Can you recommend an auto pilot

[2xcrash]

I’m a novice sailer with a 30’ Catalina wheel stearing and would like to have an auto pilot for when I’m solo sailing. I’m not crossing the pacific the most I’ll be doing is 5 hour trips from Redondo to Catalina

What can you recommend as of now I have no other electronics but am wired for wind vain and knot meter the old unit is toast.

Thanks in advance!

[laika]

I'm not sure if they have a wheel solution but you might reach out to Brian at pelagic autopilots. A great product and based in CA .. pelagicautopilot.com

[Pizzazz]

It depends how much you want to spend. The typical configuration will be a Raymarine EV-100 pilot ($1,500). You will also want to get a chartplotter with this ($800), a wind sensor ($500) and build a NMEA2000 network to connect all of this ($200). It is a lot of money but this is the standard.

The alternative is to get a used Raymarine ST4000+ autopilot on eBay ($500), a Garmin chartplotter ($300) and a nmea0183 wind sensor ($200). Both systems will perform similarly in your application but the first one is more future proof and new devices will be easier to add but the initial outlay is 3x.

I think that nmea2000 devices and connectors are a big ripoff but I know that one day I will migrate as well.

[seandepagnier]

I am building autopilots. See pypilot - open source marine autopilot

Today I rigged up a windshield wiper motor I got from a salvage yard to a 1" pvc pipe. The pipe has 5 turns of rope around it, one end goes direct to the tiller, the other end to a block opposite side of the cockpit, then to the tiller.

The current draw is < 1 amp and takes 3.5 seconds hard over which is much more efficient than a tillerpilot such as simrad.

For a wheel drive, you would simply use a belt or bicycle chain (look for stainless) with a 6:1 ratio from wiper motor to wheel.

[Time2Go]

CPT Autopilot
Cheers
Neil

[Gary Mc]

Hi Crash, if you can find a good used one a Raymarine 4000 would fill your needs, however I would be nervous buying used. New as has been stated is around $1500.
For simple sailing in your area and over to the Channel Islands, that and a compass or hand held GPS would be a good start. A chart-plotter is nice but not absolutely necessary.

Good luck.

[Uncle Bob]

Hi, Simrad equipment is well built and can be expanded on as cash or want arises.
Cheers

[kish]

If your budget can stretch to a high end bulletproof autopilot, consider a unit by NKE, a French company, whose units are used on French single handed racing boats,

This includes the Vendée Globe and Figaro Class events.

https://www.nke-marine-electronics.com/autopilot/

[guyrj33]

I recently installed a Raymarine EV100 WheelPilot on our 33' sloop.
Works great, does not require chart plotter or wind direction.
shop around for best price.

[Brewgyver]

I installed a Raymarine 4000+ based system on a Cat30 last year, with most of the parts via eBay. Once in a while you can find a complete system used, but most of the time you’ll be buying individual pieces, as I did. The control head $3-400, the wheel drive a like number, but very few under $400, the Flux Compass $75-100. You’ll also need to either get an original cable for the drive, or buy the drive end connector and make your own, as I had to. The nice thing about the 4000 and 4000+ is that they drive directly from the head unit, no separate course computer.
Total parts came to about $800. As stated above, a plotter (MFD) is not a must, but makes a world of difference. Without one, you’ll just be giving the AP a heading. When connected to a plotter, the AP will get waypoints and cross track error, (CTE), be able to follow a series of plotted waypoints, and the AP display will cycle through headin, CTE and distance to waypoint.
If I had to do it over again, I’d be sorely tempted to go with the RM EV-100, as the new multi-axis sensor and course computer is MUCH better at correcting for sea state, etc.

[jhulmer]

I have had three different Raymarine autopilots over the years and a couple years ago I helped a friend install a Raymarine Evolution autopilot on his steel boat just before we made a cruise up to Maine.

Any autopilot will work well in calm conditions but it's when the wind and waves pipe up that you get the true test. On this steel boat we would have to switch to hand steering anytime the wind past 15kts or the waves over 4ft because the autopilot would start "S" turning trying to fight the conditions.

larger autopilots use a gyro system to compensate for the rock and roll of heavy seas which works great but is expensive.

The Evolution as I understand it uses an electronic sensor system that mimics the gyro system.

Bottom line, once we got the initial setup done we haven't had to touch the setup and the thing steers very nicely. We made a crossing over to Nova Scotia that year and had a bit of weather and never had to relieve "RayLene". SO I bought one for my boat.

That's my longwinded recommendation

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Hi, Simrad equipment is well built and can be expanded on as cash or want arises.
Cheers

Here you go, just came up on EBay.
Simple worked good for me when I needed it, owners manual is available
Online.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Simrad-WP-W....c100012.m1985
Cheers,
SV Cloud Duster

[Boatyarddog]

Ebay, offering
WP-30 with hand remote, you can steer from the bow, Cockpit, where ever.
My last post, the link wasn't working.
Hope this ones better.
Cheershttps://www.ebay.com/itm/Simrad-WP-Wheelpilot-Autopilot-for-sailboats-with-HR20-remote-and-wiring/232673794805?_trkparms=aid%3D777003%26algo%3DDISCL .MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D47301%26meid%3Dae8ca5f9769c4 1778cf61ddf9ec81a08%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D5%26rkt% 3D12%26sd%3D231294269970%26itm%3D232673794805&_trk sid=p2047675.c100012.m1985
SV Cloud Duster
If not just google eBay simrad Wheelpilot.
Good luck on your bid.

[Mainebristol]

I have the predecessor to the Raymarine EV100 on my B32, and I consider it my most important user of electrons. Funny thing is, I also have a chartplotter, an old Garmin, and I never bothered to try and get them to talk to each other.

I thought that a gizmo that could hold a heading and would even tack the boat was pretty good stuff. I don't ask any more of it. It has to be at least ten years old, and one of these days it's going to die. When that happens, I will break open the penny jar and get that EV100. I still won't bother to hook it to the chartplotter, though.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Mainebristol

I have the predecessor to the Raymarine EV100 on my B32, and I consider it my most important user of electrons. Funny thing is, I also have a chartplotter, an old Garmin, and I never bothered to try and get them to talk to each other.

I thought that a gizmo that could hold a heading and would even tack the boat was pretty good stuff. I don't ask any more of it. It has to be at least ten years old, and one of these days it's going to die. When that happens, I will break open the penny jar and get that EV100. I still won't bother to hook it to the chartplotter, though.

This ^^^^^^

If you can afford the latest Raymarine wheel pilot then don't hesitate as its a generation ahead of the previous version and a very nice piece of kit. I also use mine in a stand alone mode.