Autopilot for 282. where did u put your pump, ECU, compass?

[bc282]

Winter is soon upon us and time for projects.

Will most likely be adding an autopilot (either Garmin's new GHP-10 or Simrad 2403 VR)

Need some help figuring out where to put the pump, ECU and compass.
any input or suggestions?

thx.

 

[ocnslr]

Our 270 is a good bit smaller. I originally installed a Simrad AP-12H, then upgraded to an AP-16VF last year.

Locations:
- Pump is in the compartment under the aft end of the starboard V-berth. (Same location as the trim tab pump).
- ECU located in the head (just couldn't find anywhere else)
- Original compass was mounted on the aft face of the longitudinal bulkhead between the bridge deck and the cabin, about ten inches below the deck. Worked fine there. New compass wasn't happy there, so moved it aft to inside the upper of the two steps between the bridge deck and the cockpit, now about six inches below the deck. (Access through the aft pie plate inspection port on the bridge deck).
- I don't have a mid-berth, so different options on compass location. The compass really is fairly sensitive to motors (i.e. pumps) within one meter or so.
- Compass should be low, on the centerline, and close the fore-and-aft middle of the boat.

Good Luck!
Brian

 

[Capt Bill]

I didn't see what model year you have, so your access may be somewhat different:

The pump is under the aft seat, on the starboard side; same compartment where 3 batteries are located. The ECU, which is a large J300x junction box on my older Simrad AP11, is mounted behind the starboard access panel of the mid-berth. Gyro-stabilized integrated heading sensor/fluxgate compass is on centerline, just below the access panel under the mid-berth, and a second electronic compass is mounted on centerline near the top of the forward mid-berth bulkhead. (Redundant but that's the way it was installed for the original owner.)

My old AP11 had a bad rudder position sensor, and I replaced it this summer with a new design that SeaStar just came out with; a sealed unit with no internal moving parts.

If your 282 is an '04 or newer, you don't have bilge access under the aft seat. Where are your batteries? Probably find room for the pump there, or put it near the hydraulics reservoir behind the aft access panel under the mid-berth.

 

[bc282]

thanks for input guys.

the boat is a 2002 with F225's. looks a lot like yours Capt. Bill.

i'm still researching which pilot is the best for me. if the new Garmin installs similarly like the old TR1, then i may lean toward the simrad as the install is more flexible in location for the components (old TR1: ECU and pump had to be no more than 20" apart fr. each other).

anyone know where i can get an installation guide for either the garmin or simrad? i found simrad's user manual on their website but no install manual.

 

[choogenboom]

my 330 express has a Simrad AC20. In the 330 the electrical panel is in the cabin directly below the helm station. The pump and computer are both located in the bottom of the electric "closet". The compass is in the aft berth against the forward starboard bulkhead.

Make sure when installing the computer that you orient according to instructions. On my boat the genius that installed it put it in upside down, a problem I have since corrected. Why does this matter? When you are in 10-12 foot seas even the electrical closet can get wet and the Simrad AC20 computer is not waterproof. It will shed water from the top down but when mounted upside down it is exposed to any water running down the surface it is mounted to. In my case the computer got just a little sea water in it causing it to fail. I coaxed it back to life but was not easy!

Best bet is to get a computer that is IP67 rated, a decent level of waterproof protection for marine electronics. The Simrad AC20 is NOT IP67 rated.