I just installed a
Raymarine EV-100
autopilot system. That's and EV-1 heading
sensor, ACU-100 computer module with
wheel drive, and a P-70 control
head.
Likes:
Installation was easy and straight forward. The Sea-talk backbone was simple to install, and the add on capabilities are great. I plan on installing a
GPS node and a 7-9" chart plotter in the near future. I know I don't need the
GPS node if I have it in the Chart plotter, but redundancy is a good thing. Also no more
cables and pulleys cluttering up the
cockpit. Once I set it for "Performance" it stayed on course in the tight confines of the
ICW. "Cruise" will
work in the ocean, but it is too sloppy for the
ICW.
Dislikes: Not the systems fault but I need to find a way to angle the P-70 up a little because it is down low and hard to see. I need to find a place wide enough and long enough to do the
compass calibration and
autopilot self set-up. Need to do a 2 minute circle and the autopilot will do turns and needs about 150 yards uninterrupted on either side. I'm on the intercoastal in
Florida and have a 5.5'
draft.
I like it though and right now it is working as well or better than the 15 year old ST-3000 it replaced. (That system crashed on my last voyage).