Ray Marine EV-100 Auto Pilot

[moctrams]

I don’t know if anyone has watched the videos for the Ray Marine EV-100 Auto-Pilot and how easy to install. I had my doubts after installing other auto-pilots from Ray Marine. My old Auto Helm 4000 was awkward to use, so I decided to buy the EV-100 and a cost of $1466. After unboxing and reviewing the installation figures, it did not take long to figure out the 3 foot spur cables could not be used to cable the P70 Control Head at the helm or the EV-1 Sensor located in the V-berth. I ordered two 13 foot spur cables with a price tag of $41.00 each and an Edson pod for $269.00. The cable for the wheel drive was too short so I spliced 3 feet of #16 blue/brown wires to the cable to reach the Control Unit. I had almost had it installed and still have to order a 1’-3” backbone cable and a spur terminator for a cost of $35.00. Ray Marine has a market lock on wheel pilots and little engineering is done for sailboats. They say they have an additional installation kit, but I doubt it would have what I need. Next step is to take the boat out and the EV-100 learn the boat. More later.

Ad was in Sail Magazine.

[Jeff and Sarah]

I use one on our 33' and love it. What a great unit! We named it George and George has become a valued crew member on board. He lets my wife and I split sailing and child wrangling responsibilities with greater ease. The remote is a worthy option as well.

[Jim Walsh]

I'm pretty sure that's the same unit Steve Laume just installed on Raven a couple months ago. Perhaps he will chime in to tell us how its been working.

[Jeff and Sarah]

If it isn't too late to return a few items, consider returning some of your cables and the Edison pod, mount the P70 below deck, and order a remote. I agree the cables are unreasonably expensive (and the remote did require a $90 adapter just to take the receiver from the old SeaTalk cable to the new SeaTalk NG cable) but the system does work very well. My limiting factor so far has been an insufficient battery bank to use the autopilot for very long under sail. That won't be a problem for much longer as my electrical upgrade is nearing completion. Under power I now only man the helm when docking or navigating channels. If I'm navigating anywhere else, George has the wheel. I stay close by of course (or carry the remote), but my hands are off. George is much more attentive to holding a heading than I am anyway- he doesn't seem to get distracted by passing boats, scenery, or wildlife like I do sometimes.

[moctrams]

I'm not talking about the quality of the EV-100. The extra cost of extra cables, etc. is the big issue. Ray Marine is the only company that makes a really 21st century wheel pilot and they exploit it. They need some engineers.

[Tom Keevil]

We bought the EV-100 p70 Wheel Pilot Pack for around $1500. It included the cable kit, and had everything we needed for installation. We put the control head in the cockpit, the actuator control unit in the stern lazarette, the sensor core under the galley sink (a poor choice - too much magnetic interference), and the cable connector thing in the starboard cockpit locker.

Compared to the dead Autohelm 4000 that we removed, installation was incredibly complex. It didn't help that we were doing it in the rain in Sitka.

It works very well, except that the magnetic heading is off. That's not really important to us, as we use the compass or the gps to get the boat on the heading we want, and tell the autopilot to go there, regardless of what it thinks the heading is. We're not interested in interfacing it to all sorts of other electronic whiz-bang devices; we just want to go in a straight line of our choice. It's a big improvement over the 4000 unit.

This summer we did develop a problem. The lever on the wheel drive will sometimes pop out. Generally this is not a problem, as it still works just fine. It seems like the belt is too tight, even though we have the tension adjuster completely eased off. Will probably try a new belt and see if that helps.

[Steve Laume]

Well I have finally been able to log back in after changing computers. Note to self: follow log in directions, carefully.

My old auto pilot was named Drifty. The thing was a mess since day one. It used to wander all over the place to the point that I was worried that fellow boaters might think I was drunk and or going to hit them. I would usually have to disengage it in close passing situations so as not to seen the wrong message of intent or cause a collision. It really was that bad. It also completely locked up a couple of times where I had to physically remove the thing from the wheel to be able to steer the boat by hand.

I installed the EV-100 a few months ago and it was very straight forward. I made up a beveled mounting board to fit inside the cockpit locker for the control head and connecting block. It needs to be mounted on a vertical surface. My display is right there in the foot well. Not the easiest access for use but it doesn't need that much attendance in the way that I use it. My problem was more a matter of one of the cables being way too long. I walked back up to our ships store where I bought the thing for a price that matched Defenders sale. I asked Paul about a shorter cable and he just swapped with me as the longer one that was worth more. The only problem I encountered was that the installation directions were unclear or which of the two wires connected to which terminal on the wheel drive motor. It became pretty clear when the boat started to veer from course and then attempted to correct until it was doing a tight 360. I reversed the wires and it works great.

