Autohelm Installation

[oldsalt16]

I have a 2001 26X. I am installing an Autohelm 4000. Raymarine states
in their manual that the fluxgate compass should be mounted low and to
a vertical bulkhead. However, a vertical surface seems easier said than
found, in a 26X. I am willing to do some shimming, but relative to what?

Also, In the future, I plan to expand the electrical panel with a dedicated
circuit for the autopilot. But in the short term, just to get it up and running,
I plan to wire it directly to one of my two batteries (with an inline fuse of
course). Does anyone out there have some advice and/or reflections on
one or both of these issues for me? I would really appreciate it. THANKS!

[Ric K]

Old salt
I have an autohelm 4000+, installed it 2 years ago, and I have had good results.
Install your fluxgate compass behind the ladder in your companionway, you should also install a rudder position sensor, and interface your auropilot with your gps, so you can use the track feature on your pilot.
Yes! by all means expand your DC panel, if your getting an autopilot, you are going to want a lot more toys.
Check out the mods section here, there are a couple of entries on autopilots, and a lot on electrical panels.
PM me if you get hung up on the install.

Best of luck! Ric

[Scott]

Do a search, been a bunch of threads discussing this in the past.

BTW, Mine works great here.

[Chip Hindes]

Look here for some of the stuff I did on the ST4000 on my X.

I took the AP installation "opportunity" to run a separate dc circuit to the pedestal with 8 gauge wire. I had decided this was necessary earlier, when I plugged in my new 1.2M CP searchlight to the power point. When I powered it up all the rest of the pedestal instruments went dead.

It's separately fused, 30A at the battery end and a new waterproof switch panel in the pedestal. So far I have installed AP, multidata, GPS & power outlet controlled at the panel.

I don't have any pictures but the compass is on the vertical bulkhead on the aft side of the dinette seat - just to the left of the head door.

[Terry]

I got lucky with the fluxgate and found the perfect spot for it, right at the foot of the companionway ladder mounted behind the fiberglass bulkhead facing aft. The directions suggest mounting it as low as possible (waterline) between 1/3 & 1/2 the distance of LWL and mid beam. I measured the distance from the transom edge to the daggerboard trunk while in the driveway and found IIRC that it was about 12-13 feet while the waterline was about 23 feet. so I went inside and measured back from the daggerboard trunk to the ladder and I think it was about 3.5 - 4 feet, my memory isn't so clear today. Anyway memory recall does tell me I was right in the middle of between 1/3 and 1/2 the distance of the waterline from stern forward when at the ladder, about 9 feet forward. Placing it in the middle was easy and being so close to the cabin sole put it at the waterline but I did not want it sticking out where my heel would stomp on it so I mounted it on the opposite side in the bilge facing aft. I then took the boat out and did the compass setting and corrected it for 180 degreees so that it was pointing the right direction. Since I do not have the battery sitting right there it is the perfect position for a fluxgate in the M. Some newer M's have the battery there and it would interfere with the compass, so you either move the battery or find another spot for the fluxgate.