[C320-list] Install Raymarine Autopilot and Garmin GPS

[Warren Updike]

Joe, location of the fluxgate compass has been a recurring topic.  Best advice seems to be to mount as low as possible and on the centerline.  Mine is on the fwd bulkhead in aft cabin.  I think this is not a good idea for several reasons.  Wiring from a bilge area is a pain, and on our boat, at lease, occasionally wet.  If I were to relocate it, I might put it low as possible on the aft side of the bulkhead in the aft cabin.  Wiring from there is a piece of cake.

We have a full set of ST-50 instruments in a nav pod over the mag compass on the binnacle.  All the instruments are powered from the same breaker labeled "Nav Data."  There is a separate fuse block for the instruments as some require different fuses.  Even though the ST-50 Navdata and GPS work, programming is a pain.  I installed my Garmin 48 on the nav pod and use it as my primary GPS.  I find that the electronics are much faster than the ST-50 GPS, programming is easier, the graphics are a help, etc.  I have not wired it into the SeaTalk bus as I've not felt the need to do so.  

I powered the Garmin 48 via a 12V receptacle installed in the nav pod wired from the 12V pos lead on the autopilot control head.  This is probably not a good idea; but, the Garmin draws so little it is not a problem in practice.  However, this 12v receptacle should never be used for normal 12V loads.  I'm considering installing a second receptacle on the lower engine pod for other uses.  I recommend you either, 1) install the receptacle in the engine pod; or, 2) run a #16 wire from the engine pod into the nav pod for the Garmin.  

As a part of my alternator upgrade, I traced and documented each of the leads in the engine harness.  I found one that wasn't used.  This was a wire from the harness by the engine into the harness in the engine pod.  You may also find an unused wire in the engine harness and connect it to a 12V source for your autopilot.  I used this to connect the alarm lead from the regulator to the "Charge" LED in the engine pod that was clipped and unused, apparently, by the factory.  I never realized that the "Charge" LED was non-functional.  It works now.

Be sure to fuse everything per the mfgr's instructions, make a list of the location and size of each fuse, and stock spares on-board.  A fuse inventory is on my list for this Spring.

Warren & Pattie Updike
C320, #62, 1994, "Warr De Mar"
Frog Mortar Creek, Middle River
Chesapeake Bay

Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 09:40:13 -0500
From: "Joe Abbagnaro" <jabbagna at gmail.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Install Raymarine Autopilot and Garmin GPS
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Message-ID:
<b28ed6810801090640s168144fdi10cfdbfd65d76595 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello
Need some help we just purchased a 99 320. The boat is spending the winter

on the hard in NJ and I am in CT. I just bought a Raymarine S1 Auto Pilot
for the

boat., currently there is no Autopilot installed I also bought a Garmin GPS
4208 .

I would like to install this equipment myself.



Since I am not local to the boat can anyone tell me if there is extra room
for breakers in

The factory fuse panel. I am assuming the S1 will have to run off a
dedicated circuit.

I was going to get power for the GPS from one of the existing feeds in the
helm.
Any suggestions on where to install  the compass for the Autopilot,
I have seen many  mounted on the ceiling  of the aft cabin.



Can anyone provide me with this information., I have looked on the site, but
did

not see a project for someone installing an Autopilot.



Thank You

Joe