Raymarine Autohelm & Solar Panel

[dougshipl]

We want to install a autohelm in our 46' sloop. We already have a Raymarine C70 for GPS. Thoughts on sticking with same mfg for autohelm or alternative recommendations on mfg & type? Planning to do 1 to 2 week ocean passages.

Seocn d question is that we saw a previous thread re solar panels. Are they worth it? If so, recommended mfg and size please. We would be running a few cabin lights, nav equipment, running lights and the autohelm noted above. Would be charging 4 banks of 105 or possible dedicated bank.

Thanks much.

[camaraderie]

Simrad Robertson...hydraulically assisted auto pilots rather tha screw driven. Responsive and interfaces just fine with Raymarine stuff.

Solar question. Is quite well discussed on the thread you noted.
How much room do you have. No refrigeration to soak up amps? No SSB?? What are your DAILY average amphour needs?? That is where to start. See my chart on the original thread to calculate. No one can advise anything meaningful with the data you've given.

[sailingdog]

Cam's right... without a meaningful electrical budget, can't really say much. The lights could vary quite a bit, halogen vs. LED is a very significant difference in power draw. Same for the nav lights and so on...

While wiring a Raymarine autopilot into the existing system might be a just a bit simpler, especially if you're going to do it yourself, there isn't that much of a savings to make sticking with Raymarine your only choice. Especially since Raymarine has an abbreviated warranty on user-installed gear in some cases... and the more advanced autopilots may be included in that list of gear.

[dougshipl]

Ok, thank you. And Ill check previous thread as suggested.

[jbzeichner]

Have you been satisfied with the C70. I have been told that is hard to see in full sunlight and that I should really go for the E80, but that is another $1300 more than double the price.