Yesterday afternoon, Anthony and I returned to Duplicat with some large boxes of toys (and a somewhat emptier wallet). We quickly ascertained that the fault with the previous setup had been in the course computer, but not in the FETs. Probably it is somewhere in the power supply though we won’t be looking at that now. We do plan to try and fix it, as its nice to have a spare given our recent experience!

Rather, we installed the brand new “Evolution” system. Given that we had a new linear drive arm for the rudders, this went in first as its on the same mount as the old (now spare) arm. Easy. Then it was mounting the EV-1 sensor and its drive control box. Both relatively straightforward. We checked the new display (required for calibration and setup which the older display types cannot do for the new autopilots) and it did indeed fit the hole used by the old display, if not the exact space.

The nastiest job was running the 20 metre cable from the new autopilot systems to the display. I had an idea where we could run this, but as always its never easy when you are contorted into odd shapes in the small spaces on boats. This was made worse by having to cross between the hulls and exit an engine bay. There are tubes provided for cabling of this fashion, but they are somewhat full. The most challenging was to get from the port engine bay into the area below the helm as these are very tight.

Without too much swearing the cable was run, and we quickly hooked up the final parts to do a quick check. With lots of beeping things powered up, but we were missing our old instruments. Traced to a cable not fully pushed home - so 1 reboot later and we could set the course, it drove the rudder and it had wind data available so we can steer to a wind angle.

Phew!

We have to do some final seatrial/commissioning work but then we’re good to go. And we may just carry on from the sea trial heading SW if we find any wind. Its totally flat calm here in the anchorage at the moment...