Jefa Direct Drive Unit

When I purchased my 400e 2007 manufacture early in 2020, the Autopilot drive unit was missing.

As part of overall refurbishment I fitted a B&G DD15 Autopilot drive made by Jefa and identical dimensions to original unit. At the same time I replaced the Fluxgate heading compass with the latest B&G Precision-9 solid-state compass, fitted on centreline and close to waterl evel under the front Pullman berth, and also replaced the Autopilot computer with B&G NAC-3 unit.

The autotune process was very easy after commissioning the Compass first.

Maiden voyage was 532Nm mostly about 50-60Nm off the East coast of Australia, during which we got caught for 10 hours in unpleasant weather,  with following breeze up to 43Kn, and average 35-38Kn.  Sailing with 3 reefs in the mainsail, about 30% headsail, and steep following seas.

The performance of this  Autopilot combination was truly awesome, vastly superior to any Autopilot I've ever come across, and better than helmsman I've ever sailed with could at night in those conditions.  We sailed 150-160 degrees TWA the whole time using the Autopilot. During that time we were broached about 50 times during after rudder limit was reached , and a warning displayed on the chartplotter, but the Autopilot stayed engaged and made incredible recovery of course in incredibly short time. It has a special control feature now that it will automatically retune itself to changed conditions. Just like magic.

During that storm our maximum speed over ground was recorded as 18Kn, and in  those 10 hours we travelled 120Nm. All the while using the Autopilot to helm despite 2 experienced helmsman onboard. We both agreed the Autpilot could do it better, 100% consistent.

If you think your Autopilot isn't doing a good job, I suggest you seriously consider upgrading to the latest 9-Axis compass and Autopilot computer. They are just like magic how well this latest technology works. You might be amazed, as we were.