Overview

The Raymarine T70152 is a complete EV-100 wheel pilot kit for wheel-steered sailboats up to 16,500 lbs (7,500 kg) displacement on 12 V DC systems. It is built around the EV-1 sensor core, ACU-100 actuator control unit, p70s autopilot control head, and the wheel drive that mounts at the helm for cockpit installations.

This setup makes sense when you want a pilot that works with a pedestal wheel instead of a below-deck mechanical drive. The wheel drive clamps to the steering wheel and suits wheels with 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 spokes, with steering systems between 1 and 3.5 turns lock-to-lock.

At the helm, the p70s control head gives you direct push-button pilot control with dedicated 1 and 10 degree course change keys and a 3.5 inch display. On the network side, the system connects through SeaTalkng and NMEA 2000, so it can share data with compatible sailing instruments and chartplotters already on board.

Key features

• Complete wheel pilot package with EV-1 sensor core, ACU-100, p70s control head, wheel drive, and cabling kit
• Rated for wheel-steered sailboats up to 16,500 lbs (7,500 kg) displacement
• Wheel drive fits 3 to 8 spoke wheels and steering systems with 1 to 3.5 turns lock-to-lock
• 12 V DC system with ACU-100 drive control and a maximum continuous drive current of 7 A
• SeaTalkng and NMEA 2000 networking for integration with sailing instruments and chartplotters
• EV-1 uses a 9-axis heading sensor that adapts to vessel motion and changing sea state
• p70s control head uses push-button operation for sailboats and includes dedicated 1 and 10 degree course change keys
• p70s control head is rated IPx6 and IPx7 for exposed helm mounting

Compatibility and fit

This pilot is for wheel-steered sailboats, not tiller-steered boats or hydraulic powerboat steering systems. Fit starts with the boat type and displacement, then moves to helm layout and steering geometry. If your boat is within the 7,500 kg limit, has a compatible wheel with 3 to 8 spokes, and falls within the 1 to 3.5 turns lock-to-lock range, this is the right style of pilot to consider.

It suits small to medium cruising sailboats that need steady course keeping on passage, while motoring, or during short-handed sail handling. The p70s layout also makes sense at the helm when quick heading changes and clear button access matter more than touch control.

Installation and setup

The wheel drive mounts in the cockpit and attaches directly to the spokes of the steering wheel, so installation is more straightforward than a below-deck drive conversion. The clutch lever lets you switch between autopilot steering and hand steering at the wheel.

The system is also known for a simpler setup process than older pilot generations because it does not need a complicated calibration routine before use. That makes it a practical upgrade for boats moving from an older wheel pilot or for owners fitting a pilot for the first time.

Electrical and system integration

The EV-100 platform is built around a 12 V DC supply, with an operating voltage range of 10.8 to 15.6 V DC. On board, it ties into SeaTalkng and can share pilot, heading, and navigation data across a compatible NMEA 2000 network.

For route tracking and other network-driven pilot functions, the system depends on the appropriate navigation data being available on the boat's network. When paired with compatible sailing instruments, the p70s can also access sailing-specific pilot functions such as wind-based steering modes.

What’s included

• E12093 wheel drive
• E70328 p70s control
• E70098 ACU-100
• E70096 EV-1 sensor core
• R70160 cabling kit