Raymarine - I Simply Don't Understand Them???

Bru said:
Doesn't need a lot of room to get a double sprocket in (the binnacle on our Westerly 33 has a double sprocket and two chains for example), its finding space to mount the motor below that may be the problem but looking at the drawings I've found on google it looks feasible

Yeah, well I'm risking the wheelpilot to replace the ancient Cetrex 'cos there's a massive cost difference I can't afford :(
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Wheel pilot should be OK for your boat Bru. I have a Simrad on my Discus and it manages nicely.
 
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prv said:
Thanks for trying :)

But we know what a chain sprocket and a rudder quadrant look like generically, what matters is the surroundings and the space available to install the kit. Obviously with the boat in France, if you don't have any suitable pictures then you don't have them.

Is the quadrant in the locker under that aft bench? If so, does it (and the wires) take up lots of the space, so that adding a linear drive in the same area won't appreciably limit your storage? Or, since it seems a little odd to me to have locker lids into the steering space, is the quadrant actually under the cockpit sole?

Pete
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Hi Pete
Yes, the rudder quadrant is indeed under the false floor in that split rear locker. There is VERY little space. As the rudder stock is at such a steep angle, the edge of the quadrant is almost touching the underside of the floor boards. In theory, I guess there's nothing to stop me raising the floor panels. It would only mean loosing a little storage space, and rearranging the placement of a large manual bilge pump.

Just a thought..... Is it possible to make use of the old Navico drive motor in its current location? It's VERY powerful, just rather slow. It's the only remaining working part of the system, and looks to be bullet proof.
 
I have been going through the same thought processes for a Barbary ketch so similar size to an Evasion 32.

The various versions of the raymarine wheel drive HAVE worked driving a bulkhead mounted wheel for 20 years!

We have got through several and as a dealer pointed out, they are designed for leisure use, ie weekend sailors and not man enough for ocean trips!

It depends what you want: under engine it can steer better than me because it doesn`t get bored but I get bored with it chuntering away all the time even with the response rate turned right down. I can steer better than it under sail, to an extent I enjoy steering under sail when the boat is going well.

I to have thought of a below decks AP, yes it will be 3K+ whereas the wheel pilot can be got for half that. I have been thinking hard about the rotary drive as the system is rod steering with a sprocket already there for an original Pinta AP, long defunct. I have worked out how to mount, the sprocket ratios needed but just need to source compatible chain: anyone know from the photo of the raymarine rotary drive what the pitch/size of chain used is? Raymarine talk about 3/8 pitch but a sample of that doesn`t sit nicely on the sprocket.
 
prv said:
Presumably this is much the same as the Raymarine rotary drive?

Pete
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No. Nothing like it. The Lewmar drive is a 1/4 or 1/2 hp motor hanging on a bracket under the pedestal with a chain drive to a second sprocket on the pedestal chain system. So maintains the cable to the quadrant. Does not have the advantage of giving an independent drive direct to the quadrant but useful where there is no space to mount a direct to quadrant or stock drive. Been around for many, many years - in deed was involved recently in trying to find a replacement for one in a 1960s Nicholson. Unfortunately the spare one I had was not powerful enough.
 
Tranona said:
No. Nothing like it. The Lewmar drive is a 1/4 or 1/2 hp motor hanging on a bracket under the pedestal with a chain drive to a second sprocket on the pedestal chain system.
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??

Did you look at the picture in the link? Ok, that particular installation was a direct-drive rack (more commonly found in American boats) rather than a chain-operated pedestal, but the autopilot part of the system would be the same.

Here's the same drive in a compartment below a pedestal:

autopilot_drive_02.jpg


Pete
 
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do you happen to know the spec of the chain, I gather measured in fractions of an inch pitch?
prv said:
??

Did you look at the picture in the link? Ok, that particular installation was a direct-drive rack (more commonly found in American boats) rather than a chain-operated pedestal, but the autopilot part of the system would be the same.

Here's the same drive in a compartment below a pedestal:

autopilot_drive_02.jpg


Pete
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I don't think any manufacturer will give the extent of support you want. You are asking them for detailed advice on a "notoriously difficult " installation. Given that you are not an expert they are likely to find themselves in a massive and expensive email conversation. They have a dealer network for that sort of thing.
Having said that I have called them twice for support on my C80/ais and had a sensible answer from a technician within minutes.
 
I went through the Raymarine dealer at Kip (BEE) when I wanted to replace my autopilot.

Seminole is a similar boat but the interior wheel is hydraulic driving a ram on a quadrant on the rudder.
The rudder stock is near vertical but that wouldn't matter as much with the hydraulic drive.
The hydraulic AP drives the same ram. I have a remote for helming from outside as the main AP control box is at the interior helm.
The hydraulics are disengaged when tiller steering.
It cost about what folk are guessing on here and the only bit reused was the hydraulic ram.
 
PaulRainbow said:
Wheel pilot should be OK for your boat Bru. I have a Simrad on my Discus and it manages nicely.
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Yeah, it'll be fine for my purposes (coastal sailing in no worse than moderate weather). If I had any plans to go crossing oceans I'd spend the extra grand or more on a rotary drive

Tranona said:
No. Nothing like it. The Lewmar drive is a 1/4 or 1/2 hp motor hanging on a bracket under the pedestal with a chain drive to a second sprocket on the pedestal chain system. So maintains the cable to the quadrant. Does not have the advantage of giving an independent drive direct to the quadrant but useful where there is no space to mount a direct to quadrant or stock drive. Been around for many, many years - in deed was involved recently in trying to find a replacement for one in a 1960s Nicholson. Unfortunately the spare one I had was not powerful enough.
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Umm, that's exactly the sort of setup a Raymarine rotary drive (or any manufacturer's rotary drive for that matter) would be used for!
 
prv said:
??

Did you look at the picture in the link? Ok, that particular installation was a direct-drive rack (more commonly found in American boats) rather than a chain-operated pedestal, but the autopilot part of the system would be the same.

Here's the same drive in a compartment below a pedestal:

autopilot_drive_02.jpg


Pete
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Still not the same, but similar principle. Lewmar has a range for their different steering systems and pedestals. The one I was referring to is the rotary sprocket drive for the Constellation pedestal. Others are for the Mamba and Integra, plus a different motor for direct drive to an arm on the rudder stock, which may be a solution to some of the problems discussed here. This type may be what I have on my new boat - have not ha the energy to crawl into the aft locker yet to investigate. Priority job when I am fit enough to get down there.

The Constellation type was commonly fitted to various Bavarias a few years ago, mainly the larger (39' +) where there was enough depth under the pedestal to fit it.
 
Bru said:
Umm, that's exactly the sort of setup a Raymarine rotary drive (or any manufacturer's rotary drive for that matter) would be used for!
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See my post above. Lewmar have a range of motors either specific to their pedestals or freestanding. The direct drive motor may be of interest to you.
 
Tranona said:
See my post above. Lewmar have a range of motors either specific to their pedestals or freestanding. The direct drive motor may be of interest to you.
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Substantially more expensive than the Raymarine rotary drive units (by several hundred quid) and as I've already decided I can't afford to go the rotary drive route at Raymarine prices ... ! :)
 
I fitted a Raymarine linear drive system to my Eclipse 33- easy to fit and works just fine with the twin wheel set up on the Eclipse.
I got the tiller arm from Aztec Marine who were a font of knowledge and support.
 
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