Overview

The Raymarine T70249 is an EV-100 Tiller Pilot pack for tiller-steered sailboats, supplied without a dedicated control head for installations that will use a compatible Raymarine Axiom chartplotter or an existing autopilot control head. It is rated for sailboats up to 13,200 lb, or 6,000 kg, of displacement and runs on a 12 V dc electrical system with a 10.8 V dc to 15.6 V dc operating range.

This below-decks pilot package uses the EV-1 sensor core, ACU-100 actuator control unit, and tiller drive to steer from the cockpit while connecting into a SeaTalkng or NMEA 2000 network. It suits owners who want autopilot control for coastal cruising, longer passages, or single-handed sailing without fitting a wheel pilot or hydraulic drive.

The tiller drive mounts externally in the cockpit and attaches to the tiller, so it can be removed and stowed when hand steering or when the cockpit needs to stay clear. The ACU-100 measures 180 mm x 140 mm x 52 mm, and the system is built around an EV-1 9-axis heading sensor that adapts to boat motion and sea state without complicated autopilot calibration.

Key features

• Rated for tiller-steered sailboats up to 13,200 lb, or 6,000 kg, displacement, with fully loaded displacement taken into account when checking fit.
• Supplied without a control head for installations using a compatible Raymarine Axiom chartplotter or separate autopilot control head.
• SeaTalkng and NMEA 2000 networking support helps the pilot work with compatible sailing instruments and chartplotters.
• EV-1 sensor core uses a 9-axis heading sensor to track vessel movement and changing sea conditions.
• ACU-100 actuator control unit supports a maximum continuous drive current output of 7 A at supply voltage.
• 12 V dc system operation with a 10.8 V dc to 15.6 V dc operating range and 300 mA standby power consumption at 12 V.
• Cockpit-mounted tiller drive can be detached and stored when it is not in use.
• Environmental ratings include IPx2 at the connector panel and IPx6 for the drive electronics.

Compatibility and fit

This pack is for tiller-steered sailboats, not wheel-steered boats or hydraulic steering systems. The 13,200 lb displacement limit should be checked against the boat as normally loaded for cruising, including fuel, water, crew, gear, and stores, because real operating weight can be higher than the published design displacement.

Because this version does not include a p70s control head, the helm station needs a compatible control method already planned. It is a good match for boats that already have a Raymarine Axiom display on the network or for installations where the autopilot control head will be purchased separately.

Installation and setup

The tiller drive is an externally mounted cockpit drive that connects to the tiller rather than taking over the steering system below deck. That keeps the installation practical for many sailboats, while still requiring careful placement so the drive geometry, tiller pin, and cockpit socket line up correctly through the steering arc.

Power should be supplied from a suitable 12 V dc circuit, and the SeaTalkng or NMEA 2000 connection should be planned with the rest of the boat network in mind. Once installed, the Evolution system removes the need for complicated manual calibration, which is helpful on boats where conditions change quickly between motoring, reaching, and sailing under load.

Use cases on board

On a cruising sailboat, this pilot helps hold course while the crew trims sails, checks the chartplotter, reefs, or handles deck work. For short-handed sailors, the removable cockpit drive is especially useful because it adds steering assistance without permanently taking over the tiller area.

It also makes sense for owners refitting older tiller-steered boats with modern Raymarine electronics, since the system can share heading and autopilot data over the onboard network instead of working as an isolated tiller pilot.

What’s included

• EV-1 Sensor Core, E70096
• ACU-100 Actuator Control Unit, E70098
• Raypilot Remote Plug and Socket Assembly, M81181
• Tiller Drive, Q047
• Cabling Kit, R70160
• Tiller Pin, pack of 2, D001
• Mounting Socket, pack of 2, D002