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Marine Autopilot

Below-deck system · Raymarine

Raymarine Evolution EV-400

Big-boat Evolution: Type 2 and Type 3 drives for yachts and cruisers to 35 tonnes.

Indicative price
$8,500–$14,000 unit
Fitted
$12,000–$20,000
Rated for
Vessels to 35 t
Editor score
77 / 100
Mechanical wheel (cable, chain or rod)HydraulicOffshore / bluewaterCoastal cruisingPower cruising

The EV-400 is the same Evolution brain with a larger course computer. The ACU-400 delivers the current a Type 2 or Type 3 drive needs, on 12 or 24 V, which takes the system from 11 tonnes up to about 35 tonnes displacement. It is the Raymarine pack for 45–60 foot cruising yachts, heavy steel and timber boats, larger catamarans and motor cruisers with big hydraulic rams.

Beyond the drive size, the behaviour is identical to the EV-200: same EV-1 sensor, same p70s or Axiom control, same adaptive tuning. The important decision is the drive. A Type 2 short or long suits most heavy yachts; a Type 3 handles the biggest; a Type 2 or Type 3 hydraulic pump suits motor cruisers with large cylinders; and a constant-running pump with a solenoid valve block is available for vessels with power steering.

Installers treat this as a project. The drive loads on a 20-tonne boat are large, so the mounting structure, rudder stops and the all need to be engineered rather than improvised.

Verdict

The Raymarine choice for heavy cruising yachts and larger motor cruisers over 11 tonnes. Spend the money on drive engineering; the electronics are the easy part.

Raymarine Evolution EV-400 drive sizing

Type 2 short : to 15,000 kg. Type 2 long: to 20,000 kg. Type 3: to 35,000 kg. Hydraulic pumps sized to cylinder volume from roughly 230 cc up to 500 cc and beyond with constant-running pumps.

Specifications

Autopilot components, voltage and steering modes

Sensor
EV-1 nine-axis sensor core
Course computer
ACU-400, 12/24 V, high-current output for Type 2 and Type 3 drives
Control
p70s / p70Rs or Axiom
Drives
Type 2 short/long or Type 3 linear; Type 2 rotary; Type 2/3 hydraulic pumps; constant-running pump with solenoids
Feedback
Rudder reference transducer (required)
Voltage
12 V or 24 V DC
Network
SeaTalkng, NMEA 2000 (via adaptor)
Power draw
3 A typical, 20 A peak. Type 2 and Type 3 drives draw more when working; a 24 V system halves the current for the same power.
Steering systems
Mechanical wheel (cable, chain or rod); Hydraulic

Modes

  • Auto
  • Wind vane
  • Track
  • AutoTack / AutoGybe
  • Pattern steering

Features

  • Covers vessels to 35 tonnes with the right drive
  • 24 V compatible for bigger electrical systems
  • Same Evolution AI behaviour as the smaller packs
  • Solenoid and constant-running pump support for power-steered vessels

For and against

Autopilot strengths and limitations

Strengths
  • One family from 28 feet to 60 feet keeps the interface familiar
  • Heavy-duty drives with long service histories
  • Australian dealer support for the large-boat market in Sydney, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne
Limitations
  • Expensive once the drive and engineering are included
  • Overkill for anything under 11 tonnes
  • Installation quality varies; use a yard that has done heavy yachts before

Who fits it

Boats and places where this system is recommended

Boat types

Australian waters

  • Brisbane and Moreton Bay → The right answer for a heavy 45 foot plus cruising catamaran or a serious long-range monohull. Cats carry windage and need authority on the rudders, and this is the pack that will still be steering when the trades are up and the boat is loaded for six months away.
  • Darwin and the Top End → For heavy cruising yachts and long-range motor boats pushing against three and four knot streams. The extra capacity is not about displacement alone, it is about rudder loads when the tide is running hard against you.

Questions

Raymarine Evolution EV-400: frequently asked

Type 2 short or Type 2 long linear drive?

The long drive has more stroke for boats with a longer tiller arm and larger rudder angles, and is rated to 20 tonnes against 15 for the short. Raymarine's drive selection guide matches stroke to your tiller arm length; an installer will measure it.

Can the EV-400 run on 24 V?

Yes. The ACU-400 accepts 12 or 24 V, and most drives are available in 24 V versions. On a 24 V boat the current draw roughly halves for the same steering effort.

Alternatives to consider

The systems most often weighed against this one.

Other below-deck system systems

Head to head

Comparisons featuring this system

ProductsB&G vs Simrad vs Raymarine →Racers and wind-steering cruisers: B&G. Power boats: Simrad. Everyone else with a cruising yacht: Raymarine's EV-200 pack is complete, well…ProductsRaymarine EV-200 vs EV-400 →Specify the drive first. EV-200 is an option for a suitable Type 1 installation; assess EV-400 where the selected drive requires its…ProductsB&G NAC-3 system vs Raymarine EV-400 Sail →Shortlist the system whose drive, structure and control integration can be documented for the yacht. NAC-3 and EV-400 labels do not…
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Autopilot commissioning and operator training

A $20,000 installation with no handover is a gamble. Half a day on the water with the installer or an instructor covers the modes, the override, the alarms and a failure drill. It is the cheapest safety equipment aboard.

Find an instructorOpen the competency checklist