Overview

The Raymarine T70248 is an EV-100 Wheel Pilot kit for wheel-steered sailboats that need an autopilot drive, sensor, and control electronics without a separate p70s control head in the box. It is built for small to medium sailboats up to 16,500 lb (7,500 kg) displacement, with the wheel drive mounted in the cockpit directly to the steering wheel spokes.

This system uses the EV-1 sensor core and ACU-100 actuator control unit to steer from heading and vessel-motion data, with SeaTalk NG and NMEA 2000 networking for integration with compatible Raymarine instruments, chartplotters, and onboard navigation data. The control head is sold separately, so this kit is a practical match for installations using compatible Axiom pilot controls or for helm layouts where the display and control plan is being selected separately.

Power is based around a 12 V DC system, with a 10.8 V DC to 15.6 V DC operating range. The drive electronics carry an IPx6 waterproof rating, which suits the cockpit location where spray, washdowns, and weather exposure are part of normal sailing.

Key features

• EV-100 Wheel Pilot kit for wheel-steered sailboats up to 16,500 lb (7,500 kg) displacement.
• External wheel drive mounts in the cockpit and attaches to the boat’s steering wheel spokes.
• EV-1 sensor core uses 9-axis heading and motion sensing to respond to changing sea state and vessel movement.
• ACU-100 actuator control unit manages the wheel drive with a maximum continuous drive current output of 7 A at supply voltage.
• SeaTalk NG and NMEA 2000 networking support connection with compatible sailing instruments and chartplotters.
• 12 V DC operation with a 10.8 V DC to 15.6 V DC operating range for typical sailboat electrical systems.
• Drive electronics are rated IPx6 for cockpit exposure to spray and washdowns.
• Control head is sold separately, which keeps the kit suited to Axiom-based control layouts or custom helm upgrades.

Installation and setup

The wheel drive is made for cockpit installation, so the main fit check is at the helm: wheel access, spoke layout, clearance around the pedestal, and a clean cable route back to the control electronics. The system is intended for wheel-steered sailboats, not tiller steering, hydraulic steering retrofits, or vessels above the stated displacement limit.

When checking displacement, use the boat’s fully loaded cruising weight rather than the brochure displacement. Fuel, water, batteries, cruising gear, tender equipment, and stores can add enough weight to affect autopilot sizing, especially on boats that sail offshore or carry heavy cruising loads.

Electrical and system integration

The T70248 kit fits 12 V DC onboard systems and networks over SeaTalk NG, with NMEA 2000 compatibility through the appropriate backbone and adapters. It can share navigation and sailing data with compatible displays and instruments, which helps the pilot work as part of the wider helm system rather than as a stand-alone wheel drive.

Because this version does not include a p70s control head, confirm how the pilot will be controlled before installation. Boats already using a compatible Raymarine Axiom chartplotter may be able to use chartplotter-based pilot controls, while other layouts may require adding a dedicated autopilot controller.

What’s included

• EV-100 Wheel Drive
• ACU-100 actuator control unit
• EV-1 sensor core
• SeaTalk NG cabling kit
• Documentation and installation hardware

Use on board

This kit suits coastal cruising, club racing, and short-handed sailing where steady wheel control reduces helm fatigue during longer passages, motoring legs, and sail changes. It is especially useful on boats where the helmsperson still wants a cockpit-mounted wheel drive that can be serviced and visually checked without opening steering compartments.

For best results, the installation should be planned around a clean network layout, sound 12 V power supply, and a steering system that moves freely before the pilot is fitted. A stiff cable, worn quadrant, or overloaded steering system can limit autopilot performance no matter how capable the electronics are.