[C320-list] Raymarine Wheeldrive Autopilot

[Dick Walker]

I have had to Band G auto pilot 
With the related instruments for more than 20 years. The gear work fine. If you have a full-time auto pilot you can keep a much better watch in a come just to channel. You don’t have to be holding the wheel to watch exactly where you’re staring. For a long voyage for example 70 milesFrom San Diego two Catalina I could be on watch and not have to be holding the auto pilot.

Cheers



Dick Walker
740 Olive Ave.
Coronado ,CA 92118
619.985.8105



> On Apr 20, 2021, at 15:04, RONALD HODEL <ronandgail2 at me.com> wrote:
> 
> I’m with Graeme. We have a below deck autopilot with all the trimmings. It’s a huge improvement over a wheel pilot. You’re saving account might be sorry but you won’t be. And it’s so quiet.
> 
> Ron Hodel
> #1070 Lokomaikai 
> Dana Point, CA
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Apr 20, 2021, at 1:23 PM, Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk> wrote:
>> 
>> In my case I went the whole hog. It was a package deal. Ram, control head, rudder sensor, heading sensor and computer. 
>> 
>> The heading sensor also senses heave, surge, sway, pitch, roll and yaw and these indicate the start of a deviation king before heading alone, allowing the a/p to make good early corrections
>> 
>> Typical example is a following quartering sea. The stern lifts then starts to fall down the wave. King before any significant change in heading is seen the a/p will start to correct
>> 
>> Hope this helps
>> 
>> Graeme
>> 
>> Sent from my phone. Excuse typos! 
>> 
>>>> On 20 Apr 2021, at 20:08, islgirl3 at aol.com wrote:
>>> 
>>> Did you install an entire new autopilot, or did you just add the ram and remove the wheel?
>>> Barbara Rita, 897Rich Nuzzolo
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com>
>>> To: 320 <C320-List at catalina320.com>
>>> Sent: Tue, Apr 20, 2021 3:03 pm
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine Wheeldrive Autopilot
>>> 
>>> There likely is  excess friction in your system. In our case the locating
>>> pin on the pedestal was pressing against the disc and after freeing it up
>>> with a Dremel tool and readjusting the clutch, it was better, but I still
>>> kept a small bungee cord on it. Finally installed a below deck ram and it
>>> is much like the difference between a funky compass and a GPS..., quieter,
>>> straighter and stronger....
>>> 
>>> Fair Winds,
>>> Chris Burti
>>> Commitment #867
>>> Farmville, NC
>>> 
>>> 
>>>>> On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 12:26 PM mark <mseyler at cox.net> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Has anyone on the list had experience with the Raymarine wheeldrive
>>>> autopilot clutch releasing when trying to turn to starboard?  The
>>>> wheeldrive
>>>> works fine when it attempts to turn the wheel to port, but when the turn is
>>>> to starboard the clutch releases.  Any ideas how to fix this?
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Mark Seyler
>>>> 
>>>> S/V Reality,
>>>> 
>>>> Catalina 320, #232
>>>> 
>>>> New Orleans, LA
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>