I like the rotary control. I use it like a steering wheel to adjust the heading we are on. Each click is a degree. It does not have an automatic tack feature. I guess you could calculate the degrees of your tack and spin the knob to get there. I find that I usually want to steer the tack myself to try and build speed by falling off the wind before settling on the heading I want.
Sue describes it as “moderately annoying but you get used to it”. We only seem to use it while motoring and it is audible over our very quiet Suzuki 70 at our normal cruising at 2000 rpm but is no longer noticeable at 3000 rpm. We don’t really know about sailing as we cannot really remember using it there. My thought is that the convenience far outweighs the sound level.
We have the older Raymarine wheel version on our 2000X, (love the auto-tack option)
There is also a certain sound that you need to get used to, especially while under sail.
Kind of like having to get used to those dam seagulls squawking, or that annoying sound of the waves slapping against the side of the hull, or a flogging mainsail over the sound of the skipper snoring at the helm – you know, just the regular sounds on s boat 🙂
This looks like the same drive as mine with maybe a slightly different compass and computer but at $900, it looks like a good deal compared to my almost $2500
Well I pulled the trigger on an autopilot. Went with the EV-100 wheel version. Just couldn’t justify the extra for the sport drive. Binnacle.ca has the wheel version on sale right now for $1429 and it has a $100 mail in rebate. Sounds like once the existing stock is gone there will be a price increase due to the dollar sucking. Looking forward now to trying it at the BWY rendezvous/Poets/Friday Harbour cruise.
Congrats Cenote! No deal like that can be found at our boat show…. kind of wishing I had jumped on the Binnacle.ca deal as well… but still pondering the application. Sport drive is only available on the EV200 at over double the price of EV100… so pondering if a hydraulic conversion is worth doing such as this prior Mac owner did with his Odin:
Any thoughts?
I gather tiller mount is also an option?
There are a view topics over on macgregorsailors.com where guys have used the tiller version. I didn’t like the fact that you had leave it connected or go below to disconnect it. If I find the finger space on the wheel too small I will either go with a bigger wheel or use spacers on the doughnut.
Welcome to the home of the Macgregor Yacht Club of British Columbia. We are a group of present and past Macgregor Yacht and Tattoo Yacht owners. Most of our members are in British Columbia, Canada, although we do have members from other places in Canada and the USA.
We organize on and off the water activities for owners of Macgregor and Tattoo boats; regattas, cruises, flotillas and our annual all member get together ‘MacRendezvous’. Members share tips, ideas, and hard-come-by knowledge about how to maximize the joy of owning these wonderfully affordable boats.
The basic, free sections of this website is open for all to enjoy.
You can register for free to have additional access to public forum where you can communicate with the club and can be included in emails that the club sends to members and registered users related to upcoming activities.
MYCBC membership provides you with full access to all areas of the website and the ability to participate in all activities. The modest, annual membership fee is $65 for the first year (which includes a club burgie and welcome package) and $35 per year thereafter. Membership in the club is recognized at marine stores and marinas for discounts on supplies and moorage. We also have negotiated discount insurance coverage for members. The saving you can expect will pay back your membership fee manyfold.
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