SO35 autopilot below deck

[irlontop]

Hi All,

Wondering if anyone has successfully fitted or commissioned a below deck elec or hydraulic autopilot,

Don’t want to go for a steering wheel mounted autopilot,

But being told that’s why only option.

TIA

[Don Reaves]

I've had a Raymarine ST4000+ on my SO 35 for 14 years. It's performed very well during that time, never failing to work. It's not as robust as a below-decks unit, but it seems well suited to a boat this size.

Don

[Deleted]

Likewise, I have a Raymarine S1 wheel pilot which has a separate course computer w/gyro. It functions flawlessly. The only drawback with wheel mounted pilots is noise, which you don't get with below deck installations. I've seen below deck installs on SO35s, but it requires glass work to build a platform for the drive.

[sitara]

There is a good chance that the SO35 was designed to take a below decks autopilot. On my SO36i there were even pre-drilled holes for mounting a Raymarine Type 1 drive unit. Actually the holes were only part drilled and only visible from where the drive unit was to be mounted, just a thin veneer covering them. Well worth having a good look.

[irlontop]

Thanks all, 

I think i can mount it to the front of the bulkhead that goes into where the steering is, 

I have the two cabin version, so ram would be mounted in the garage area onto the bulkhead, and would need to cut access for the ram into the quadrant, seems like a simplier approach than doing the glasswork behind the bulkhead. 

Agree with the feedback on the wheel pilots, but keen to get a below deck unit. 

Thanks all. 

[MalcolmP]

Images now back on this thread, thanks to Sergio
jeanneau.proboards.com/thread/5132/installing-garmin-jefa-class-drive