Here's an alternative. I don't know anything about it, other then whats on the website.
[EMAIL="http://www.cptautopilot.com/"]http://www.cptautopilot.com/[/EMAIL]
It looks like it's a little more $$$ then Raymarine wheel gizmo but a lot less then a below deck unit.

We, too, have an ST3000. When it gives up the ghost I'm planning on a CPT. I have NO desire to interface anything. The CPT is a course keeping autopilot, as compared to a course seeking unit. Their website is quite good, suggest you read it all. I've visited them in Aptos, CA, and the unit is robust with a much larger drive motor than the toy ST3000.

Most discussions on this board indicate that wheel drives for our boats are at the end of their range in boat weight, and that below decks units are the way to go. Lots depends on how "bad" conditions are when you plan to use one.

Also note that most wheel pilots won't work in following seas.

[url]http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Wacky_Autopilots[/url]

[url]http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Below-deck_Autopilot_Considerati...

As i recall there is a very good writeup (or two) on this C36 website about how to install a below decks unit.

I was considering the CPT autopilot, but rejected it for two reasons. First is that they way it's set up it wouldn't fit with the way my wheel and binnacle are set up. Second is that the belt for it is exposed. Normally this would be no problem but we sometimes take our dogs sailing, and I'm worried about one of them getting a tail or an ear caught in it.

I have the Raymarine ST 4000+ autopilot, which is about the equivalent of the most heavy duty wheel AP that they make now. I haven't found that it's not heavy duty enough for almost any sea conditions here (although I didn't try using it in the conditions seen on my video on this web site!) If I have to replace it, though, I think I will bite the bullet and go to a below-deck AP. Why install a new AP that might, under some conditions, not be strong enough? (I think that normally it would be fine since the main thing, as far as I understand it, is not so much the size and weight of the boat but how well balanced it is.)

I installed a Raymarine X-5 last year. So far the unit has worked flawlessly in almost all but a few days I sailed on the San Francisco Bay. I sail all year round and typically sail one to two days a week given the time.

There have been only a few exceptions when the auto pilot was not used. One day I got caught in the slot without a reef and my rig was definitely not balanced (20-30+ knot winds. I should have known better but I was sailing solo and coming from the north bay where the winds were a pleasant 10 knots???) or when the wind was blowing and seas were so rough that I felt hand steering was a must. Steering in those conditions by hand was even a challenge.

It should be noted that with my rigs balanced (and yes, reefed) I have used the unit in 20+ knot conditions without a hitch.

I agree with the above posts that a below deck auto pilot would be the way to go if you have the extra money and were planning on sailing out in the ocean. But so far the X-5, for the type of sailing I do, has fit the bill.

If you are in the market of the X-5 check Defender.Com/. They had refurbished units for a great price last week.

Chris

[QUOTE]First is that they way it's set up it wouldn't fit with the way my wheel and binnacle are set up.[/QUOTE]

John, is there anything unusual about your set up? Other then the potential belt/ear-nose-tail conflict, could you say what wouldn't fit, or what got in the way of something else? Thanks.

[QUOTE=Solla Sollew;7570]John, is there anything unusual about your set up? Other then the potential belt/ear-nose-tail conflict, could you say what wouldn't fit, or what got in the way of something else? Thanks.[/QUOTE]

One of the worst things about getting older is the tendency to forget words. I meant to say the pedestal. The way the instruments are mounted on it doesn't leave sufficient room down below for mounting that CPT autopilot.

I tried to post a photo, but for some reason I get the message "invalid file". This is after I "photoshopped" it to reduce it in size.

John's right that the Mark II pedestal is somewhat daunting to install exposed belt autopilots. Our Mark I makes it easy, so starting with an exposed belt ST3000, the CPT is easy. Also, John's the one with the dog!:D

Chris, as far as coming down from the north to the Slot, we usually drop our main and sail down on jib alone, it's a lot easier ride. But coming from Pt.Blount to Treasure island end up mostly in quartering seas, which are the worst for autopilots to handle.

But even so, with my links to our Wacky Autopilot article, it's the quartering seas that'll show us that smaller autopilots can't handle them because of lack of anticipation in the software, strength and hard-over time. My ST3000 works great hading upwind and in following seas. Quartering seas? Fagettaboutit.

"Quartering seas? Fagettaboutit."

Sorry, Stu, it doesn't seem right with that accent. The proper pronunciation (in New Jersey) is "Fuhgheddaboudit."

Larry, thanks! I was reaching for the right spelling, but spell check was NO help!:):)

That's exactly what I meant!:D

Do I recall from your excellent Cruise post that yours did just fine in gnarly conditions? What autopilot do you have?

I have had a below deck Ray Marine ST6000 direct (mechanical not hydraulic) dirve for about 3 years. It has worked great even in very choppy 30 knot conditions on Lake Ontario. (Probably not too different from San Franciso Bay though I've never had the pleasure to sail there.) It is definitely much quieter than wheel driven models.

I had a small problem intially with a griniding sound below decks that took a while to sort out. It turned out that the nut of the connection between the direct drive arm and the steering quadrant kept loosening off. This was corrected by adding a nylon washer and "double nutting" the connection bolt. No grinding sounds since in three years.

Rick Verbeek
Southpaws
Toronto (It's cold up here!)
C36 1999 - #1763

I bought my last autopilot from them and everything was satisfactory. I just got their promotional email announcing this price.

Southern Comfort took a Lightning strike not quite two years ago which is a sea story in itself to be told later.

The Raymarine wheelpilot 4000 + got fried. We sail the Chesapeake which is generally docile and on the dealer's advice that was what I installed in 2001. Mistake - we tried all the Catalina Cocktails and other assorted voodoo to get it to work and under power it was OK for at least 5 minutes at a time. Under sail it might have worked for a minute or two as long as the wind was under 10 knots. You are also correct that the real cruising weight of our boats is probably closed to 16-17,000 lbs which is well above the upper limit of the wheelpilot.

You're absolutely right about the cost differential about a below decks pilot. They are pricey relative to the wheelmounts which can be self installed fairly easily. But for a below decks unit you'd better be small, flexible and able to do some drilling in the steering quadrant, attaching a steering arm to the quadrant - affixing a solid mount in the transom etc. It is a big and exacting job.

The pain of expense was quickly forgotten by the superb job the pros did in installing and by the great job of seakeeping it does - especially under sail in moderately heavy wind. I now have another crew member that can be relied on. in the final years of the C36 production Catalina stopped offering the wheelpilots because of the troubles noted above.

I had a Raymarine 6000 below decks auto pilot on my last 36. It truly is a joy to behold when compared to the 4000 wheel pilot I have now. One bonus that you get with it is an emergency tiller. If the steering breaks, you can steer the boat with the A/P since it is a direct rudder attachment. I once docked my boat with the remote just to try it. Now that was fun! If my 4000 gives up the ghost, and I quit thinking about moving to a 42 (doh!), I'd give serious thought to putting a below decks A/P on my boat. It really is the best solution.

Mike