly away from any bags that are thrown (or placed gently) at the foot of the quarter berth.

 

[Poey50]

That looks like about where I put the red 'blob' marker on the picture in post #9..

And being towards the ceiling should keep it slightly away from any bags that are thrown (or placed gently) at the foot of the quarter berth.

I missed your post but, yes, ours is in roughly the same place

 

[Martin_J]

I missed your post but, yes, ours is in roughly the same place

Sorry... I didn't mean it to sound like you'd missed my post.

I just meant to say that it was nice having confirmation that it might just work there.