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Rogue Brit · 07-08-2019, 20:18

What is the name of what I call the rubber boot that surrounds the arm of a Raymarine autopilot to keep the water out of the boat. On my Hunter Marine 466 sailboat it is perished and needs replacement. One would think that it's either sold by Raymarine or sold by Lewmar as part of the Cobra steering system but No! Neither firm knows what I'm talking about.

Perhaps someone knows what it's really called, and who sells it?

gamayun · 07-08-2019, 22:10

Are you talking about a Raymarine drive unit? It doesn't contact the water. Actually, no part of an autopilot that I'm aware of has to keep water out. Can you give some more detail?

Rogue Brit · 07-08-2019, 22:25

On a Hunter Marine 466 sailboat, the Raymarine autopilot drive unit itself is bolted into the rear lazarette above the gas tank. The Lewmar Cobra steering system is located in the rear cockpit, exposed to the weather, and occasional wave splash. What I call the rubber boot seals the gap around the autopilot shaft that connects the two and is intended to stop water flowing into the rear lazarette. The whole thing is hidden under the floor, but one still needs to stop the water flow.

On our boat, the rubber boot has perished. What is it's correct name, and who makes them?

Rogue Brit · 07-08-2019, 22:27

[QUOTE=Rogue Brit;2949089]
On a Hunter Marine 466 sailboat, the Raymarine autopilot drive unit itself is bolted into the rear lazarette above the gas tank. The Lewmar Cobra steering system is located in the rear cockpit, exposed to the weather, and occasional wave splash. What I call the rubber boot seals the gap around the autopilot shaft that connects the two and is intended to stop water flowing into the rear lazarette. The whole thing is hidden under the floor, but one still needs to stop the water flow.

On our boat, the rubber boot has perished. What is it's correct name, and who makes them?

rbk · 07-08-2019, 22:43

Might be aftermarket. Does it look like anything in this link?
https://www.amazon.ca/Seaview-Stainl...29995927&psc=1

Some just use a sheet of rubber and zip ties and a base ring if not regularly being submerged or in a pinch.

Rogue Brit · 07-08-2019, 23:16

The rubber boot looks a bit like a giant version of the thing that goes around the gearshift on a car, but it's covering a six inch square hole in the fiberglass on one side and a 1-1/4" rod on the other. It has eight screws holding it in place.

NYSail · 08-08-2019, 01:52

Pictures may help....

IslandHopper · 08-08-2019, 01:54

Am guessing you are talking about something similar to the below....

Might help everyone if you can post up a picture, they do tell a thousand words

meridian28 · 08-08-2019, 04:46

You are looking fo a rubber bellows. A web search will turn up many suppliers

Rogue Brit · 08-08-2019, 06:34

Well done Meridien28. I see that there are oodles of rubber bellows on eBay, but none quite like mine. Still hunting. I attached a photo, but did not see where it went.

Rogue Brit · 08-08-2019, 06:39

Yes IslandHopper, your photo is more or less exactly what I'm looking for except that mine takes eight screws. I enclose a photo of mine in my response to Meridien28. Would you please provide the name of the manufacturer of the one you photographed?

Thanks … Trev

Rogue Brit · 09-08-2019, 19:55

Ok, it appears that the correct name is a rubber bellows - my bad, didn't know. Also, it's clear that there are many rubber bellows manufacturers. But what our sailboat needs is one with a 5"x7" rectangle at one end and a 1-1/4" circle at the other end. Doesn't look like anybody makes these. Another thing is that one could make it expand and contract from 6" to 12" if attached to the autopilot drive rod, or just have one that's about 6" long with the drive rod just sliding through.

Can't find where such a custom rubber bellows might be made. Does anyone know who might make one?

IslandHopper · 09-08-2019, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Brit

Yes IslandHopper, your photo is more or less exactly what I'm looking for except that mine takes eight screws. I enclose a photo of mine in my response to Meridien28. Would you please provide the name of the manufacturer of the one you photographed?

Thanks … Trev

They are just random gear shifter bellows off the internet, most aftermarket auto suppliers carry them....

Have you been in touch with the manufacturer of your boat? I would be asking them what they use/used........

https://www.marlow-hunter.com/