[C320-list] Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Wheel Autopilot

Sun Jan 29 15:05:10 PST 2023

I "enjoyed" the wheel pilot for several years before I realized it was easily overpowered by following seas. Looking at the rudder you'll see that it isn't 'balanced'; the rudder post is well forward of center. This means that any force hitting it is only opposed but the rudder, the post and the quadrant and cables and with just the plastic drive against the wheel pilot drive belt.

That's a lot for force for a motor running just a few amps. More importantly it fails when needed most.

I switched to a linear drive which connects directly to the rudder post and never worried about it again.

Pat
Pat Tormey
s/v Blues Skies
Newport RI

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Angus Henderson via C320-list
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2023 4:10 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Cc: Angus Henderson <rathlyn1 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Wheel Autopilot

A most interesting thread.  I have the original ST4000 and find it OK but not great.  In fact going up wind the boat sails better with balanced sails and no AH.  However some years ago I had a Catalina 34 with the ST4000.  It did not work that well until I met another C34 owner with the same AH who also had mediocre experience with the AH until he was informed by yet another owner that successful operation with the unit was highly dependent on the settings which he then shared.  I changed the settings accordingly and experienced significant improvement.

Based on this I was wondering whether Jack or others experiencing successful operation with their units could check their settings (sensitivity etc) and share that info. 

No hurry for this as our boats will still be still out the water for quite some time here in the frozen north.

Angus
Hull #999
Georgian Bay

> On Jan 23, 2023, at 11:12 AM, Jack Brennan via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> 
> Yep. I sent a follow-up message correcting that. Wrote the message before my morning coffee.
> 
> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> Tierra Verde, Fl.
> 
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows
> 
> From: surprise thompson87.com via C320-list<mailto:c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 23, 2023 11:07 AM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Cc: surprise thompson87.com<mailto:surprise at thompson87.com>
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Wheel Autopilot
> 
> Center spoke to windward indicates lee helm, not weather helm. I assume you meant to say it sits to leeward.
> 
>> On Jan 13, 2023, at 7:33 AM, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Ian.
>> 
>> No rudder sensor. Under most conditions on the 320, the king spoke on my wheel is maybe a couple of inches to windward, indicating slight weather helm. I don't see the need for it.
>> 
>> Jack Brennan
>> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
>> Tierra Verde, Fl.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Ian Neale <kiwineales at yahoo.com>
>> Date: 1/12/23 10:41 PM (GMT-05:00)
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Wheel Autopilot
>> 
>> Jack do you have a rudder sensor on your boat I think that makes a lot of difference. I don’t but that said, other than in trailing seas of 1 m or more my EV 100 works great and we get some pretty crazy stuff down here in New Zealand. The pilot even works fine with a Asymetric up at 7 odd knots.
>> 
>> Ian Neale. Solutions 1122.
>> 
>> Sent from. my iPhone
>> 
>>> On 13/01/2023, at 4:31 PM, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I’m still puzzling over the problems some 320 owners report with the Raymarine EV 100 autopilot and the earlier ST4000.
>>> 
>>> I’ve used both models without real problems on two boats. A member of my cruising club has an old ST4000 on a Gulfstar 40 – about 6,000 pounds over the recommended weight – and he has used it well while cruising to Mexico, the Dry Tortugas and the Bahamas.
>>> 
>>> So I was out today, playing with the shifting winds of an oncoming cold front. Winds peaked about 15 knots, with gusts to 24, and a short Tampa Bay chop of 2-3 feet. I was singlehanding with just a 135 jib. My speed ranged from 5.5 to 7.1 knots during the stronger winds on a beam reach.
>>> 
>>> The EV 100 never strayed more than 3 degrees off the programmed course, i.e., 100 to 106 degrees on a course of 103 heading out. Pretty much the same heading back.
>>> 
>>> Just a thought: I’m wondering whether part of the problem is the wire connector to the motor that turns the wheel pilot.
>>> 
>>> When I first installed the unit, when I was in rougher seas, it would not work properly and eventually cut out. After some tinkering, I realized that Raymarine had supplied crappy connectors in the plug where it connected to the pins in the motor unit.
>>> 
>>> I pulled the wires out of the plug, cut off the metal connectors and re-inserted bare wire into the holes in the plug so that they would make good connections with the pins. Problem solved. The motor has never been overwhelmed since the fix. It was not getting enough amps.
>>> 
>>> One caveat here: if you reverse the wires in the plug, the motor will run backwards. Don’t ask me how I know.
>>> 
>>> Jack Brennan
>>> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
>>> Tierra Verde, Fl.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows
>>> 
>>> From: Jack Brennan<mailto:jackbrennan333 at outlook.com>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2023 7:40 PM
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Wheel Autopilot
>>> 
>>> For anyone who is interested, this link talks about what I was trying to explain in my earlier post.
>>> 
>>> Under normal conditions with properly set sails, the autopilot should only be making minor course adjustments.  In rough conditions, you should be at the wheel anyway to anticipate and deal with problems as they arise.
>>> 
>>> https://www.sailingworld.com/how-to-find-balance/
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -------- Original message --------
>>> From: Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com>
>>> Date: 1/9/23 5:06 PM (GMT-05:00)
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Cc: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Wheel Autopilot
>>> 
>>> Hi Ken:
>>> 
>>> I've had a somewhat different experience.
>>> 
>>> I've used the EV 100 on four long trips of 600 miles or more in Florida.
>>> 
>>> It's fine as long as you recognize it's limitations.
>>> 
>>> Anything more than 20 knots or 6-foot seas should make you consider hand steering, although it will do fine in some rough conditions.
>>> 
>>> I used it for a time last spring doing a 140-mile run from Key West to Boca Grande in 25-knot winds and 4- to 10-foot beam seas.
>>> 
>>> Ultimately, it struggled so much
>>> that it tore the bracket off the pedestal, although the unit itself was fine.
>>> 
>>> I found it doesn't do well with large seas behind the beam.
>>> 
>>> The challenge ultimately is being able to balance the sails. If conditions don't allow that, the EV 100 needs to be turned off.
>>> 
>>> The 320 is such a well-balanced boat in normal conditions that the autopilot hardly works at all.
>>> 
>>> That will continue until those following seas start grabbing the fat stern and throwing it around.
>>> 
>>> Have some good sailing this year. We're heading either to the Bahamas or Pensacola this spring.
>>> 
>>> Jack Brennan
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -------- Original message --------
>>> From: Ken McCrimmon <kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com>
>>> Date: 1/9/23 2:14 PM (GMT-05:00)
>>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>>> Cc: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Wheel Autopilot
>>> 
>>> Hi jack
>>> I have the EV 100 installed and it fine for day sailing on the Great Lakes. I would not trust it for off shore sailing or for long trips
>>> 
>>> Ken
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>>> On Jan 9, 2023, at 1:53 PM, upwego at yahoo.com wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Presently using the ST 4000 auto helm and looking to upgrade to a new auto pilot system.  Looking for any user input from those that updated to the newer Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Wheel Autopilot. Did the newer wheel drive unit significantly improve over the ST4000 or should I bypass the wheel drive and go directly to a below deck steering system?  Plan to sail off-shore Fl and to the Bahamas.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks for your input.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> jack
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> s/v wetted bliss
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> #441
>>> 
>> 
> 