What experiences (good or bad) have people had with aftermarket autopilot installations?

Thanks!

Not a direct answer to your question but it may me useful. Our 2009 350 came with a factory fitted Jeffa drive unit and a Northstar Explorer control. We always found this very clunky and aggressive to use even after playing with the software options. After a lightning strike we replaced the damaged drive unit with a Raymarine ACU 200, which is a pleasure to use and I am sure much kinder to the steering system. Attached is a picture of the installed drive unit.

Good luck

Bob

Hi Phil,

Installing an autopilot sounds daunting, but it’s fairly simple actually. An autopilot is made up of two parts. One part is the drive unit (that does the physical work) and one part is the brain that tells the drive unit what to do.

For the first part, you should really only consider using the http://jefa.com/steering/steering.htm" rel="nofollow - Jefa DD1 , the black box shown in the picture below (same as Bob). It is simply attached to the boat by drilling four through holes, one in each corner, and bolting in place with a washer and nuts (see picture 3). The Hanse 350 has already an uploads/5035/Reinforcement_plates.pdf" rel="nofollow - embedded reinforcement in that place designed for the drive unit.

Picture 1. Drive unit. The circles marks the drill holes through the hull.

A rod is then connected from the unit to the rudder. The placement of the unit is not needed to be terrible precise, just make sure that the “arm” can swing freely. That’s it! All done for that part unless you need a rudder position indicator (that’s the other arm on the left in Bob’s picture), which brings us to the second part.

There are numerous of suppliers to choose from, but if you choose Garmin, Raymarine or B&G, you can get the Jefa DD1 with integrated rudder position sensor and you don’t need to do anything else. If you choose another system you need to install the sensor, as seen on Bob’s picture.

I’m using a http://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/599839" rel="nofollow - Garmin autopilot , which consist of four pieces. A Helm Control Display, a Course Computer Unit (CCU), a Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and an audio alarm buzzer. See picture below.

Picture 2. Autopilot components

The helm control display needs to be cut in place in the cockpit on either starboard or port side. This is where you set and control the autopilot. I’ve placed the CCU and ECU in the starboard side of the stern transom, just screwed directly into the wood bulkhead. The picture below shows the placement of the ECU. The CCU is placed on the other side of the maintenance hatch.

Picture 3. Stern transom

All you need now is to do the connections between the Jefa and the autopilot. This is really also straight forward and the autopilot manual will have a good description of that. Luckily, Hanse have already pulled the power cable to the transom, so you don’t have to worry about connecting cables to the boat. All you have to do is cut the cable in the transom and connect it to the autopilot unit. All done.

Now, once you have done all this you may consider installing a http://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/541622" rel="nofollow - wind vane and a http://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/cOnTheWater-c519-p1.html" rel="nofollow - plotter too, in order to fully enjoy and get all out of your new autopilot. But that’s another thread.

Good luck with it all.

The point of only tap is not if it is strong enough or not, but is is very easy to get stolen.

Much things on our hanses are only mounted with scews from the ouatside , and with bolts all the way with nuts makes stealing less easy.

I did the brilliant install suggested by Rob with the SD10. I used B&G Triton 3 plus NAC-2 control system. Very cost  effective and it is completely noise free. I would argue this is just as effective as the DD15 install and a real alternative.

I (myself) have installed a Jefa DD1 which as far as I know is identical to the Simrad DD15 (Both manufactured by Jefa). As you can read in this forum, the Jefa works okay for yachts below 45 feet. You may have to consider to further seal the unit with some kind of sealant in all places where moisture can possibly enter. (E.g the assembly between bottom and upper part). The unit is (as is) not able to withstand a high pressure cleaning. As for the abovementioned advice: "......placement of the unit is not needed to be terrible precise", I will strongly advice you to read the instructions on the Jefa homepage. If you follow those instructions there may be a warranty in case of a failure. It is crucial that the drive is placed correctly and indeed "terrible precise".

There are a few posts here on myhanse on the subject.

I have wheel drive right now and it is not enough in a gust or in waves from behind.

I bought a 2008 H350 with no autopilot and installed a Raymarine EV200 with a Jeffa drag link and drive. 

A few overnights of hand-steering what to me is a very maneuverable but fairly twitchy boat convinced me to spend the money, and I have been glad ever since.

The combination is rock-solid and power consumption is very reasonable. The limiting factor in any kind of breeze is the boat's single rudder.

If you want the model numbers or details on where we installed the sensor unit and computer let me know and I can send specs and photos, although the boat is stored for the winter on Toronto Island and I don't expect to be over there until my club's "Pat Your Boat Day" in February... if this is a winter project and you can wait, I can take some detailed photos then.

 

Thanks. I am looking for the info on the SD10 install. SD15 is too expensive for me.