I replaced my Raymarine Autopilot about two years ago. Trying to get an old one is not a good idea. I also own a 380 catalina up in Greenport NY. Anyway on the 380 I have the old system that still works but the control is down below so I don't have the plastic wheel around the steering wheel. It is much better but is a hard install on the 36. Why you have to go down in the bilge and refabricate a place to but the remote arm. There is an article on how to do it but I feel it is a lot of work and not easy to get too. i did install a new unit with the plastic wheel on the steering wheel. The problem is the additional grey box that is part of the installation i put this box on the reverse side of the NavPod and it fits nicely. I also installed the new compass down below in the back cabin along the ceiling on the port side. It is not a very hard job. i bought both my boats off hurricanes each one in different state of damage I think it is a reasonable way to acquire a good boat and not spend an fortune. I have my 1995 since 2004. I can send you pictures of the two items in the new Raymarine autopilots if you will find it useful. Steve

I reread your post. If you have a below server arm already installed you would be crazy to get rid of it. A new arm is around $1200 when I bought it 2009 for my 380 its the way to go if your boat is already set up for it. Just put a new unit in where the old one was and your set. Even if you have to also but the current unit as I explained before it is not a hard job. if money is the issue i have no easy answer for you. Sorry 

the Raymarine EV-1 - 200 is working great for me.  

It is time for me to put a new Autopilot in my 1988 C36MK1 Swept Away.

I am looking at the Raymarine EV100 for simplicity and because I think it will suffice for my needs.

However I do have a B&G Chartplotter and instruments, so an alternative would be a B&G SD10 electric rod drive or T0 hydraulic ram below deck. Do any of you have experience with those?

Best regards,

Daniel

I just swapped out my broken auto-pilot for a Raymarine EV-100 p70 (wheel pilot pack) last year. I installed it while in the moorings of Block Island, It took about 5 hours and many beers while my wife was reading on deck (without beer it would have been done in 3 hours).    Ahhh I love working on my boat, especially outside on a mooring it was a beatiful perfect day.   When done I jumped in the water to freshen up.... oops  sorry I tend to digress.   When heading back north to Marion I followed the instructions for it to auto-calibrate and it worked life a charm then and thereafter.   I installed the backbone and computer board (SPX) unit in the back of the closet of the aft berth and the  sensor core component to the right outside of the closet of  the lazarette bulkhead.  I was poorly advised on the installation of the control unit, I recommend installing it so that you reach it when behind the wheel!  I repurposed an out of commission instrument on the right side of the companionway.   I was told that when in autopilot you are typcially not behind the wheel so it was not necessary to have it placed at the wheel.   However when in autopilot I find myself behind the wheel so in order to disengage I need to leave the wheel or employ a guest as the official Auto-Pilot Engineer :).

I have had two, wheel pilots, and last spring I installed a below deck EV-200. It can be a little claustrophobic (I'm 5'10") and it was a PIA, but once done it was a big improvement over the wheel pilot. It tracks much better, it's quiet. If the wheel linkage fails you can steer electronically. The wheel pilot sucks with following seas and occasionally forces me to hand steer. The EV-200 handles those conditions nicely. The second photo was during a rudder replacement a couple of years ago, it's tighter quarters in there now. I keep a cell phone handy when in there.

I have had a Raymarine EV-100 wheel pilot for about 5 seasons.  It does fine most of the time.  I was having downwind issues with it, but found that if I adjust the reaction time a bit (slowed it down) it seemed to have corrected the problem.  It is sensitive to balance and overcanvasing though.  If the wind is really blowing and I haven't reefed, the autopilot does not hold course well at all.  In other words, it is important to reef the main and reduce the headsail a bit in 20+ kts of wind to maintain balance, instead of just dropping the main and sailing under headsail alone.  The added pressure this puts on the rudder is too much for the autopilot to handle, and the boat will want to just round up all the time.  I think in reality, the EV-100 is probably a little too light duty for our boats, but if you aren't doing any serious cruising it works just fine for the cost of it, in my opinion.  I have a MK1.5 wing keel/tall rig, if that helps.