Floscan and Autopilot for an '86 300 WE

[joenofish]

I have an '86 Sea Ray 300 Weekender, it's in really nice shape and I plan to keep it. I'd like to add an autopilot and floscan fuel flow monitoring system. I sent an info request to Flosan for options and costs to get the parts (I'll install it, have not received the info yet).
Does anyone have any experience with either a Floscan system (love it - hate it, cost, ordering info), or an auto pilot that works well? I have twin 260 Mercruisers W/ carbs. The steering on this vessel is cable (non hydaulic).

Thanks in advance,

Joe

 

[JVM225]

I don't have a FloScan on my boat, but I share a 22 footer with my Uncle and we have one on there.
It is a great unit, and their customer support is fantastic.
I've been thinking of putting a set on my Sundancer and was looking at a unit they have that replaces the tach and also has the fuel flow meter in it. It also has an hour meter portion.
One of my tachs is a little tempremental at times and I've been thinking of replacing both of them anyway.
Plus I could eliminate my current hour meters and use the holes in the dash for something else.
The price tag is kind of high though, and I hesitated putting that much money in to something that really isn't going to impact my 23 year old boats performance in any way.
I still might do it if I get impulsive at the right moment.

 

[1956olds]

i bought a used raymarine sport pilot plus and installed it last year.Had to change the steering over to a newer style helm, cable and steering wheel,check to see if you have a square or round shaft for the wheel if its square you will have to replace the helm etc..If i had to do it again i would have used a hydraulic helm instead of mechanical.I also think the newer ap14 would be a better choice ,it offers more user controls and yes you have to have hydraulic steering and a ram mounted in the bilge,I think the ram can be electric or hydraulic.It was the only other convinent option i could find,cost and installation wise.Unless of course raymarine has re issued its newer version of the sport pilot that was recalled two seasons ago.

 

[speakrdude]

I have installed Lowrances' version of Flo scan and other sensors. Good cost savings too.

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Ma...Guide/Electronic-Probes-EPs/EP-60R-Fuel-Flow/

 

[joenofish]

I don't have a FloScan on my boat, but I share a 22 footer with my Uncle and we have one on there.
It is a great unit, and their customer support is fantastic.
I've been thinking of putting a set on my Sundancer and was looking at a unit they have that replaces the tach and also has the fuel flow meter in it. It also has an hour meter portion.
One of my tachs is a little tempremental at times and I've been thinking of replacing both of them anyway.
Plus I could eliminate my current hour meters and use the holes in the dash for something else.
The price tag is kind of high though, and I hesitated putting that much money in to something that really isn't going to impact my 23 year old boats performance in any way.
I still might do it if I get impulsive at the right moment.

JVM225,

Thanks for the info, regarding the system cost, I agree, seems a bit pricey. My thinking is we carry $700.00 ish worth of fuel when full, if I can get a few more miles from each fill up I could probably justify the Floscan investment. I still don't know for sure what that cost will be but I think it's going to be in the $700 to $800 range. I ran our boat around for the first few weeks (right after we got it) at 3100 RPM and used a LOT of fuel, then I learned 3400 was more efficient and it is by far (fully up on plane). I'll let you guys know what I learn once I install the system.

Best Regards,

Joe

 

[Iprof]

i bought a used raymarine sport pilot plus and installed it last year.Had to change the steering over to a newer style helm, cable and steering wheel,check to see if you have a square or round shaft for the wheel if its square you will have to replace the helm etc..If i had to do it again i would have used a hydraulic helm instead of mechanical.I also think the newer ap14 would be a better choice ,it offers more user controls and yes you have to have hydraulic steering and a ram mounted in the bilge,I think the ram can be electric or hydraulic.It was the only other convinent option i could find,cost and installation wise.Unless of course raymarine has re issued its newer version of the sport pilot that was recalled two seasons ago.

The Simrad AP-14 works with either cable or hydraulic systems, it is a lot less than the Raymarine system.
I want to add it to my 300 da, might even pick it up when I am in Florida this winter. Here is the link to the Simrad http://www.simrad-yachting.com/Products/Leisure/Autosteering/Powerpilots-AP12-AP14/AP14-Powerpilots/

I have the Lowrance fuel flow, I had the Flowscan on my last boat while both do a great job the Lowrance is a less expensive system, that can be intigrated into a Lowrance plotter or a stand alone system.

Ken