Autopilot PS 34

[jimhuggins0350]

Would be interested in knowing brand/type of autopilot used by others with Pacific Seacraft 34. I have Simrad WP 30 that I will be replacing in near future.

Thanks for your input.

[steneck]

I had an AUTOHELM ST6000 on our PSC 34. It worked very well but it had become intermittent in the last year. Raymarine said they didn't service it so they suggested I get their new P70 pilot controller as the equivalent of my old Sea Talk autopilot.

While the P70 has lots of good bells and whistles, I'm less impressed with how it holds on course. It wanders on new courses. It tracks better up wind than if wind is abaft abeam. Autopilots are famously poor under such conditions but it seems to me that my old unit held the line better.

I also find the P70 over steers but when I turn down the sensitivity it falls off the line.

Some of these problems may be my learning curve. I've been out about 25 days with the P70. I just wish I could say I love this new unit but I can't yet.

Bob Steneck
PSC Alaria
Christmas Cove, Maine

[Norstar]

We installed the Raymarine Wheel Pilot model a few years ago and it seems to work fine. I believe it's rated for up to 16,500 # displacement. However, if I were to do it over again, I would go with a below deck mount with the drive arm attached directly to the rudder post for the added benefit of having an independent emergency steering system. Also much less operating noise. Space below deck in the 34 steering area is limited but the installation is doable.

John S
PSC 34 #201
"Norstar"

[cheoah]

Raymarine X5 wheel pilot, works pretty well. John is right though, it is noisy sometimes. Kept a course reasonably well this summer on a downwind run on Chesapeake. Buoy data confirmed winds above 30 kts, but it was a dead downwind run and waves were square to stern. Still impressed though, even if I did helm through the strongest winds, for fear of broaching.