Auto pilot installation

[Jackcash]

Has anyone successfully installed an EV100 Raymarine autopilot on a R25 tug? Wondering if EV100 is sufficient or do I need to go to an EV200?

 

[Favunclerich]

Just curious. Are you adding a new autopilot or replacing an existing one?

 

[Levitation]

IF I were adding an autopilot I would make it Garmin so that it seamlessly connects with the MFD and gives you automatic track steering.

 

[SGIDAVE]

IF I were adding an autopilot I would make it Garmin so that it seamlessly connects with the MFD and gives you automatic track steering.

Given the NMEA 2000 system, ANY autopilot which is 'N2K' compliant should connect seamlessly and give automatic tracking. I KNOW the Raymarine EV200 will do this in concert with the Garmin 740s.

I'm just saying YOU HAVE CHOICES. Garmin makes good stuff but there are other nice choices out there.

dave

 

[Jackcash]

It is a new installation and the existing systems are Raymarine so I wanted to stay with that. A Raymarine tech. rep told me after my first post that the EV 100 would be as good as the EV 200 and should work just fine. I could use some advice on that installation.

 

[SGIDAVE]

It is a new installation and the existing systems are Raymarine so I wanted to stay with that. A Raymarine tech. rep told me after my first post that the EV 100 would be as good as the EV 200 and should work just fine. I could use some advice on that installation.

Hello Jack,

I find the RM Tech's comments suspect. There is a BIG difference between EV100 vs EV200. Let's start with the hydraulic pump. Look here for RMs chart on steering cylinder size. What you do is look up your steering cylinder on this chart then it tells you in the 4th column from the left which RM pump you need in your AP system. Going with a pump larger than specified has little downside while using a too-small pump is bad news as your AP system will struggle to hold course in challenging situations.

Installation of either system (100 vs 200) is very similar. You have the course computer, the EV unit, the pump and the user interface-p70r. The 200 course computer is much larger physically than the one included in the EV100 kit, for instance.

If the EV100 is truly suited to your boat then certainly use it but I'm suspicious it will be pushed too far to give good service.

dave

 

[DBBRanger]

I can't help with the EV 100 vs EV 200 issue but I did install a Raymarine S1000 (not available now) in my R25. One suggestion I would make is to carefully select the location of the pump. The instructions more or less assumed the pump would be mounted close to the helm so that's what I did originally. After using the AP for two seasons, I moved the pump to the stern. When it was at the helm, it was VERY noisy and I therefore did not use it often. Now that it is in the stern, it is wonderful - no noise what so ever. I now use it anytime I want to go in a straight line. It was well worth the relocation. I had to extend the control wires - no issue, and extend the clear return hose - a bigger issue but not insurmountable, and, of course, fish the wire and tubing to the back. The hardest was bleeding the system however that wasn't any worse than with a short return line. I did have to buy 2 quarts of the relatively expensive hydraulic fluid. I'm glad I did it!

 

[baz]

What method did you use to 'bleed' the hydraulic lines ? I ask, as I had Garmin purge air from my lines shortly after purchasing my R-25 (Classic) in 2009 and they used a fancy pump device that looked expensive to me. During the following 6 years I never had any issues with air in the lines.

 

[Favunclerich]

Roam is a 2008 R-25 with Raymarine electronics. A previous owner added an older version Raymarine autopilot. The Type 1 pump is mounted in the stern near the pump for the trim tabs. It works very well under almost all conditions. The only exception is with large quartering waves when the boat will wander significantly, although in all fairness, the boat can steer a straighter line than I can.

 

[DBBRanger]

What method did you use to 'bleed' the hydraulic lines ? I ask, as I had Garmin purge air from my lines shortly after purchasing my R-25 (Classic) in 2009 and they used a fancy pump device that looked expensive to me. During the following 6 years I never had any issues with air in the lines.

I've heard that those pumps are available, but being a DIYer, I did it myself. The pump has a bleed screw on it that, when used, allows the system to be bled. It's just a matter of turning the wheel many, many times to get the air into the helm reservoir and therefore out of the system. It helped to disconnect the hose at the pump when bubbles were seen rather than waiting for them to show up at the helm.