[C320-list] Linear autohelm

[Jeff Hare]

*Absolutely*, you're right, type 1 not type 2. !! Sorry my mistake.  !!All the "2's" in all the part numbers just had me jumbling it up.  Old age ain't for sissies.Again, sorry to confuse people.Jeff
-------- Original message --------From: Greg Arnold <greg-arnold at gmx.com> Date: 8/22/22  9:42 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: C320-List at Catalina320.com Subject: Re: [C320-list] Linear autohelm    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 the 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 theprocess quite a bit.  This installation approach keeps it out of the way, without interfering with access to the aft locker and only minimal reduction in lock to lock steering.My photo album with a ton of pictures and measurements here.[1]https://photos.app.goo.gl/KyYK2v2nJy9eU7idAAs you can see, the aft wall is sandwiched between an aluminum plate inside theaft locker and with a finished stainless steel plate inside the aft cabin to create 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/gHa8KBLrrcWXVN4s8Here 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 aluminum 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/Rj8YjT7W1p3JfpXr9The standard Edson tiller arm 926-10-610-MKII is a great tiller arm for this application. While it is too long out of Edson factory, the place where the lineardrive bolt attaches for this boat allows for the excess tiller length to be removed without compromising the tiller so that it clears the aft cabin bulkhead. The 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 frombeing deformed when the nut on that bolt is tightened. I have pictures of a Catalina factory install where they didn't use a bushing so you could see what happened 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 disappointedand it should be quite reliable and perform well in conditions that would challenge you more than you'd like. Like I said earlier, the electric Type 2 linear drive 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 MeyersSent: Saturday, August 20, 2022 5:49 PMTo: [7]C320-List at catalina320.comSubject: [C320-list] Linear autohelmI 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 lookingin the wrong place.Any advice? Go for it? Avoid it? Which brand/model is good?ThanksJohn MeyersMuskegon, MIWInd Chime1997 #406References   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