[C320-list] Autopilot

[Warren Updike]

The answer may depend on which version of the wheel pilot you have. I
switched from the original Autohelm unit (black ring)to the newer Raymarine
(gray ring) recently and found that: the original pin was usable where it
was but I had to lengthen the hole in the ring very slightly; the unit is
slightly larger and had to be rotated about 180 degrees so that the drive
motor is on the left side of the pedestal (fortunately, the wire was just
long enough to reach.) Having done that, it is a better device than the
older black model.

I remember discussions about the dash board being an issue and able to be
lowered to accommodate the new device. I was able to get around that. It's
also possible that different mechanics at Catalina mounted the dash board
higher or lower than others thus creating the problem. 

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Davis [mailto:iand2002 at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 2:33 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Autopilot

Has anyone mounted a Raymarine (was Autohelm) wheel autopilot onto an early
320 (mine is #18).  My experience of doing this comes from my old 32’
Jeanneau 15 years ago which I no longer have.  But I now want to add one to
my C320  

 

One part requiring mounting is a circular drive unit that must be attached
to 3 of the steering wheel spokes.  A built-in motor then drives the boat’s
wheel.  To stop the whole unit revolving when the motor runs, there is a
separate large ¾ diameter metal pin that must be mounted to the binnacle
housing with the pin poking into a hole on the circular drive unit at the
bottom.

 

On my Jeanneau affixing the pin to the binnacle seemed relatively easy – a
couple of screws.  But, on the C320, there is a huge instrument panel for
the engine controls just behind and below the wheel hub precluding access to
most of the binnacle housing.  I was in the local West Marine discussing
this and they called Raymarine but the guy we got effectively refused to
discuss mounting for a specific boat type (other than to suggest – “mount it
upside down – with the pin at the top!”).

 

So, the question – has anyone mounted (or even just have) a
Raymarine/Autohelm wheel autopilot on a C320 and how is the circular drive
unit’s metal pin mounted to the binnacle.

 

Thanks,   Ian Davis     Wind Star (#18)