CD30K Reverse Wheel Auto Pilot

[SVR4]

Hi

I'm wondering if anyone has tried to install an autopilot on the reverse wheel (worm gear) on a CD30 Ketch. I'm looking at a raymarine EV-100 wheel pilot system but it has also been suggested that a linear drive pilot may also work. Thoughts?

Thanks

Chris

[Steve Laume]

Chris, I installed an EV100 on Raven a couple of years ago. She has a pedestal and wheel. I hooked everything up and the instructions were good and the installation was easy with one exception. They didn't designate which two wires went to which colors on the motor. I had a 50/50 chance of getting it right so I just made the connection and hoped for the best. The thing would steer for a very short time and then just go off course and lose it. I switched the two wires and it has been fantastic ever since. So if your only issue is that the wheel is reversed I believe you will be just fine.

It is a great autopilot, Steve.

[Paul D.]

I installed an EV 200 last season and it works well. I made a somewhat unusual final set up though with it powering an old Benmar Cetec rotary motor. For the worm gear drive and EV 100 I assume you mean to mechanically drive the wheel, not the rudder shaft at the quadrant. In this case I would find your number of wheel rotations from hard port to hard starboard i.e. 2.5 or 3. Check that the EV 100 has that number within its specs. Check this page for specs from the Raymarine drive unit manuals

http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=8239& ... &col=10463

You would also need to find a way to align the motor properly to the wheel as these units were designed to go on a pedestal. Should be doable but I am not familiar with the project challenges.

[SVR4]

Thank you Paul and Steve.

What is really throwing me off is the way that the wheel is attached to the actual rudder post. I from the research that I have done I think I can make the wheel pilot work although I will have to modify the wheel. I have attached a picture of the steering system that is in the owners manual and picture of the actual wheel placement on the boat. I don't know if anyone here has the same setup as what I'm trying to do, or has experience with it.

Paul do you have any pictures of your setup? I would be very interested in seeing how the Benmar is connected to the quadrant.

Thanks

Chris

[Frenchy]

Chris, if you're a practical sailor subscriber the April, 2014 issue has a report on a '78 Union 36 that was
fitted with a EV-1 autopilot onto its worm gear steering. This is available on line if you're a subscriber. The
report mentions an ACU-200 rotary drive linked to a sprocket on the wheel's axle.
The report also mentioned that the sprocket didn't need to be keyed to the axle, just set-screwed because
of the great mechanical advantage of the worm gear.
If you're not a subscriber, I will attempt to e-mail the report to you via pm. (I'm no techie). - Jean

[Frenchy]

Chris, the ACU-200 is a computer, apparently, not the drive. I got confused because they mentioned them in the same
sentence. Also, If you'd like me to mail the report, please pm me your e-mail address, because I don't think I can
attach files to a pm message to you. There's also a few pictures of the install in the report. - Jean

[SVR4]

Chris, if you're a practical sailor subscriber the April, 2014 issue has a report on a '78 Union 36 that was
fitted with a EV-1 autopilot onto its worm gear steering. This is available on line if you're a subscriber. The
report mentions an ACU-200 rotary drive linked to a sprocket on the wheel's axle.
The report also mentioned that the sprocket didn't need to be keyed to the axle, just set-screwed because
of the great mechanical advantage of the worm gear.
If you're not a subscriber, I will attempt to e-mail the report to you via pm. (I'm no techie). - Jean

PM sent.

Thank you Jean

[Joe Mac Phee]

Chris,

My 1977 CD ketch also has the Edson worm roller “reverse” wheel steering. Mine has the Cetec Benmar auto pilot. There is a motor assembly to turn the wheel , a compass assembly, and a course controller. My auto pilot is installed below the deck. There is a chain sprocket mounted on the wheel shaft near the bottom of the shaft. The motor drive is coupled with a chain to the wheel. The motor is mounted to the hull up near the transom.

It has been mentioned elsewhere that the motor to control your course is connected to the wheel. It must be connected the shaft (or wheel). It will not work to try to drive the rudder shaft directly (due to the worm gear).

I would think that a modern rotary drive autopilot would be the easiest to install.

Happy autopiloting,

Joe Mac Phee

[bottomscraper]

I have no personal experience installing but I do know some of the early Island Packets 31 & 35 had a similar worm drive. I believe some factory installed units used a rotary drive below decks with a chain drive to a sprocket mounted on the shaft for the wheel.

Check out this thread on the IP owners web site:
https://www.ipyoa.com/forum/34-autopilo ... -autopilot

[tjr818]

Chris, what is the brand of that steering mechanism, is it Edison?

[Jim Walsh]

Chris, what is the brand of that steering mechanism, is it Edison?

If it's original equipment it's an Edson unit. http://www.edsonmarine.com/traditional/

[Paul D.]

I agree that a below decks mount would likely need to be connected to the shaft of the wheel not the rudder shaft on a worm gear drive. But a call to Edson would clarify that quickly. I would do this before settling on any final method - Assuming the gear is Edson, which I bet it would be.

The old Benmar Cetec rotary drive mounted in the lazarette facing aft


The chain drive connection to a special bronze quadrant gear on the rudder shaft. My bet is that after calling Edson you could get recommended a round gear that would fasten to the wheel shaft and the newer Raymarine rotary drives should work on that as there is mechanical advantage. My old rotary drive is not manufactured these days and is much more powerful than the current Raymarine Type I rotary drives suitable only to the wheel shafts. Uses more amps I bet though too.

[SVR4]

Thank you for all of your replys it has given me alot to think about

Chris, what is the brand of that steering mechanism, is it Edison?

If it's original equipment it's an Edson unit. http://www.edsonmarine.com/traditional/

I believe that it is original to the boat and I believe that it is the Edson Simplex worm steerer. Thanks for the link.

At this point I'm looking for a rotary drive with control head that I would adapt to fit the Edson wheel shaft under the deck. This actually opens up a few more possibilitys in manufacturers and potential for getting something used.

[Paul D.]

I believe the Raymarine Type I rotary drive would work well for this.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... 5&id=71911

I purchased one in hopes of replacing my original Benmar. It proved too small to attached to the rudder shaft and I confirmed that with the Raymarine tech. It is designed for a wheel steering shaft so I sent it back. The plastic housing was also slightly cracked upon arrival. Out of the box it seemed like a good piece of equipment to me but I would check it thoroughly.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. BTW, my brother just purchased a Jefa linear drive

http://www.jefa.com/steering/products/drives/linear.htm

for his new Garmin autopilot for his CD36. Should be an interesting spring fitting out!