I think the drive unit will work with the EV100. Raymarine technical help number is 800-539-5539
Billl M.
When I purchased my N30U 3rd hand it was fitted with an Autohelm 4000 wheel pilot (external toothed belt to a drive motor mounted on the pedestal. It was very noisy, ate belts due to clutch lever slipping and increasingly gave poor course holding. To my horror, when hoisting sail single handed under autopilot control, I discovered on operating the Lewmar electric halyard winch the boat veered violently off course by about 30 degrees! I saved my pennies and purchased, utilising Raymarineâs excellent technical advice, a package of the Raymarine ACU-200, Evolution EV-1 sensor core, Type 1 Linear drive short stroke and P70S Instrument head.
As I have an Edson wire to quadrant steering system, factory installed, I purchased their blank autopilot tiller arm which I got machined locally to suit the diameter of my rudder shaft and its keyway. There was space on the rudder shaft above the aluminium steering quadrant for this. The EV-1 sensor is fitted under deck on the transom to extreme starboard, the ACU-200 similarly on the transom to port with the linear drive under it on a heavily glassed in mount level with the engine space shelf. This mount was glassed to both transom and hull and at a height to permit the linear drive to act horizontally to the Edson stub tiller. For the first year I operated the autopilot from the instrument head mounted on the port cockpit side within reach of the helm. I used the original opening for the ST 4000 control head. Later the ancient RV plotter that came with the boat suffered terminal failure and I now have fitted a Raymarine Axiom 7 in a mount on my wheel pedestal.
I can report to date three years faultless operation on all points of sailing up to force 6/7 on the Atlantic West Coast of Scotland with silent operation when in the cockpit, utter bliss! All the important electronics are under deck and dry. To hoist sail when single handing I turn into the wind, select/enable âsteer to windâ on the Axiom plotter and leisurely hoist sail, adjusting the control lines as required, all in complete control.
Installation was straightforward, though calibration of the EV-1 tied me in knots. My local Raymarine stockist lent me a replacement sensor head to try and this resolved the issue instantly. The stockist handled the return of the faulty sensor to Raymarine, excellent service especially as I hadnât purchased the items from them.
The old Autohelm 4000 I placed on Ebay marked clearly âfor partsâ and there was frenzied bidding war to purchase. Apparently the cockpit control pad is quite unique and rare to come by as it houses the control processor taking headings from a separate fluxgate compass sensor. I now realise that it was this sensor that had been mounted too close to the winch control box by a previous owner.
I will attempt to attach at least one grey scale photograph of the installation, (there are more available) as I am experiencing difficulties posting from my Android device, possibly due to image size limitations.
Peter Richardson
Non Pareil, N30U, #449
Craignish, Scotland, UK
Hi Peter,
That looks like a great setup. Did you DIY or was it installed professionally?
What was the bottom line figure if you donât mind sharing that info?
Good Sailing,
Brian Cayer
Spirit~Wind
N30U 419
Westbrook, Ct.
Hi Brian,
The install was entirely DIY by myself. It wasnât that difficult once I had checked for all necessary clearances around the drive arm and Edson stub tiller. A plywood mock up helped, but the major problem was the lack of space to work in around the rudder shaft and quadrant. The machining of the Edson tiller was extremely well done in a local machine shop run by a current Chief Engineer when not at sea, the cost being 120 pounds UK Sterling. My rudder shaft has an unused portion of keyway approximately 60mm long above the quadrant that easily accommodated the Edson stub tiller (obtained in the US. I then worked back from this position to arrive at the level for the linear drive support pad which was secured in position with heavy epoxy fillets as seen on the photograph. I secured the purchase of the Raymarine parts after a prolonged internet search of UK marine electronic outlets for 2083 pounds UK Sterling. All prices are 2021. Hope the information is of help.
Peter Richardson
Non Pareil, N30U, #449
Craignish, Scotland, UK
Peter,
Yes that is very helpful to me. Iâm kind of a DIY guy and I may attempt doing the same as I upgrade my sometimes useful electronics going forward.
Thanks,
Brian Cayer
Spirit~Wind
N30U 419
Westbrook, Ct
USA