[C320-list] Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot/B&G Vulcan

Fri Nov 26 13:45:13 PST 2021

I have to agree. I also went with wheel. IMHO go with rudder auto if you can.
I chose wheel because (at the time) I could not get a good answer to the question: can the rudder version jam and I can't disengage?  I know I can disengage the wheel version easily.  
I have to use a bungee to keep lever engaged but minor issue. 
If I had to do again,  I would go with rudder version

Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android 

  On Fri, Nov 26, 2021 at 4:01 PM, c320-list-request at lists.catalina320.com<c320-list-request at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:   Send C320-list mailing list submissions to
    c320-list at lists.catalina320.com

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the Web browser, visit
    http://lists.catalina320.com/listinfo.cgi/c320-list-catalina320.com
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
    c320-list-request at lists.catalina320.com

You can reach the person managing the list at
    c320-list-owner at lists.catalina320.com

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of C320-list digest..."

Today's Topics:

  1. Re: Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot/B&G Vulcan (Doug Treff)
  2. Re: Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot/B&G Vulcan (Jeffrey Brown)
  3. Re: Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot/B&G Vulcan (Troy Dunn)
  4. Re: Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot/B&G Vulcan (Troy Dunn)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2021 15:28:27 -0500
From: "Doug Treff" <doug at treff.us>
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot/B&G Vulcan
Message-ID: <30e0d006-be64-4046-a530-361a4f39b8aa at www.fastmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=utf-8

I have the Raymarine EV-100 and I agree with all the others. If I had to do over, I would take the time to install the below deck unit. I find the Wheel Pilot to be underpowered for all but calm seas. I use it primarily when motoring in calm weather or sailing on flat water and light winds. I often have issues with the lever coming disengaged as well. I never leave it unattended for more than a minute or two which kind of defeats the purpose of hands-free steering.

Regarding mixing brands, I have a Garmin MFD and it works just fine with my AP. I can steer a course, to a waypoint, and also relative to a wind angle. the NMEA sentences on the network should be standard and it should work for you.

Bottom line, if I had a do-over, and a higher budget, I would choose a below deck system.

--
Doug Treff
doug at treff.us

On Thu, Nov 25, 2021, at 5:22 PM, Mark Calisti wrote:
> I?m doing initial research on an autopilot and leaning towards the 
> Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot Pack. Seems like an easier 
> installation, much lower cost than below the deck options, and meets 
> our relatively simplistic needs. I have the B&G Vulcan chart plotter. 
> It does not appear that B&G has a similar ?wheel pack? offering. Anyone 
> with the Raymarine/B&G configuration? If so, would appreciate pros/cons 
> we should assess before purchasing.
>
> Thank you,
> Mark Calisti
> Solomons, MD
> #749

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2021 12:36:23 -0800
From: Jeffrey Brown <oceanblues at mac.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot/B&G Vulcan
Message-ID: <70C7B917-2281-4FEF-B169-54AFD6340399 at mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

I agree 100 %. I have the wheel pilot and regret it each time not spending the money and doing it right. 

Jeff Brown
949-350-5123

> On Nov 26, 2021, at 12:29 PM, Doug Treff <doug at treff.us> wrote:
> 
> ?I have the Raymarine EV-100 and I agree with all the others. If I had to do over, I would take the time to install the below deck unit. I find the Wheel Pilot to be underpowered for all but calm seas. I use it primarily when motoring in calm weather or sailing on flat water and light winds. I often have issues with the lever coming disengaged as well. I never leave it unattended for more than a minute or two which kind of defeats the purpose of hands-free steering.
> 
> Regarding mixing brands, I have a Garmin MFD and it works just fine with my AP. I can steer a course, to a waypoint, and also relative to a wind angle. the NMEA sentences on the network should be standard and it should work for you.
> 
> Bottom line, if I had a do-over, and a higher budget, I would choose a below deck system.
> 
> --
> Doug Treff
> doug at treff.us
> 
>> On Thu, Nov 25, 2021, at 5:22 PM, Mark Calisti wrote:
>> I?m doing initial research on an autopilot and leaning towards the 
>> Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot Pack. Seems like an easier 
>> installation, much lower cost than below the deck options, and meets 
>> our relatively simplistic needs. I have the B&G Vulcan chart plotter. 
>> It does not appear that B&G has a similar ?wheel pack? offering. Anyone 
>> with the Raymarine/B&G configuration? If so, would appreciate pros/cons 
>> we should assess before purchasing.
>> 
>> Thank you,
>> Mark Calisti
>> Solomons, MD
>> #749

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2021 16:00:11 -0500
From: Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Cc: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot/B&G Vulcan
Message-ID:
    <CA+rGV8ZRjQyjLcuvSmHMaSJPGz4R25b2zergwwGyWFjaquyc8g at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

We have all Raymarine electronics so I can?t comment on compatibility.  We
also have the EV-100 Wheel Pilot.  The EV-100 has one pro and two fatal
flaws.  The first flaw is that it is underpowered for steering a 32?
sailboat in any significant wind.  My rule of thumb is if I have to reef,
then I probably can?t depend on "Otto" for steering.  The second flaw is
the lack of a rudder reference sensor as part of the standard installation
package.  Without a reference sensor, the autopilot is guessing at rudder
position.  This can lead to some crazy overcorrections, add in a little
weather helm and you will find yourself unintentionally jibing in no time.

The one pro of course?.is the price.  Not just the price of the unit, but
the cost to install it if you are paying the yard.  Installing a below
deck hydraulic ram and the rudder reference unit is going to set you back
an additional couple grand easy if you have to pay the yard.

If you search you can find great info in past articles and emails on DIY
below deck installs.

Finally, if you decide to install the wheel pilot, I would strongly
recommend at least installing the rudder reference sensor.  I bought one
this year and the installation is on my to do list for this winter.

Regards

Troy Dunn
Hull #514

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2021 16:00:11 -0500
From: Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Cc: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine EV100 Wheel Autopilot/B&G Vulcan
Message-ID:
    <CA+rGV8ZRjQyjLcuvSmHMaSJPGz4R25b2zergwwGyWFjaquyc8g at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

We have all Raymarine electronics so I can?t comment on compatibility.  We
also have the EV-100 Wheel Pilot.  The EV-100 has one pro and two fatal
flaws.  The first flaw is that it is underpowered for steering a 32?
sailboat in any significant wind.  My rule of thumb is if I have to reef,
then I probably can?t depend on "Otto" for steering.  The second flaw is
the lack of a rudder reference sensor as part of the standard installation
package.  Without a reference sensor, the autopilot is guessing at rudder
position.  This can lead to some crazy overcorrections, add in a little
weather helm and you will find yourself unintentionally jibing in no time.

The one pro of course?.is the price.  Not just the price of the unit, but
the cost to install it if you are paying the yard.  Installing a below
deck hydraulic ram and the rudder reference unit is going to set you back
an additional couple grand easy if you have to pay the yard.

If you search you can find great info in past articles and emails on DIY
below deck installs.

Finally, if you decide to install the wheel pilot, I would strongly
recommend at least installing the rudder reference sensor.  I bought one
this year and the installation is on my to do list for this winter.

Regards

Troy Dunn
Hull #514

End of C320-list Digest, Vol 4139, Issue 2
******************************************