I have a 27' Sportcraft with an Inboard and mechanical steering. The dry weight of the boat is 5600 lbs. The SPX-5R is within my price range but says with mech. steering max weight is 4000 lbs. To step up to a below deck pilot you are forced to buy everything (course computer, control head, drive unit) seperatly, causing the price to climb to nearly double that of a wheel pilot.If I install Hydraulic steering the SPX-5R is rated to 7700 lbs. But hyd. steering is about $1700. So still not saving any $$$ and adding a bunch of work. So what I believe Ron is thinking is using the Linear Drive unit in place of the Hydraulic ones taht are more commonly included with below deck pilots and sold as a kit at a substantial discount over buying seperate. That is what I believe I have to do. Raymarine also sells a Universal Stern Drive for about $800 less than their cheapest Linear Drive. I have often wondered if this would adapt easily to an Inboard. If anybody knows of a better alternative I weould definitly be interested in hearing it. This will be my fourth season on Erie and auto pilot sounds better and better every year.