[C320-list] Replacement Autopilot recommendation

[Allan S Field]

Graeme - I have gone through 3 Raymarine wheel drive autopilots before
finally listening to Scott Thompson (actually, reading his excellent
write-up) and installing a Raymarine below deck linear drive.  On the first
sea trial, we put a waypoint into our chartplotter and took off in 25 knots
of apparent wind close hauled with the response set to 5 (highest) and no
reefs in the sails.  Had we not disengaged the pilot about 100 yards out
from the waypoint, a big channel marker, we would have run the marker over.
The drive is made for a boat of about 24,000 pounds displacement and ours is
what, less than 12,000?  This was probably the best investment yet for Sea
Shadow, an already superbly pimped out boat!

We sail in the shallow Chesapeake Bay where there is considerable chop in
almost all conditions.  The linear drive holds a true course in everything
the Bay has thrown at it so far.  I am fairly confident, after over 2
seasons, that this should be the last autopilot I will need to buy.

Hope this helps!

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Herrington Harbour South
Rosehaven, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Graeme Clark
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2015 5:06 AM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Replacement Autopilot recommendation

My previous 320 came fitted with Raymarine ST4000 wheel pilot, which
suffered from the usual problem of a disengaging clutch lever and poor
performance in anything other than light winds and seas.

Seduced by the sales talk of a Raymarine rep at a boat show, I invested in
their new SPX-5, being assured that it would revolutionise performance. The
difference was undetectable, the drive motor broke within weeks (replaced
under warranty) and - not that I really use the feature - even on a flat
clam day its ability to intercept and follow a course on the plotter was
dire!

My current 320 has an even older wheel-pilot fitted, a WP10 by Simrad, which
has broken so I am considering replacements

Raymarine are now  offering the Evolution range, which will supposedly
'revolutionise performance'.uh-oh, haven't i heard that somewhere before.

So to say i am not best disposed towards another Ray product is putting it
mildly, but if someone has fitted one and can tell me different I'd love to
hear.

My research tends to indicate that a below decks unit is essential, possibly
with a rudder reference unit needed as well.

Any recommendations? In particular I'd like to hear how they perform under
the "acid test" if sailing downwind with a quartering sea.

Many thanks

Graeme
#366 'Jaskar', Falmouth=