I have a vintage Raymarine wheel mounted Autohelm, it has functioned fairly well since I purchased the boat with my few outings day sailing, Cuttyhunk and most recently to Block Island. However, on the return trip from the Block to Apponaug it was a different story, the sea state was quite a bit more ruff, 3 to 4’ seas with wind mostly right in my face so no sailing, motored all the way. The Autohelm was wondering 30° back and forth in a totally unacceptable manner forcing me to take the wheel to calm things down. Although this is a fix, it’s not good to be on the wheel for an entire 6+ hours, takes the pleasure out of the experience. As most of my sailing will be solo, I need something reliable and safe, any suggestions?
My electronics guy is recommending a newer wheel mounted Autohelm by B&G, same brand as my Chartplotter. He says it uses 12 data points to decide how to keep the boat on course while the old unit only has one.
Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
Dan Dudley, Flashcat 30
'88 NSU30 984129
Apponaug Marina
Warwick, RI
I have the same problem with an old autohelm. Round up with a gust of wind is not corrected because the autohelm cannot react enough and in time, so if there is an upgraded autohelm that reacts in a meaningful way, I would like to have advice.
Cheers,
Roger A Laine
87 30U SD #787
Prieto Marina,
Mandeville, Louisiana
My electronics guy did offer one other option, a direct rudder connection underneath the deck, at a significantly more price, like $7,500 as apposed to about 3k. Big difference!
I will most likely be getting the newer B&G Autohelm per my electronics guy’s recommendation. I’ll forward the particulars when he sends me his quote.
Thanks for your response and thoughts on this.
Another possibility if you are looking for more power and simplicity, i.e. not tying into a network is a CPT unit. I had one on my Bristol 45.5 (40,000 lbs displacement) as a backup for a Monitor vane as a backup to a Monitor vane. I view it in terms of capability and price as between the regular wheelpilots and below deck units. It has quite a strong motor and seems to react quickly.
Bruce Clark
Nonsuch 30, ’Nonsuch’
Whitby YC
Whitby, ON
Great, thanks! One of the things I need it to do is integrate with my B&G Zeus 3s. The B&G Autohelm obviously will, it will also allow my B&G Chartplotter to overlay my radar image.
I just had to replace my steering wheel auto helm and replaced it with and replaced it with a Raymarine EV100, the least expensive option. The thing works so much better than the old autohelm but it’s 3 components plus the motor instead of one. It held course just fine in 2-3’ waves more or less just forward of the beam with a lot less movement of the steering wheel than the old auto helm would have done in the same conditions. I don’t know if it was the conditions or the fact that one of the new components has a yaw and pitch sensor built in..
Sounds great Bill, that is exactly the kind of information I was hoping for. I will probably go with B&G though to keep everything the same brand, just in case.
Dan
Make sure there was not anything magnetic near the electronics. Like a speaker or magnetic phone charger. Such items can throw off the flux gate compass.
Thanks, but nothing new or from the previous owner like what you’ve described mounted near the old Raymarine autohelm. As previously stated, it seems to work fairly well in the Narragansett Bay, but when out in the RI Sound with 2 to 3’ waves and wind, especially if it in coming from the front of the boat it wonders back and forth about 30°, it never calms down.
If you are talking about an Autohelm 3000, there is a “dead band” adjustment to prevent that. Also, you may be expecting too much from that unit. My 35 year old 3000 unit is just fine.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
On Third Base, the Autohelm 3000 does not work anymore and I do no know if another is available on earth
Anyone knows ?
Jean Morissette
Third Base NS30C. #224
Montréal
I’m not sure what exact model I have, will do some research on Friday when I’m on the boat. At this point I can say it is a vintage Raymarine autopilot with a wheel mounted direct drive motor. There is an adjustment behind the wheel, what it does or is supposed to do I don’t know. I believe the manual is on board, will look for it and take some photos of the adjustment on the wheel and share them here along with the model number.
Thanks!
