Ray Marine Evolution Auto Pilot

[nveater]

This fall/winter, I am planning on installing an evolution auto pilot in my 1999 Mainship 30 Pilot. I think I have the placement of all the components worked out. The ACU will fit inside the dash along with nmea 2000 networking plugs. I have a
spot at the steering station for the p70 control head. The EV1 which is the compass part of the system will go in a cabinet beneath the helm seat which will require running a networking cable back up to the dash. The Type 1 pump will be in the stern lazarette near the hydraulic pump for the rudder. This will necessitate running electrical wire and one hydraulic line back to the dash to hook up to the ACU and the wheel.

I would be interested if any other Pilot owners have installed this type of autopilot and where they placed the various components. I am renowned at overlooking the obvious and making a project harder than it has to be.

Thanks

PS I chose ray marine because I do have Ray marine chart plotter and also I had ray marine instruments on my sailboat for 30 years and they gave me good and fairly reliable service

 

[rgano]

The most obvious issue I can see is the proximity of the engine to the compass. On my Pilot II the Furuno AP compass is mounted under the forward part of the settee down in the cabin. My AP pump is installed under the steps of the companionway going into the cabin. The AP brain is located behind the helm console.

 

[Solly]

Do you really have a hydraulic pump for the rudder or do you mean the cylinder that moves the rudder ? On my 1985 Mk III I have hydraulic steering ( not power ) and the autopilot pump T's into the lines for it.
Not familiar with the 30 pilot so take this for what it's worth.

 

[Jeff F]

You can put the hydraulic pump anywhere in the existing hydraulic line. Mine is a few feet from the wheel right next to the brain box. On my old Mainship 34 it was buried in a salon locker.

You should get lots of cable with the compass. Make sure it's away from big metal, cables and storage lockers. Forward in the bilge is good on many boats, just under the floor.

 

[SteveK]

Is there an autopilot that uses GPS instead of magnetic compass?

 

[READY]

SteveK,
Using only GPS would not be effective. If boat is not moving it really would not know which direction it is facing and most GPS don't have the type of precision to provide the feedback required for an autopilot. Raymarine uses this: Aerospace technology - 9-axis precision monitoring of pitch, roll, yaw and heading

 

[nveater]

Good catch, yes I believe I have a cylinder that moves the rudder not a hydraulic pump

 

[nveater]

Folks appreciate the feedback so far Thank you

 

[SoWhat]

Good catch, yes I believe I have a cylinder that moves the rudder not a hydraulic pump

The Type 1 pump is usually located near the hydraulic ram or in the ER. You might also need a small Hydraulic fluid storage tank located higher than the Type 1 pump. A steering wheel pump is very common and obviates the need for a type 1 pump.

The EV core can be mounted anywhere that is free from magnetic influence (although it is supposed to compensate for mag. fields)

 

[Gdavid]

The EV core can be mounted anywhere that is free from magnetic influence (although it is supposed to compensate for mag. fields)

My father installed a raymarine evo in his last boat, it did great until it went haywire for some reason. Raymarine was very responsive and sent him a new EV core, when he went to replace it, he realized that he had recently stored an electric air pump right next to the EV core's location. Humbling experience.

 

[Comodave]

The EV can compensate for some magnetic interference within reason. But if tou mount something close to it that has a lot of ferrous material in it then it can be overwhelmed just like any electronic compass can be. I installed a Raymarine autopilot last winter and it was a bit of a challenge finding a place that was relatively interference free an had room to mount it. Fortunately we were having all the seats reupholstered so the seats were out and there was a place under the side of the helm seat with room to mount it. Fine until I have to work on it then I will have to pull the seat out…