1990 Canadian Sailcraft CS34 Shoal Draft
Sail #8268

1982 Catalina 22 Fin Keel
Sail #10506

1994 MUMM 36 ACE
Sail # 29206

Friday, June 13, 2014

CS34 Autopilot Wireless Remote

The new Raymarine Evolution EV-100 autopilot is performing well on the boat.

It keeps a very good course, as proven in our Friday moonlight cruise.  I told the autopilot to track to the Ajax weather buoy (6 miles), and in the dark, we would have hit it if when we got there.

Really like the wind vane mode: you set your sails for the point of sail and the autopilot will steer the boat to keep the same wind angle.

Icing on the cake would be a remote control for it.  The wireless remote would allow you to engage/disengage and alter course from anywhere on the boat.

The offering from Raymarine are expensive at $500 and close to $1,000 for the more advanced model.

I found a company in Australia who makes a 3rd part wireless remote for $200.

Decided to give it a try.

http://www.madmanmarine.com/shop/4576847477/AP-WRC2-Remote-Control/6352361

It was a simple 3 wire install and it works great!



The waterproof FOB could be worn on a lifejacket, and has a range of about 200ft, so I could be used to turn the boat around in a single handed man overboard situation

Madman is a great company to deal with.  There was a question on if the unit would work in the new Evolution autopilot, and the owner Neil assured me it would.  I did have to buy an expensive Raymarine cable to convert SeaTalk1 to SeaTalkNG.  You would need the same cable for the Raymarine wireless remotes.


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