[LW] [LW11] Inboard autopilot for tiller-steered 32 footer?

[martinem]

Hi. My Autohelm (ST4000 i think) with a cockpit tiller drive unit is getting old and i need to replace it för reliability. I wonder if an inboard drive unit such as the EV-200 might fit the purpose. I think that the inboard model will leave the cockpit free from the tiller and that the higher than necessary specifications will increase its reliability and ability to steer in rough seas. Or am I wrong? Will the oversized actuator risk instability, battery drain or something?
My next question is how the drive unit works while not activated. Will I sense some force from the drive unit while steeriing manually?
My boat is an Hallber-Rassy 31, 32 feet long, weighing 4,5 tonnes, with a 19 Hp engine, and 56 square meters of sail.
Best regards,
Martin Essen-Möller, Stockholm