auto-pilot (mechanical steering?)

[rsfrail]

I'm glad I'm not the only one with mechanical steering on a bigger boat. I was considering the wheel pilot- due to the cost, but dont think it will work cause of boat weight. (7000 dry- 278 BAHA)
Now I'm wanting, and waiting from a reply from Raymarine on using the X-10, P90R head hooked to a Linear 1 acuator, they asked to see a picture of rudder area. It mentions only about sailing vessels-BUT a overall 24000lb weight. Im thinking I maybe at 10,000lbs full (7000 dry)
Now what can be any different I ask? Im thinking it will be controlling the boat at high speeds which a sailboat can't achieve???? (Im guessing...) So then why not upgrade to the Linear 2 ram for the much larger sailing vessel? Im just tring to get away from the hydo upgrade. BOAT = Bring On Another Thousand, Right?
I will post what I find out from the Raymarine people, hoping it will work.

Come on Spring

[cooleyfarms]

I have a 24' sportcraft walkaround and installed a Simrad auto pilot purchased from Happy Days Boating in Port Clinton 4 years ago. It was simple to install by myself since you remove the steering cable from the old manual steer unit, remove the old unit, install the new unit (all the holes lined up), and rethread the steering cable. Biggest problem was lack of space between the steering mount wall and cabin wall and I had to open a hole in the cabin wall to make room for the new unit's mechanism. Hooked a wire to the fuse panel and it was a go. The controls are on a coiled extension wire so I can reach to the back of the boat if needed. I fish a lot by myself or with one other person and netting is no longer a problem nor watching poles for "fish on". In higher winds the unit can't control the boat well when facing a headwind. But other conditions it works well. Noticed no difference between units as far as steering drag when unit is off. It does not shut off automatically if you try to steer when it is on, but this has not been a problem for me.