Raymarine Evolution EV-150 Hydraulic Autopilot System Pack

The Raymarine Evolution EV-150 Hydraulic Autopilot System Pack is Raymarine's complete autopilot solution for small to medium hydraulically-steered powerboats - everything needed for a clean autopilot install in one box, sized for the typical single-engine boat with 12V electrical and standard hydraulic steering. It's the right call for owners of 20-35 ft sportfishers, center consoles, walkaround cuddies, and cruising powerboats who want a serious autopilot without piecing together components from multiple sources, the EV-150 pack is the right call.

What 'Evolution' means - the next-generation autopilot platform. Evolution is Raymarine's current-generation autopilot technology, replacing the older SmartPilot and earlier generations. The key innovation: the 9-axis EV-1 Sensor Core combines a sensor (heading, pitch, roll, yaw) with the autopilot processor in one sealed housing - it self-learns your boat's steering characteristics during normal operation rather than requiring the multi-hour calibration ('dock-side fail-safe' setup, 'sea-state' calibration, 'compass swing') that older autopilots required. Practical impact: you'll install the EV-150, run a basic system check, and the autopilot starts learning your boat - within a few hours of normal operation, the autopilot has dialed in optimal steering parameters automatically. The 'no complicated calibration' claim is real - install and use - you don't need anything else, no day-long setup procedure required.

The EV-1 Sensor Core - 9-axis aerospace-grade. The EV-1 sensor uses solid-state 9-axis sensors (3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis magnetometer) borrowed from aerospace guidance technology. This is significantly more sophisticated than the simple fluxgate compasses in older marine autopilots. The 9-axis sensor measures: heading (which way the boat is pointed), pitch (bow up/down motion), roll (port/starboard lean), and yaw (heading change rate) continuously. The autopilot uses all four data streams to calculate the optimal steering correction at each moment - resulting in tighter heading hold than older 2-axis or 3-axis autopilots, smoother course corrections (no overcorrection 'hunting' that wastes fuel and makes for uncomfortable rides), and meaningful improvement in steering accuracy in wave conditions where boat motion is complex.

Hydro-Balance technology - critical for outboard hydraulic steering. The big problem with older autopilots on hydraulically-steered outboard boats: hydraulic systems have elasticity (the hydraulic fluid compresses slightly under load, and hoses expand slightly under pressure), steering asymmetry (slight differences in port vs starboard steering response), and torque steer (the prop's torque tries to pull the boat one direction, requiring constant counter-steering). Older autopilots couldn't compensate for these effects and 'hunted' constantly, making spongy / vague steering and using extra fuel from constant overcorrection. Hydro-Balance is Raymarine's patented technology that specifically addresses these hydraulic-system characteristics - the algorithm models the hydraulic elasticity and steering asymmetry, then compensates for them in the steering commands. Result: it's precise course keeping on outboard-powered boats that previous autopilots couldn't match.

What's in the pack - the complete system. Five components: (1) p70Rs Autopilot Control Head (E70329) - the helm-mount interface with combination push-buttons and rotary control dial, sunlight-readable display showing heading, course, and system status. (2) EV-1 Sensor Core (E70096) - the 9-axis heading sensor and autopilot processor in one sealed housing, mounted on a vibration-isolated bracket below deck. (3) ACU-150 Actuator Control Unit (E70430) - the central brain that drives the hydraulic pump, processes commands from the control head, and interfaces with the sensor and the boat's NMEA 2000 / SeaTalk NG network. (4) Type 1 12V Hydraulic Pump (M81120) - the hydraulic actuator that physically moves the steering hydraulics in response to commands. (5) Evolution Cable Kit (R70160) - all the cables needed to wire the components together. Complete pack - no additional Raymarine purchases needed beyond hydraulic line tees and bleed fittings specific to your steering system.

