Raymarine wheel pilot

[motthediesel]

We added one of those to our 27FC last year, and on the whole, we’re happy with it. The only complaint we’ve had (and from Googling it, I see it’s a common one) is that it is noisy.

As it goes about it’s business of steering us on course, it squeaks, and Squeaks, and SQUEAKS. It’s enough to dive you mad on an extended run. The Raymarine manual says “use no lubricant” — just wash out any accumulated salt with fresh water. Well, we live and boat on fresh water, so salt is not the issue. I decided to take it apart and see if I could figure out what was doing it.

I noticed the the belt tensioners were plastic shafts with plastic bushings/bearings that ran on the belt. I took them off, and saw that one had a chattered/wiped surface inside it. So, I lubricated both on them with a tiny amount of clear silicone (generally safe for plastics) grease. I took it out for a trial and —- blessed silence!

So, I don’t know how many here have the same pilot, or have the same annoying issue, but this worked for us.

[tribologist]

As Tribologist…. White lithium grease as you find in autoparts stores used on window regulators etc is good on Nylon parts. SuperLube in the gray tube you find in hardware stores is good too.