Is there such a thing as a low cost electric auto helm that can by retrofitted to a boat with wheel steering, did any one come across one?
Hi Trek,
Depends on what you consider low cost. Autohelm (now Raymarine) had a unit that was fitted to your wheel and was driven by a belt that attached to a power unit that was mounted on either the steering pedistle or the side of the cockpit.
I would imagine you would get a decent second hand one online for a good price.
I can't comment on what they are like as I have never owned one but there were tens of thousands in use and I imagine most of them still are.
There are other options but I think this would be a cheap way to get what you are after.
From memory I think they were quite straight foward to fit.
I had an Autohelm wheel steering pilot on a 40 ft cat and it was excellent, but they are rare now aand maybe hard to repair. The CPT from the states is the best wheel pilot available today but they are not cheap. They have a huge torque and are totally waterproof - one was still working submerged in a cockpit full of water and they have circumnavigations on record.
Select to expand quoteTrek said...
Is there such a thing as a low cost electric auto helm that can by retrofitted to a boat with wheel steering, did any one come across one?
I was going to buy the bolt on wheel version from raymarine at the boat show kast year so they are still available. But decided to go with a ram bolted to the quadrant was about $2-3000 dearer but has a higher load rating and is also another form of emergency steering should the steering cables break.
Thanks for suggestions. A RAM on quadrant is something I never heard of. Good idea. Is it on your Mottle I'd like to see it work. Trek needs one so we can go downstairs and get the beer.
Yeah it is you need to make sure mounting points are beefed up though.
Are you around over the weekend at all?
Text me if you like
0411367374
Also check to see if you have a second (unused) sprocket on your steering shaft. If you do, it's a cinch to add a rotary drive unit via a second chain.
Here's how I did it:
blog.arribasail.com/2013/01/tech-arriba-gets-autopilot.html
Had a very bad experience with the Raymarine wheel pilot and dumpted it. But their integreted compass is great - its a costlyway to get an unneeded digital compass. The ram idea is good but again not cheap. Coursemastermake a good one that is not too noisy.
Select to expand quotePhoenixStar said..
Coursemastermake a good one that is not too noisy.
Aussie made Coursemaster for me - worth a look.
I Have a CPT Wheel Pilot on my 36' yacht. Very robust and quiet compared to the Raymarine Pilot. Not as cheap but worth the money. You can often pick up cheap second hand units for under $300 on places like cruiser forum.
Thanks all. Twodogs I will text you and catch up. Got stuck working this weekend. Not so bad though, days off next week when the waterways are clear 