What's isn't included. The pack doesn't include: hydraulic plumbing tee fittings (sized for your specific steering line diameter - typically 1/4 inch NPT for typical SeaStar / BayStar systems), bleed fittings for the hydraulic install, additional hydraulic fluid for top-off after install (use only the fluid type specified by your steering manufacturer), helm mounting brackets if you need to surface-mount the p70Rs (flush mount is the default - bracket sold separately), and any optional remote keypads or wireless controllers (sold separately).

Hydraulic ram compatibility. The Type 1 pump is sized for steering systems with ram capacities between 4.9 cubic inches (80 cc) and 14.0 cubic inches (230 cc) - which covers the vast majority of single-engine hydraulic steering installations on small to medium powerboats. To verify your steering ram is in this range: check your hydraulic steering manufacturer's specifications. For SeaStar HC5358-3 (the standard front-mount Yamaha cylinder): 8.34 cu in displacement - well within the pump's range. For BayStar smaller cylinders: typically in the 5-7 cu in range - within range. For larger SeaStar Pro / Tournament Series cylinders: 12-14 cu in range - within range. For very small cylinders (under 80 cc) or very large cylinders (over 230 cc), step down to the EV-100 (smaller systems) or step up to the EV-200 / EV-300 (larger systems) packs.

p70Rs control head - the helm interface. The p70Rs is Raymarine's dedicated powerboat autopilot controller - designed specifically for the needs of fishing and cruising powerboats. Combination of push-buttons (Standby, Auto, Mode, dedicated function keys) and rotary control dial (course adjustment, menu navigation) gives fast access to common autopilot functions. Sunlight-readable display shows heading, course, system status, and trolling pattern progress. Mounts in a standard 4-inch panel cutout or via surface-mount bracket (sold separately). For boats with multiple helms, additional p70Rs control heads can be added to other helm locations - all heads share the same autopilot status and any head can take control.

Built-in trolling patterns. The Evolution autopilot includes a library of built-in fishing patterns - press the pattern button, select the pattern, and the autopilot executes it: figure-8 (loop pattern useful for keeping the boat near a productive area while running varied speeds and depths), circle (constant-radius circle around a fishing spot - useful for circling productive structure), zigzag (S-curve pattern useful for offshore tuna trolling and similar applications), and U-turn (180-degree turn at controlled rate for quick course reversal). The patterns let the autopilot work the boat while you prep bait, set lines, and adjust your spread - meaningful productivity improvement for serious fishing applications.

TrackIQ algorithms - precise route navigation. When the autopilot is set to follow a chartplotter route, TrackIQ algorithms keep the boat precisely on the intended track - corrections for wind, current, and wave-induced course deviations are calculated using the pitch, roll, yaw, and heave data from the EV-1 sensor. Compared to older autopilots that used only heading and GPS data, TrackIQ delivers noticeably tighter track keeping and faster track acquisition after course changes. For chartplotter route-follow applications (offshore passage making, precise approach to waypoints in fog or low visibility), the tighter tracking matters.

Install considerations. Plan for 8-16 hours for an experienced installer, 16-24 hours for first-time installers. Key tasks: (1) Mount the p70Rs at the helm (flush mount in a 4-inch panel cutout). (2) Mount the ACU-150 in a dry, accessible location (typically below the helm or in an electronics compartment). (3) Mount the EV-1 sensor on its vibration-isolated bracket below deck, away from magnetic interference (engines, large iron components, large wiring runs). (4) Install the Type 1 hydraulic pump in the hydraulic steering circuit using appropriate tee fittings - parallel-to-helm-pump configuration is standard. (5) Wire the system per the included Evolution cable kit. (6) Bleed the hydraulic system thoroughly (the pump install adds new air to the system that must be purged). (7) Run the initial system setup wizard from the p70Rs. (8) Take the boat out for the auto-learning calibration - the autopilot learns your boat's characteristics during normal operation over the first few hours of use. For complex installs (multi-station boats, integrated chartplotter networks), a professional Raymarine-authorized installer is the better call.