Ideas on where to mount autopilot pump

A

ATPNW

Member
I am having the Garmin Reactor 40 w/ Smart Pump installed in the next couple weeks. I have a Venture 23, and am trying to think of places to mount the pump. I have done a bit of searching on this site and have considered the following:

1. Starboard lazzerette
2. Aft cabin bulkhead (Starboard side, inside, behind fridge/under counter)
3. Under helm seat
4. Behind helm on forward V-birth bulkhead

Is there other areas I am not considering? Pictures would be appreciated if you have them. Thinking throw the options I listed, each have some drawbacks.
 
DayBreak":1zyks6sm said:
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=album2856&id=IMG_1623&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Rogers Marine Electronics installed ours on the starboard side, cabin bulkhead wall under the cabinet.
Click to expand...

Thank you Gary! I hadn’t come across yours yet. It seems like that is a great spot to mount it. My Norcold fridge is mounted under the counter there, I hope there is enough space behind it for a pump (I will try and get back there today to see). Do you have a fridge mounted elsewhere?
 
I'm not sure how the 23 is set up, but on my 22, I mounted the pump on the helm bulkhead in the back of the V-Berth starboard storage compartment. On the 25 I put it under the sink, at the bottom of the Head bulkhead. You can find and look at nested albums on autopilot install on both C-Traveler and Midnight Flyer, if either boat is similar to the layout of the 23. Colby
 
Like Colby, I also mounted the pump in the Vberth compartment on the starboard side. I built a small shelf that it is attached to with heavy zip ties.
 
I’ll add one more vote for the v-berth, forward side of helm bulkhead, mine was under the actual berth. That location allow me to just move the hydraulic hose from the steering pump to the tee at the autopilot pump without having to adjust the length. I’m not very familiar with the layout of the 23 but I will expect it to be somewhat similar with the 22.
 
Thank you all for the replies. I may barely have just enough room with my fridge to have it mounted above it. There would be less than 1” of room, if that. So I’m not 100% sure that would work until I get the pump in hand. I mocked up a cardboard cutout using the pumps dimensions as a stand in.

I think my backup area will be behind the helm. For those that have it mounted there under the V birth, where are your hydraulic hoses routed? Did you cut holes for the hoses to go vertically up to the helm? Does that cause an issue with the v-birth cushion bumping the hoses.

I currently don’t have access under there yet. I have seen many of you cut out a hatch, I know mine is filled with foam currently.
 
think my backup area will be behind the helm. For those that have it mounted there under the V birth, where are your hydraulic hoses routed? Did you cut holes for the hoses to go vertically up to the helm? Does that cause an issue with the v-birth cushion bumping the hoses.

I currently don’t have access under there yet. I have seen many of you cut out a hatch, I know mine is filled with foam currently.
Click to expand...

I did clear out the foam in that area under the V-berth, and I think I used the cutout under the bunk cushions as the cover. (I placed some small strips of wood around the interior of the cutout for the cover then to rest on.) I cut some holes then in the top of that cabinet next to the helm bulkhead, so it was a very short run for the hydraulic hoses. There was no issue with the cushion and the hoses, as the holes were cut right next to the bulkhead and close to the outer edge next to the hull.

Late note. I just realized, I had two autopilot installs on my 22. The first one was a cheaper system that didn't have a big enough pump to work well. The second install, (nested album titled Garmin Autopilot install), was with the Garmin smart pump. Here is a photo from my album. If you look close, you can see where the holes for the hydraulic hoses are right up against the bulkhead. NO problem with the cushion.

IMG_3441.jpg
 
My set up very similar to Colby’s but got all the hoses through one larger hole on the outboard corner, against the bulkhead. Does not interfere with mattress. Sure like the Reactor 40. I just finished a complete rewire with a new Blue Seas switch panel and distribution panel. All circuits are 14 ga. tinned wire and connectors. Really cleaned up the rats nest behind the helm that is pretty busy between the autopilot, winch solenoid and N2K wires.
 
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