Craig,

If you have a pedestal guard I would suggest you install a NavPod and install the X-5 control head there. Having the control head so far away from the wheel would make it awkward to turn the unit on and off at the same time locking the wheel motor at the same time. If you check out NavPod you will see they make a box that will hold a single control head with a bracket that locks onto your pedestal guard. You can fish the wires up your pedestal guard making it a clean install. It also beats cutting a large hole in your boat.

I installed my X-5 a few months. I secured it in a larger 3X NavPod secured to my pedestal guard. I got mine on eBay used. I have seen the single units offered there.

Chris

Having used my autopilot extensively over the past few years - and a LOT just in the past week - I am of the opinion that there is only one proper location for the AP control...near the helm.

Singlehanding, it's absolutely critical that it be readily accessable from the helm.

Greig,
If you don't want to add clutter to your helm/pedestal, another place you could mount it is outboard of the wheel, on either side coaming, facing inboard. Very easily reached and viewed while standing at the helm.

The location of that Tom suggests is exactly where I placed mine and it has worked out great, easily seen and easy to get to. The one problem I did encounter is when I have the cockpit cushions out, the seat cushion occasionaly slides back and hits the standby button on the control head. If I did it again I may mount the control head further aft to eliminate this problem, my depth sounder is aft in that location now and I may swap the two to avoid this problem. On my MKI this location for the control head was a natural as I mounted the autopilot processer in the aft closet under deck just below the control head. This made for a very short wire run.

If you want access to the control when away from the helm, I would highly recommend getting a wireless remote for the auto pilot. I have one and love it as it allows you to steer the boat from anywhere on board including down below at the chart table while watching you GPS.

As for mounting anything below the eyebrow to the sides of the companionway I would not recommend it. This is a great spot to sit to get out of the weather, especialy if you have a dodger. People will naturally sit there and lean up against this area blocking the view to what ever is there, if you buy a autopilot remote, this is where you will be sitting.
Another issue is if what you put there is wired, you then have the problem of hidding the wiriing inside the cabin.

Just my two cents.

Not to kidnap this thread, but how do people like the X5 on our boats? I have heard from some that it is a little under powered for heavy weather sailing. Experiences?

Tom's right. You do NOT want to be slave BEHIND the wheel. Place it so you can get to it from BOTH in front of and behind the wheel. The mroe you use it the LESS you will be behind the wheel. It's a MUCH more comfortable ride closer to midships. Here's our control head for our ST3000, same concept.

John,

I installed my X-5 about six months ago. I have given the unit a lot of exercise on the SF bay both unter sail and motor during extreme winds, 25+knots. So far the unit has worked flawlessly both under sail and power.

I have sailed the bay several times with winds averaging 15 to 25 knots using the X-5. I have not had any problems keeping course.

Two weeks ago I crossed the SF bay (under engine power) enroute from the Oakland estuary to Candlestick Park (South SF) to watch the KABOOM fireworks show. The winds were 30+ knots and I was taking water over the bow. I even had to put my fowl weather gear on to stay dry. The X-5 was given a workout and never missed a beat. It did not fail to keep its heading.

The one thing that I have found is that under extreme workouts the X-5 likes plenty of 12V juice. I also have a Raymarine C80 Chartplotter with an AIS and depth sounder modual which adds to the drain on the batteries. I have since upgraded my batteries to make sure I have plenty of juice to keep it happy.

Chris

Hi,
I am getting ready to install an X-5 and I had a question that follows this thread so i hope someone can supply an answer. I want to mount the computer on the bulkhead just aft of the chart table and want to run the wiring for the power unit (if that is the correct term) down inside the pedestal thru the lazzerite along the starboard side along with all the other wiring it have. the problem is I don't believe the 15ft of cable supplied is going to be enough to reach the computer.
so is there better way to run the wiring? can it be extended? what has anyone else done?
regards,

I installed the X5 last year, the control head went on the starboard side, just aft of the pockets in the cockpit, super easy access to wire and easy to engafge and disengage from helm postion