Check "Installing a Below-deck Autopilot (C36 Mk II)" in the Technical - Upgrades library. Good detailed description with pictures. I have mine located in the lazarette, and plan to relocate it due to the possibility of it getting jammed by a piece of gear stored down there.

MarkM: Your Raymarine autopilot manual has a spec for a specific amount of rudder sensor arm swing. I believe the manual tells you exactly how far out from *rudder post center* the sensor arm should attach. You must mount the sensor arm at that distance so that it accomodates that spec. If you don't, you will have either too much or two little rudder feedback to the autopilot, and it won't steer properly. Take care to read the installation manual carefully. My photos show such a mounting for my S1G autopilot; however, I cannot believe Raymarine would have required a much different feedback signal in their other autopilot models. (Have a look at the article. One good photo is worth a thousand words, they say.)

Yes, I am pleased with the rudder sensor location, 1) because it is out of the lazarette where it would have been vulnerable to damage; 2) because it is easy to access for the installation; and 3) because it only needs a 2 x 4 wooden block as a mounting pad. One caution: When drilling holes to mount the wooden block, you must avoid drilling through the cockpit sole. Once I determined the maximum safe drill depth, I placed a small wrap of masking tape on the drill bit at that point as a visual stop limit. Then I drilled very "gently," so that a sudden different resistive feel in the drill bit wouldn't cause me to lurch forward and thus pop through to the cockpit floor.

Thanks for the compliment on the article, Gary.

Just move it closer to the rudder post. This is not a C-36 but should give you and idea. I simply sandwiched a piece of flat bar stock aluminum, under the rudder stop, to move the RPS pivot ball closer to the rudder stock, to have less swing..

[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/108614758.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks, Maine Sail, but the C36 layout is quite a bit different from the photo you post above.

The good news is that the C36 lends itself to an easier - dare I say, more elegant - solution. Check out my article in the Technical - Upgrades section.

[QUOTE=LCBrandt;4707]Thanks, Maine Sail, but the C36 layout is quite a bit different from the photo you post above.

The good news is that the C36 lends itself to an easier - dare I say, more elegant - solution. Check out my article in the Technical - Upgrades section.[/QUOTE]

Larry,

Sorry but I am not a member as I used to own a C-36 but no longer do. If I still belonged to every owners assoc of every boat I owned I'd be broke..:D

Can you hot link to a photo from that article? I have lots of photos of RPS installs like a C-310 my CS and a couple of customer boats too but no C-36....

Well, I've been thinking about posting the photos...but then I have to admit to myself that our organization exists for the benefit of C36 owners, and survives by paid up C36IA Memberships (capital M).

A one-year Membership costs only 30 bucks. Given the huge library of Upgrade and Maintenance articles available here, that small amount seems to me to be a great value to anyone owning a Catalina 36. And particularly, given the expense of purchasing an autopilot, and the sizable investment in labor to install it, the potential payback on a lousy $30 investment is huge.

As to the specifics of a Rudder Position Sensor installation on a C36, my article not only offers useful photos, but also has a narrative that is helpful, as well. So anyone interested in a C36 autopilot install...join up. Help support the C36IA....and have at your fingertips an exceptional support organization, whose sole reason for being is to enhance the value of your, my, and everyone's Catalina 36.

(Maine Sail...I'm not preaching at you, but your post offered me an opportunity to make a pitch on behalf of our organization. You're not my 'target audience'; non-Member C36 owners are. Thanks for your patience and your participation.)

Rodd,
Your boat has to be the cleanest CS36 in existence. Truly impressive. My best friend owns one also, and I know the area in your photo intimately!!