Raymarine R71016 RCU-1 Wireless Autopilot Remote Mounting Cradle

The Raymarine R71016 is the factory replacement mounting cradle for the RCU-1 Wireless Autopilot Remote. It's the exact same cradle that shipped with your remote when it was new, so there's no guesswork about fit. If your original cradle cracked, walked off the boat, or you just want a second docking spot on a bigger helm, this is the part that puts things right.

Here's what the cradle actually does for you. The RCU-1 is a wireless remote that lets you steer and adjust your autopilot from anywhere on the boat, up on the bow setting a hook, back at the transom working a fish, or standing at the rail docking in a tight slip. That freedom only works if the remote has a home. The cradle gives it one. It holds the RCU-1 secure and upright at the helm so it isn't sliding across the dash or rolling into the bilge every time you hit a wake. When you need it, you know exactly where it is. When you don't, it's stowed and out of the way.

Most folks buying this cradle are replacing one that's seen a few seasons. Plastic that lives in an open cockpit takes a beating from the sun, and after two or three summers a cradle can go brittle and start to crack, especially on boats that sit uncovered at the dock. Others have simply lost the original overboard or misplaced it during a refit. And plenty of owners buy a second cradle on purpose so they can dock the remote at more than one station, say the lower helm and the flybridge. Either way, the fix is cheap and the swap takes just a few minutes with a screwdriver. Whatever the reason, ordering the genuine R71016 means the remote drops in the way it's supposed to.

Installation is straightforward. This is a screw-mount cradle, so you pick your spot, mark your holes, and fasten it down. A couple of tips from rigging these on real boats. If you're mounting to fiberglass, pre-drill your pilot holes and go slow so you don't spider-crack the gelcoat around the screw. On a thin console or a hollow panel, drop a small backing plate behind the surface to give the screws something solid to bite and to spread the load. Snug the screws firmly but don't overtighten into the plastic, since that's an easy way to strip the boss or crack the housing. And think about placement before you drill. You want the remote within easy reach of where you actually stand at the helm, but tucked out of the worst of the spray and, if you can manage it, out of constant direct sun so the next cradle lasts longer than the last one.

The cradle is molded in black plastic and keeps a low profile, so it blends into just about any dash or nav station without shouting for attention. It's built specifically for the RCU-1, and the mounting tabs are shaped to match that remote exactly. That's worth knowing. Pair it with the original RCU-1 remote and you get a clean, rattle-free hold. A remote it wasn't designed around won't seat the same way, so keep this cradle with the RCU-1 it belongs to.

One thing to keep in mind on power. The RCU-1 remote runs on its own batteries, so the cradle is a holder and a dock, not a charger. It's there to keep the remote secure, protected, and ready to grab. Simple job, done right. It's a small part, but it's the difference between a remote that has a proper place on the boat and one that's always underfoot. If you're not sure whether the R71016 is the right cradle for your setup, give us a shout and we'll confirm it against your remote before you order.