INSTALLING A GARMIN/JEFA CLASS A DRIVE UNIT ON SO 35

[vsergio]

INSTALLING A GARMIN/JEFA CLASS A DRIVE UNIT ON A JEANNEAU SO 35



The Unit:



Choosing a mounting location:


After measuring the space available in the rudder/quadrant section and after reading the installation manual, I decided that ideally the Garmin drive unit should be mounted as much as possible in parallel with the bottom of the swim platform. In order to comply with the minimum and maximum free movement of the unit as per manufacturers instructions, the inside of the swim platform inside had to be extended to starboard and bow by 15 cm. The plywood extension concoction I prepared was first glued with fast cure epoxy followed by glassing in to make it rock solid. Gelcoat was painted over just for cosmetic reasons.











Installing the tiller and tiller pin:









The drive can be installed directly to the quadrant or to a tiller that is mounted to the rudder shaft. I installed a Jefa tiller (made for 50mm shafts) and the tiller pin.


Mounting the drive unit:

First, I attached the drive unit to the tiller followed by drilling and securing the drive unit to the glassed extension with SS bolts and nylocks.









Calibration of the Drive Unit:



Before connecting the drive unit to the electronics, it is essential to test the movement of the drive unit and make sure it is not restricting the full movement of the quadrant from bumper to bumper. Adjust the tiller angle to ensure the quadrant is not restricted.

[balticus]

That' s a very interesting article for me! Particularly because I also want to shift from Autohelm / Ray to Garmin.
Just started with installing A NMEA2000 triducer with two Garmin Displays + Windvane. Up to now i'm very happy with the stuff!

For some reason all your pics are no visible here in the forum. Could you possibly re- post them? If not I#D be interested in receiving them via PN.

How are your experiences with the Autopilot so far? Is it (supposedly) as good as the EVO from Ray?

Looking forward to hear / read and kind regards,

Michael

[vsergio]

May 5, 2017 15:33:27 GMT balticus said:

That' s a very interesting article for me! Particularly because I also want to shift from Autohelm / Ray to Garmin.
Just started with installing A NMEA2000 triducer with two Garmin Displays + Windvane. Up to now i'm very happy with the stuff!

For some reason all your pics are no visible here in the forum. Could you possibly re- post them? If not I#D be interested in receiving them via PN.

How are your experiences with the Autopilot so far? Is it (supposedly) as good as the EVO from Ray?

Looking forward to hear / read and kind regards,

Michael

Hi Michael,

Not sure where and how the pics are gone from imgur. If you provide me with your email address I will send you all the pics I have related to the installation of the Jefa/ Garmin on my boat.
So far the autopilot works great and is so much better than the Raymarine I had before.

[irlontop]

HI Vsergio, 

Could you send the pics onto me please? they seem to have gone missing, 

Thanks

[MalcolmP]

Jan 14, 2019 19:27:14 GMT irlontop said:

HI Vsergio, 

Could you send the pics onto me please? they seem to have gone missing, 

Thanks

Sergio has kindly sent me the images and I have now reinserted them. I will also make a Hints and Tips article for future reference.

[MalcolmP]

Jan 17, 2019 10:09:16 GMT MalcolmP said:

Jan 14, 2019 19:27:14 GMT irlontop said:

Sergio has kindly sent me the images and I have now reinserted them. I will also make a Hints and Tips article for future reference.

 Hints and Tips article now published at:

www.jeanneau-owners.com/hintsandtips/SO35autopilot.html

[faisdodo]

Sergio,

Thank you for the detailed post.  I am very interested in installing the same autopilot system as you.  My autohelm has a mind of its own at times...  I am curious how to access the rudder shaft.  It looks like you have access to that portion of the boat in your pictures.  I do not have an opening on the stern wall other than the one opening below the steering post.