[C320-list] Installation of Raymarine EVO-100

[Tom Grass]

We have a Raymarine ST4000 on Bucket List.  We calibrated it (two 360
degree circles) while on the Loop- it worked great for ONE Day - then
started to receive a "RG Fail" message when the drive was engaged.  Have
not been able to progress beyond this point.  Frustrated!

Tom Grass
S/V Bucket List
Catalina 320 # 1135

On Thu, Dec 7, 2017 at 3:09 AM, Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk> wrote:

> The ram disengages with an electric clutch. It’s fail:passive , ie loss of
> power releases the clutch
> Even when engaged it can be overpowered in an emergency (so Raymarine told
> me anyway) although that may damage it
> It can be physically disengaged-quickly- below decks  by removing a simple
> R-pin and lifting the end of the ram off the tiller pin
> It uses a separate filler arm attached to the rudder shaft. If your
> steering cables break you can thus still steer the boat using the autopilot
> Steering angle is indeed slightly restricted. This makes virtually no
> difference going ahead but makes the boat slower to react when steering
> astern
> HTH
> Graeme
>
> Sent from mobile: please excuse typos etc.!
>
>
> > On 6 Dec 2017, at 11:28, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net>
> wrote:
> >
> > FWIW....
> > Our 320 came without an Autohelm.  Based on the reading I did about 4
> years ago (Like most things) it depends on the sailing you plan to do.
> > IMHO:  If you are going to be in rougher "seas" more often, the below
> deck RAM "sounded" more reliable and sturdy.  If (like us) you only plan to
> use it occasionally and in lighter seas then wheel could be enough.
> > NOTE: We had friends that complained about their wheel version
> dis-engaging but they/we simply used a small bungee over the engaging lever
> when in use and it has not dis-engaged in the 5 years of use.
> > Each has pros and cons like most things.
> > One thing I thought long and hard about is a rudder sensor.  I read that
> it reduces the motor usage.  If the system knows the angle of the rudder
> the Autohelm motor won't work as hard and keeps a tighter course????
> Again, no experience, just reading.
> > We opted for the wheel since we rarely go out in rough seas and if/when
> we do go out I prefer to steer manually.  I want to feel the boat, and
> rough seas (for us) should be short lived.  No trips to Bahamas any time
> soon.  (Thinking about it in next few years though.)
> > Last note:  One thing I was concerned about (that may be nothing- bow to
> those more experienced) is the ability to disengage the wheel autohelm vs
> the ability to dis-engage the Ram?  If things go south(jam??) with the
> Autohelm can you "easily" disengage the RAM?  (Is that even an issue??? I
> just don't know how it works enough to know if that is a concern or not.
> > Learn something in this forum every email it seems.  Good Stuff.
> > Thanks,
> > Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538     C
> (919)-618-7185
> >
> >      From: Chuck Mueller <katchu at chartermi.net>
> > To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2017 5:18 PM
> > Subject: [C320-list] Installation of Raymarine EVO-100
> >
> > Thanks for the quick responses from Graeme, Chris, and the e-mail from
> > Warren Updike.  I love this forum! I'd like to do the under deck pilot,
> but
> > will settle for the wheel pilot since I've had good luck with the old
> 4000+.
> > Warren referenced some good info from MainSheet and I'll spend some time
> in
> > the Raymarine booth at Strictly Sail next month.
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2017 21:27:56 +0000
> > From: Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk>
> > To: Catalina list <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Installation of Raymarine EV-100
> > Message-ID: <B40BB2E7-90D6-432E-A73D-B097B96A5BDE at skyflyer.co.uk>
> > Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8
> >
> > Chuck
> >
> > Not really an answer to your question but I used to have an SPX5 wheel
> pilot
> > and replaced it with an EV100 with below deck ram as i was fed up with
> the
> > wheel-pilot disengaging at random times and poor coursekeeping etc.
> > raymarine marketed the SPX5 as being a ?huge improvement? on the previous
> > ST4000. I considered it to be no better at all, in fact a complete waste
> of
> > money.
> >
> > The EV100 with below deck ram was however a completely different kettle
> of
> > fish. Excellent.
> >
> > Its a bit pricier, mainly due to installation, but you can do a lot
> yourself
> > (excellent help available from Jeff hare and others). the wiring up is a
> > cinch -  all plug and play.
> >
> > the other problem i hd with the SPX% was the motor  - whilst looking the
> > same as the ST4000 -  had a much stronger magnet and affected the
> binnacle
> > compass beyond the ability to be corrected. We had to move it around to
> the
> > alternative position, lower down on the starboard side and that required
> the
> > engine pod to be lowered to give clearance for the actuator lever.
> >
> > Raymarine do a ST to STNG converter module to enable old and new to
> > interchange information. (About $100 as I recall)
> >
> > Trust me -  go the extra mile on the ram!
> >
> > One small ?side benefit? is you lose the wheel pilot motor and bolt on
> bits
> > and it then become quick and easy to remove the wheel short-term whenever
> > you might want to for various reasons.
> >
> > Graeme
> > U.K.
> >
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2017 16:32:34 -0500
> > From: Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com>
> > To: 320 <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Installation of Raymarine EV-100
> > Message-ID:
> >     <CAAAgXkzV3qqt=dWcssenxgGhoq_2TFJBDz-bWJa73x0S2PWz9w at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> >
> > Chuck,
> > I did this...easy upgrade. The old wheel pilot motor and ring are
> identical
> > to the new, so if yours are in decent shape you will have a spare and
> change
> > out is a piece of cake. I did not need to move the pod, but I had
> initially
> > installed my drive motor on the port side anyway.
> >
> > You will need an ITC5 to convert your analog transducers to digital. I
> wrote
> > a couple of Mainsheet articles on my conversion and then the next season,
> > our subsequent upgrade to an I70 instrument and e7 plotter.
> >
> > Chris Burti
> > Commitment, #867
> > Farmville, NC
> >
> >
> >> On Mon, Dec 4, 2017 at 2:12 PM, Chuck Mueller <katchu at chartermi.net>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> I'm planning to replace my ST4000+ auto-pilot this Spring with an
> >> EV-100 auto-pilot.  I wanted to check your experiences.  In the
> >> archives, there are several who needed to move their engine pods to
> >> install the X5 system.  Is that also necessary with the EV-100?  I'm
> >> hull 676, a 2000 model manufactured in late 1999, and the wheel and
> >> pod don't have a lot of clearance.
> >>
> >> Also, will I be able to plug in the old Seatalk wind module into the
> >> new auto-pilot, or is a converter required?
> >> Thanks
> >> Chuck Mueller
> >> Northwind 676 (2000)
> >> Holland, MI
> >>
> >>
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