I need urgent help/advice/pics for installing the Raymarine sport pilot X-5 on my 2001 Mac 26X. The immediate questions are: where to put the computer, where to put the compass, and most acutely, where to attach the pedestal bracket (yeah, to the pedestal, I know). I have an rpm meter right underneath the wheel. is that a problem? Maybe some of you that have successfully iinstalled this unit can send me your pics. I would GREATLY appreciate that.
How about the best way to straighten out the bracket if I have to attach it flat to the pedestal?
Take a look at my mod "Instruments stacked" in the instruments area. I mounted the rudder device backwards and can send a pic if needed.
Jeff of "Amy" -'99 26x
Hi, I´m one of all , have done that. Have a look here: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =8&t=12996
However I have changed now to the SPX 5 Wheel Pilot. I liked much more more the appearance of the Sport Pilot but I had problems with it´s drive. The system was called back by Raymarine and till April they were not able to send me a new Sport Pilot .
Local time is now 00.49 AM and I´m allreade laying in bed , will send You a bunch of pictures lateron at our local morning .
Rainer
Rainer, hello from Makarska, Dalmatia. You have already earned yourself a free ride to the nearby island and some afternoon sailing! Of course, the pics of your installation of the new X-5 with the wheel drive would really be useful. The old one is quite different, as you know. My immediate concern is where to plant the pedestal bracket, and then every other issue that can come up. Thanks!
I installed the X-5 Wheel Pilot instead of the Sport Pilot, but the computer, control-head, and fluxgate compass are surely identical.
The computer, according to the directions I got, was supposed to be placed on a vertical surface that's "athwartships" (across the boat). I chose the bulkhead above the port quarter-berth. On my boat, there was an access plate just aft of that bulkhead that allowed me to pull the power and control cables through the space between the deck and the head-liner; that made things neat, and I was able to use a long zip-tie to thread the cables above the headliner.
I put the flux-gate compass on the starboard bulkhead, across from the control head, and once again I threaded the cable through the headliner. You need to keep any steel objects away from that compass.
Rather than put the control head on the pedestal, I chose to put it on the "seat back" coaming on the port side of the cockpit. It's close enough for me to reach it, but far enough back that any passengers aren't likely to sit in front of it.
As I said, I chose the wheel drive instead of the "Sport Pilot" drive. I cut a 2-inch (50 mm) hole below the wheel, toward the port side of the pedestal, for the drive motor; this hole needs to be centered 6 inches (152 mm) from the center of the helm wheel. I made a cardboard template, with one hole cut to fit snugly around the base of the wheel bezel, and the other hole just big enough for a marking pen; I used that to mark the center of the hole that I needed to cut for the wheel-drive motor. This put the motor at the bottom of the wheel, out of the way, and the clutch lever is in easy reach.
Honestly, from the troubles people have posted about the Sport Pilot, I'd recommend you take it back and get the Wheel Pilot instead.
Rick, apparently, I misspoke. I do have the brand new model, SP (Smart, rather than Sport Pilot) X-5, with the wheel drive. It seems that everyone put the motor into the pedestal, rather than using the pedestal bracket, just like you. No wonder, since there is no elegant way to attach the bracket to the pedestal, except perhaps, like Leon suggests, to straighten the bracket, shorten the rod and then attach to the middle of gthe pedestal. That,of course, leaves the motor hanging outside. Would you have any pics of how you buried the motor into the pedestal. If yes, please, email to [email protected]
I appreciate your help,
Srdjan
!
kmclemore:
I'm sorry, I've had to delete the email address - we don't allow posting of email addresses on this forum. Folks, please click the 'PM' icon to the right to send a message to Srdjan.
, have done that. Have a look here:
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, will send You a bunch of pictures lateron at our local morning 
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