auto-pilot (mechanical steering?)

[rsfrail]

With all of the winter talk, and getting boat ants in my pants, thought I'd ask if anyone has any expirence with the Linear actuator Type 1 (raymarine) on a mechanically steered vessel? They seem to stick with the sailboat description on website, but would like a power boaters opinion on system.
Looking to add auto-pilot on a 28' with mech. steering and would like any input...GOOD or BAD! Major question is how much drag is on system when steering manually/ standby mode? Thanks for any advise- looks like the ice is starting to form, be safe to all ice men! (i wont fish out there till i see a episode of Ice Road Truckers filmed on that water...lol) take care-ron

[ReelTime]

If I were you I would go over to www.thehulltruth.com and post the question or probably just search that forum. Lots of knowledge over there.

[anotario]

The best autopilot I ever had was my wife!http://community.walleye.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Prime Time 2]

I had a four winns 26' with 260hp and alpha 1, power assisted cable steer.
We had anchor marine in erie put a sport pilot on and loved it, I had bought this for my wife as a mothers day gift, Ya. She was not impressed, said that i no longer needed her to fish. Just the opposite, now we fish and not try to keep streight or she tanned on the bow and I wached the poles, don't know how we went so long without one, on stand by it is harder to stear but not bad, only issue is that it is noisy.
We had sold that boat and just purchased another, A new autopilot is now installed and I can't wait till spring.
Good luck if you get one.

[shouldabeen]

I have a 21' Trophy Walkaround with a MerCruiser 190 IO. It has cable steer with power assist. This past summer I put on a Raymarine Smart Pilot X-5R Auto pilot with a P70R controler. I love it wish I didn't wait so long to get it. Very easy to operate. In standbye it is stiffer to steer but not bad.

[eye-man]

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.