[C320-list] Linear autohelm

[Greg Arnold]

   Very useful information.
   I think, however, you used the Type 1 drive.  It is the less powerful
   of the two drives , but has more than adequate power for a boat the
   size of the 320 (the Type 1 goes up to a boat of 24,000 pounds, while
   the Type 2 goes up to 44,000 pounds).

   On 8/22/2022 5:44 PM, Jeff Hare wrote:

Hi John,

I have quite a lot of information on installing the Raymarine EV-200 system on t
he C320. I'd be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you might have.
I used information from Scott Thompson, Allan Field, and others and refined the
process quite a bit.  This installation approach keeps it out of the way, withou
t interfering with access to the aft locker and only minimal reduction in lock t
o lock steering.

My photo album with a ton of pictures and measurements here.
[1]https://photos.app.goo.gl/KyYK2v2nJy9eU7idA

As you can see, the aft wall is sandwiched between an aluminum plate inside the
aft locker and with a finished stainless steel plate inside the aft cabin to cre
ate a solid mounting point for the base of the Linear Drive unit.
[2]https://photos.app.goo.gl/gBPkaJZq7FEDLV1P7
[3]https://photos.app.goo.gl/gHa8KBLrrcWXVN4s8

Here is the tiller arm I modified and the set of backing plates I fabricated for
 Bill Culbertson. The brushed stainless steel plate is on top of the heavy alumi
num backing plate, and has the protective plastic on it in this picture.
[4]https://photos.app.goo.gl/HVGNA44qzMPkRFrp6
[5]https://photos.app.goo.gl/Rj8YjT7W1p3JfpXr9

The standard Edson tiller arm 926-10-610-MKII is a great tiller arm for this app
lication. While it is too long out of Edson factory, the place where the linear
drive bolt attaches for this boat allows for the excess tiller length to be remo
ved without compromising the tiller so that it clears the aft cabin bulkhead. Th
e bronze bushing made to fit in the tiller arm gap is a pretty important detail.
 This protects the drive bolt from being stressed and prevents the channel from
being deformed when the nut on that bolt is tightened. I have pictures of a Cata
lina factory install where they didn't use a bushing so you could see what happe
ned over a 10 yr span. Not critical and unlikely to fail, but not ideal.

My advice is that if you can afford the EV200 system, you won't be disappointed
and it should be quite reliable and perform well in conditions that would challe
nge you more than you'd like. Like I said earlier, the electric Type 2 linear dr
ive with the ACU200 has proven to be very reliable and a great fit for the C320.

-Jeff Hare

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [6]<c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of John M
eyers
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2022 5:49 PM
To: [7]C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Linear autohelm

I am thinking about putting in a linear autohelm. Haven't been on a boat with it
. Not finding much written about this especially on the 320 unless I am looking
in the wrong place.

Any advice? Go for it? Avoid it? Which brand/model is good?

Thanks

John Meyers
Muskegon, MI
WInd Chime
1997 #406

References

   1. https://photos.app.goo.gl/KyYK2v2nJy9eU7idA
   2. https://photos.app.goo.gl/gBPkaJZq7FEDLV1P7
   3. https://photos.app.goo.gl/gHa8KBLrrcWXVN4s8
   4. https://photos.app.goo.gl/HVGNA44qzMPkRFrp6
   5. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Rj8YjT7W1p3JfpXr9
   6. mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
   7. mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com