Benmar Course Setter 21

[AKDW]

Does anyone have experience with the Benmar Course Setter 21 Autopilot on an ALBIN 27 FC? I'm considering one for my 27 and wonder about installation challenges.

[EZC]

I just recently installed one on my 27sc. I have had it for over 25 years on two other boats. I don't have hydraulic steering it has a lovejoy coupling on the drive unit and one on the back of the rack steering. It holds the boat pretty well in a stiff wind and fairly large seas. I feel Benmar has always offered good customer support when I had issues. It is the only auto pilot I have owned so I have nothing to compare it to. Todays technology is light years ahead of the one I have but for a very basic unit it holds the boat fine.

[EZC]

To add to my last post, I did have to cut a hole into the bathroom(5x9) to install the drive unit.

[AKDW]

Where did you mount the power unit and the control box?
And i am not familiar with a lovejoy coupling.

[EZC]

I mounted the drive unit directly behind the steering wheel and the steering cable.. I had to use a different steering cable called rack steering. This cable has a shaft that extends out behind the "rack" so it allows you to connect the drive unit to the steering. On the shaft I put a lovejoy coupling and a lovejoy coupling on the shaft that comes out of the drive unit so that way you can "couple" them together. You can google lovejoy coupling and see what I mean. I think seeing it would explain it a lot better than I could. They are very easy to use. Measure the diameter of both shafts and use the appropriate sized coupling. I already had the rack cable from an old boat so that was one less expense for me. The control box I mounted to the ceiling above the console behind the light so that it is out of the way but easy to reach. I did have to cut a hole in the bathroom so that the drive unit fit. It extends into the bathroom about 2-3". The cutout was a little bigger than the width and height of the drive unit. It worked for me but I already had all the equipment so I didn't have to buy anything. If I had to buy some of the parts I would look around to see what other options there are.

[AKDW]

Thanks for that clear description. I think I can do this now.