Raymarine EV-150 Evolution Autopilot Core Pack (No Drive)

The Raymarine EV-150 Evolution Core Pack - No Drive is Raymarine's complete autopilot brain and user-interface bundle for hydraulically-steered powerboats. This is the No Drive configuration which means the hydraulic pump (the actual mechanical device that moves the steering) is NOT included - you provide that separately. The 'core pack' includes everything else needed to make a complete autopilot system: control head at the helm, sensor core for heading detection, actuator control unit to drive the pump, and all the wiring to connect them.

Why the 'No Drive' configuration. The standard full-system kit (different SKU) includes the M81120 Type 1 12V hydraulic pump bundled with the core pack components. The 'No Drive' version (this product) excludes the pump, which is the right configuration for three specific situations: (1) Upgrade from older Raymarine autopilot - if you have an existing pre-Evolution Raymarine autopilot install on your boat with a working Type 1 hydraulic pump, you can keep the existing pump and upgrade just the brain electronics to the Evolution platform. The existing pump connects to the new Evolution ACU-150 without modification. (2) Already have a compatible pump - if your boat came with a hydraulic pump from a previous autopilot install or other source, and the pump is Type 1 12V compatible, the core pack works with it. (3) Sourcing pump separately - if you want to buy the M81120 pump from a different supplier, distributor, or marine dealer, the core pack lets you do that without paying for a bundled pump you don't need.

What you get in the kit. Four components plus the cable kit that connects them all: (1) p70Rs Control Head (E70329) - the helm-mounted user interface panel with 3.5-inch sunlight-viewable display, LED backlighting for day/night use, rotary control knob for autopilot mode selection, and Power Steer mode for direct manual override. Mounts at the helm in a panel cutout or with the included bracket. The p70Rs is the standard Raymarine autopilot control head used across the Evolution autopilot lineup. (2) EV-1 Sensor Core (E70096) - the intelligent 9-axis heading sensor that's the breakthrough innovation of the Evolution platform. Contains 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, and 3-axis magnetometer - same sensor technology used in aerospace navigation systems. Mounts above or below deck (away from magnetic interference sources like the engine or stereo speakers). Compact 140mm diameter, 35mm depth. (3) ACU-150 Actuator Control Unit (E70430) - the power electronics module that takes commands from the autopilot brain and drives the hydraulic pump. Mounts in the bilge or engine room near the hydraulic pump. 12V DC operation, current ratings appropriate for Type 1 pump drive. (4) Evolution Cable Kit (R70160) - all the cables needed to connect the components together, including SeaTalk ng cables, power cables, and sensor cables.

The breakthrough Evolution autopilot technology. Older autopilots required extensive setup and calibration when installed - rudder feedback calibration, vessel-specific tuning parameters, hand-trim adjustments, and ongoing fine-tuning over multiple sea trials to get the autopilot working well in different conditions. The Evolution platform eliminates this completely. The 9-axis EV-1 sensor continuously measures vessel motion in all 6 degrees of freedom (3 translational, 3 rotational) plus magnetic heading, and the autopilot algorithm continuously learns the vessel's specific dynamic response to steering inputs. Result: install the system, go for a sea trial, the autopilot works correctly within 30 minutes without any manual calibration or tuning. As you continue to use the system, the algorithms refine the vessel-specific tuning over time, getting better at handling your specific boat's characteristics.

Hydro-Balance technology - what it solves. The defining feature for hydraulically-steered powerboats, especially outboard installations. Hydraulic steering systems have inherent elasticity in the fluid column, asymmetric pressure characteristics between port and starboard turns, and torque steer from outboard engine angle changes. Traditional autopilots fight these characteristics by constantly correcting, which causes the characteristic 'autopilot dance' of slight back-and-forth steering oscillation that's both fuel-inefficient and uncomfortable for passengers. The Hydro-Balance algorithm specifically models the hydraulic system's dynamic response and pre-compensates for elasticity, asymmetry, and torque steer - eliminating the oscillation. Particularly important for outboard-powered boats with no rudder feedback (where traditional autopilots have no direct measurement of where the steering is actually pointed) - Hydro-Balance lets the Evolution autopilot work reliably on rudder-reference-less systems.