The plug in wires might be expensive but they sure are easy to deal with and the connections should stay corrosion free.

I have yet to test it in truly challenging conditions. I just came back from a trip out to Block Canyon and the wind died on the last day so I motor sailed or motored with the sails up for about six hours with a very light following breeze and ocean swells. The best testament to how well the thing worked is that I never noticed it. I also use it for taking down sails and no long fear that it will decide to go off on a flyer and tack or jibe while I am at the mast or hanging over the boom with sail ties in hand.

Most of the time I use the wind vane whenever I am sailing, so battery consumption is not an issue. The auto pilot now works great and is a necessity for single handing when there is no wind but the vane is still my primary helmsman. I hate to hand steer. I might be able to do a better job for a few minutes but soon lose concentration. In dense fog; forget about it.

Now the only thing I have left to do is, replace the cable to the chart plotter that some idiot snipped off while thinking it went to the old auto pilot. At least I have been getting some practice, transferring Lat and Long from the hand held to a chart, Steve.

[Steve Laume]

Tom, my old wheel drive used to "pop out of gear" all the time. I kept a loop of bungee cord there to keep it engaged. Not something you should have to do on a brand new unit but it might help until you get around to fixing it.

One other thought is that maybe it needs more tension instead of less.

Keeping everything together on one board made the installation very easy. I use mine pretty much the way you do. Find my heading, punch auto and then play with the plus and minus buttons to fine tune.

My compass is surprisingly close to the read out display, Steve.

[Jim Walsh]

Now the only thing I have left to do is, replace the cable to the chart plotter that some idiot snipped off while thinking it went to the old auto pilot.

[Keith]

I use a bungee as well to keep my old 4000 lever from jumping out of the lock position.

[Steve Laume]

Now the only thing I have left to do is, replace the cable to the chart plotter that some idiot snipped off while thinking it went to the old auto pilot.

Hey they were both black wires and they were way up under the cockpit sole, where it is dark and hard to see or reach. What can I say?

[Maine Sail]

I'm not talking about the quality of the EV-100. The extra cost of extra cables, etc. is the big issue. Ray Marine is the only company that makes a really 21st century wheel pilot and they exploit it. They need some engineers.

This is exactly how Raymaine makes money. They price the main "product" at a competitive price point then SLAM you with the cost of additional bits and pieces "not included" with the main product.

Try telling a customer who thinks the AP is $1500.00 that they now need the rudder reference sensor, multiple drop cables, and a Seatalk 1 to Seatalk ng converter etc. etc., on and on, and they often walk for the lowest bidder who is not being honest with them.. Know what? They still get the same package in the end only the low bidder misled them up front..

When I quote an EV-100 it includes everything needed for a proper installation. I will RARELY install one without a rudder reference sensor... The EV-100 is far from a $1500.00 autopilot and Raymarine knows this........ (grin)

Don't even get me going on the fact that they don't even ship a suncover with the Dragonfly 4" or 5" nor do they even produce one. D'oh....... Oh and the autopilot remotes, S100 and SmartController, are old school Seatalk 1, so on top of a $400.00 to $500.00+ remote you now need a Seatalk 1 to Seatalk ng converter. When asked when the new remotes would be out, that ran on the Seatalk ng bus, the response was "We have no plans for that."... Really how difficult would it have been to add an ST 1 bus to the ACU's... ??? But of course why do that when you can get more money out of a paying customer.....

Raymarine is the industry LEADER in additional purchased items needed for a complete install...

[David Morton]

I also use the bungee solution for my 4000. I was thinking of "upgrading", but sounds like the wheel drive on the newer models is no different. I did replace the belt in the wheel drive, but it didn't resolve the popping off problem as soon as the drive attempted to rotate the wheel. Not a great solution, but it keeps me in a straight line under power. Useless under sail, generally. Thinking perhaps an upgrade to a below deck drive might be the answer... a very expensive answer!

[jbenagh]

I use the bungee also, almost since the unit was new. I have the clutch set max tight it's it slips. I think the tensioner is just too small. I even replaced the belt which made it better but not too much.
Once it managed to jam with the wheel locked. We were in Soames sound. Fortunately I checked before we left the mooring and a friend found us the metric Allen key needed to remove the unit and get it fixed.
All in all it has been good for what we need it for which is mostly motoring in calm seas.
Jeff

[Keith]

Useless under sail, generally

I find that I can use the 4000 on all points of sail but my track looks like that of the wackiest ship in the Army if anyone remembers that movie.

Keith