Auto pilot

[Rob]

Hi All,

My brother just bought a 2003 Sabre 362. We motored (unfortunately) virtually the entire way from Marblehead to Port, Washington, Long Island. 

He has auto pilot, and it was Incredible to sit in the cockpit without having to do anything but take a look every 10 minutes. Since I mostly singlehand, hours at the helm become tedious & exhausting. 

Curious what others have done for autopilot. I have a '67  B39.

Thanks

Rob 

[Dana Nordstrom]

Hi Rob, currently under way by auto pilot. We have a Raymarine system with the leg drive mounted below

The helm on the starboard side. We

Love it especially on a long tack like

Today. It lets you sit back and enjoy the day. I would install a second controller up under the dodger so

You could also get out other weather if needed.

Regards

Dana

1969 Bristol 39, hull 39 Blue Moon

Canada

On Jun 6, 2026, at 1:11 PM, Rob <robjac...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi All,

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[Jim Lamb]

I installed a Simrad autopilot that works well with my B&G chartplotter. We traveled from Virginia to Martha’s Vineyard and back last summer. It was awesome. 

This is on our 1968 B39. 

Second best upgrade ever. Only beaten by our Beta 38 engine. 

Jim

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 6, 2026, at 12:11 PM, Rob <robjac...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi All,

--

[Rob]

Dana did you do the installation yourself? If not what was the price for equipment & installation? Just for a ballpark if you don't mind me asking. 

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[Dan Stadtlander]

Ah Blue Moon, Matt’s old boat. I have 3 autopilots on my 1969 B39. Monitor windvane, CPT wheel type, and a below deck linear drive Raymarine actuator Previously controlled with a Dimrad computer. That one needs replacement.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 6, 2026, at 4:09 PM, Rob <robjac...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Dana Nordstrom]

Hi Rob,

Previous owner Matt had installed our system with the liner at drive and I haven’t had any issues other than a loose ground wire at one point.  Dan, Matt was meticulous with BlueMoon and I miss talking with him. Trying to follow his lead. Updated the dodger and sail covers this season.

Regards

Dana

On Jun 6, 2026, at 8:02 PM, 'Dan Stadtlander' via Bristol39-40 <bristo...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Ah Blue Moon, Matt’s old boat. I have 3 autopilots on my 1969 B39. Monitor windvane, CPT wheel type, and a below deck linear drive Raymarine actuator Previously controlled with a Dimrad computer. That one needs replacement.

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[Dan Stadtlander]

Thanks for your note. Matt was gem, really miss him. He so looked forward to cruising on his 45.5. He and I did the Bermuda 1-2 return in 2015. Great crew. He is probably smiling down and happy that his old boat lives on and is someone’s happy place.

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 7, 2026, at 6:27 AM, Dana Nordstrom <northernde...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Rob,

Previous owner Matt had installed our system with the liner at drive and I haven’t had any issues other than a loose ground wire at one point.  Dan, Matt was meticulous with BlueMoon and I miss talking with him. Trying to follow his lead. Updated the dodger and sail covers this season.

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[Rob]

She is a beauty!

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[Dana Nordstrom]

Super great guy, I remember him telling me you two did that trip. Live while we can! He knows he left her in good hands. Take care fellas.

Regards

Dana

On Jun 7, 2026, at 10:09 AM, Rob <robjac...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Charles Batchelor]

Hi Rob.

I installed mine on JAZZ, 1979 B40 cutter in March 2023. Raymarine linear drive ..  hardest part was locating  level parameters  and installing Edson tiller arm on rudder post. Second hardest was shaping the double angles marine ply stack to fit flust in port lazzarett. Also mounting base bofts and holes for drive unit placement were pre drilled in wood base and bolts installed prior to fiberglassing to hull wits 3 passes of 4" 17oz        bidirection cloth.. Lastly I covered drive unit with marine ply box.  

To help locating, I used an aluminum bar stock jig. with correct wheel centered spacings 

Holes  attached to tillelr arm and liner drive base

Charlie B

New Bern, NC

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[Scott Nelson]

Charles,

I'd be interested in any pictures you have of your linear drive install.  I am planning to upgrade my wheel drive to a linear drive (after burning out the ACU on the wheel drive) on my B40, Athena.  Trying to find the right position so as not to interfere with the rudder stops and cables and aligning to Edson tiller arm has been my challenge.  I also found port side lazarette to be best but I did not see that I could get sufficient clearance to mount to the hull so was considering flipping the motor mount to attach under cockpit deck.  I appreciate the suggestion of the pipe jig, I going to give that a try.

Scott Nelson

Kittery, ME

[Scott Rosenthal]

For a slightly contrary viewpoint, my autopilot uses an hydraulic ram drive. Attached is my installation. I do have a cover that goes over the ram. The system worked flawlessly for 20+ years until the pump’s electric motor failed. I replaced the motor/pump and it still runs flawlessly at less power than before (added a hit-n-hold circuit to reduce power to the solenoid). It connects to the rudder post with an Edson tiller arm.

 

Scott Rosenthal

1980 B40 Willow, #110

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[Scott Rosenthal]

Yikes, forgot the attachment!

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