TrackIQ algorithms. The autopilot's track-following behavior (how well it stays on a planned route between waypoints) is governed by TrackIQ. Compared to older autopilot algorithms, TrackIQ delivers tighter cross-track error correction (boat stays closer to the planned route line vs deviating widely), faster track acquisition (when you engage Track mode, the boat gets onto the planned route faster), and stabilized GPS data input (uses the EV-1 sensor's pitch/roll/yaw measurements to filter GPS jitter that would otherwise cause the autopilot to over-correct on every GPS position update).

Built-in trolling patterns. The Evolution autopilot includes pre-programmed trolling patterns that let the autopilot work the boat in standardized fishing patterns while you handle the rod work: S-turn pattern (zig-zag for trolling lures across the water column), square-turn pattern (systematic search of a specific area), circle pattern (orbiting a specific GPS position for vertical jigging or live-bait fishing), figure-8 pattern, U-turn (for re-running a productive trolling pass). Engage the trolling pattern, set the size/speed parameters, and the autopilot executes the pattern automatically. Particularly valuable for solo trolling or trolling tournaments where the captain wants to focus on lure changes and rod handling rather than holding a constant heading.

Vessel compatibility - what boats this fits. The EV-150 is sized for hydraulic steering systems with cylinder capacities between 4.9 cubic inches (80cc) and 14.0 cubic inches (230cc) - typical of small to mid-size powerboats: single-engine outboard boats from 18-32 feet, single inboard powerboats up to about 35 feet, smaller sportfishers, and walk-around cruisers in similar size ranges. For boats with larger steering cylinders (over 230cc, typical on larger powerboats with twin engines or bigger inboards), the EV-200 system is the upgrade. For smaller boats with smaller cylinders, the EV-100 is the appropriate fit. Verify your boat's hydraulic cylinder capacity before ordering - the spec is usually documented in your boat or steering system manual, or measured by your marine mechanic.

What hydraulic pump you need. The Raymarine M81120 Type 1 12V Hydraulic Pump is the standard recommendation - it's the pump Raymarine designed to pair with the EV-150 system. Type 1 specifies the pump flow rate and mounting interface that matches the 80-230cc cylinder range. 12V matches the EV-150's electrical system requirement. For owners who already have a working Type 1 hydraulic pump from a previous autopilot install (any brand, as long as it's Type 1 12V compatible with the ACU-150's drive output), that existing pump works with the new Evolution core pack - which is the primary reason to choose the No Drive configuration.

Network integration. The autopilot connects to your boat's marine electronics network via SeaTalk ng (Raymarine's proprietary CAN-bus protocol, mechanically and electrically compatible with NMEA 2000) for: position data input from a GPS or chartplotter (required for waypoint navigation and track-following modes), engine RPM and speed data for autopilot algorithm tuning, autopilot control from a compatible Raymarine MFD (initiate route navigation, control the autopilot from the chartplotter touchscreen), and software updates via the network. For owners with Raymarine Axiom or Axiom Pro MFDs at the helm, the integration is plug-and-play and significantly expands the autopilot's usefulness.

What's NOT in the kit. The M81120 hydraulic pump itself (the entire point of the No Drive configuration). Marine electrical hardware (battery cables, fuses, distribution blocks - source per ABYC standards). Hydraulic plumbing fittings for connecting the pump into your steering hydraulic circuit. NMEA 2000 / SeaTalk ng backbone components if you don't already have a network installed. Mounting hardware for the M81120 pump.

Install considerations. The complete autopilot install (core pack + hydraulic pump + plumbing + wiring) is a significant project requiring marine electrical and hydraulic skills. Realistic install time: 12-20 hours for a full pro install on a typical boat, $1,500-3,500 in labor on top of the parts. Self-install is feasible for owners with serious marine systems experience but isn't a casual weekend project. The core pack itself install (mounting components, running cables) is the easier part - the hydraulic pump install and plumbing integration with your existing steering hydraulics is where the complexity lives.

Warranty. 2-year limited Raymarine warranty on materials and workmanship from date of purchase. Register on the Raymarine website at purchase for warranty activation. Raymarine has well-established global service support through authorized dealers.