Raymarine EV-200 vs EV-300: What the Names Mean

Two Evolution lines, two steering jobs

The Raymarine Evolution line appears on this site under several pack names, and two of the names a buyer sees are EV-200 and EV-300. On Raymarine's pack page, these are not ranked one above the other: each name points to a steering system. EV-200 is listed as Power Pilot and Sail Pilot, while EV-300 is listed as Solenoid Pilot, an autopilot system for boats with solenoid-controlled power steering.

For a buyer, the practical difference is the steering job the pack is built for, not a model-year step. Read the title words first: 'Power', 'Sail' and 'Solenoid' are the clues to the drive type. The Raymarine autopilot guide compares the line's listings on those stated details.

EV-200 Power Pilot and Sail Pilot

The EV-200 Power Pilot is described on Raymarine's pack page as an autopilot for medium to large powerboats with hydraulic steering. The EV-200 Sail Pilot is described as an autopilot for mid-sized sailboats with mechanical steering. If a listing carries one of these names, the pack is built around a drive that matches that steering type.

Hydraulic steering and mechanical steering need different drive units. Raymarine's drive unit page states that its Evolution autopilots accommodate hydraulic, mechanical and power assisted stern drive systems, and sets out hydraulic pumps, rotary drives and linear drives as separate units. The hydraulic autopilot guide and the sailboat autopilot guide list packs by the steering they serve.

EV-300 Solenoid Pilot

The EV-300 line is the Solenoid Pilot. 'Solenoid' is the name for a valve that is electrically opened to send hydraulic pressure to the steering actuator. A boat with solenoid-controlled power steering steers with power assistance, and the autopilot's drive must work with that valve arrangement rather than with a plain hydraulic pump.

Raymarine's pack page describes the EV-300 as an autopilot system for boats with solenoid-controlled power steering. That is the condition a buyer should match against the boat before looking at the rest of the listing. The powerboat autopilot guide covers packs for power-steering helm systems as well.

What pack names tell you

Pack titles on this site list the model line (EV-200 or EV-300), the pilot type (Power, Sail or Solenoid), and sometimes the drive or the control head that is in the box. The title alone is not enough: read the bullet list for the drive unit name, the control head name and the contents of the box.

A listing that says 'no drive' or 'requires pump' tells you the pack leaves the drive out, while a complete pack names the drive inside. Compare two listings on these stated details before ordering. The complete autopilot pack guide explains how pack contents differ.

Core pack versus complete pack

The same Raymarine line is sold as complete packs and as core packs. A complete pack includes the drive and usually a control head, so the buyer receives a system in one box. A core pack leaves the drive out for a boat that already has a drive the owner plans to keep.

Which one fits depends on the boat, not on the EV-200 or EV-300 name. If the drive stays, a core pack is the match; if the boat has no drive, a complete pack is the match. See the core pack guide and the control head guide for the buying angles.

Why the boat's steering decides the choice

The first question is what steering the boat actually has. Raymarine's drive unit page says that anyone unsure how to determine the steering type should consult an authorized dealer. The same logic applies to choosing between an EV-200 and an EV-300 pack: the steering system decides the drive, and the drive decides the pack.

Ask these questions before comparing listings:

• What steering system is aboard: hydraulic, mechanical, or solenoid-controlled power steering?
• Is the existing drive staying, or is a new drive in the box?
• Which control head does the listing name, if any?
• Does the title say 'Power', 'Sail', or 'Solenoid'?

How to compare the two lines

To compare EV-200 and EV-300 listings, use only the stated details: steering type, drive in the box, control head in the box, and the pack contents named in the bullet list. The maker's pack page is the source for what each name means, and the listing is the source for what is in the box.

This site's guides use the same comparison on stated details. If the EV-200 line is the likely match, the EV-200 guide lists the available packs side by side; the general marine autopilot guide is the place to start for any steering type.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Is the EV-300 a newer version of the EV-200?

On Raymarine's pack page, EV-300 is a separate line named Solenoid Pilot, for boats with solenoid-controlled power steering. EV-200 is the Power Pilot and Sail Pilot line. The names describe steering type, not a version step.

Can an EV-300 pack drive a hydraulic steering boat?

The EV-300 line is stated for solenoid-controlled power steering. Whether a given unit fits another steering type is something the maker's page and the seller must confirm; this site compares stated details only.

What does an EV-200 pack include?

The listing's bullet list names the drive and the control head in the box. A complete pack includes them; a core pack leaves the drive out. Read the title and bullets before ordering.

Which EV line is for a sailboat?

Raymarine lists the EV-200 Sail Pilot for mid-sized sailboats with mechanical steering. Tiller and wheel pilot lines also exist for smaller sailboats.

Do I need a separate heading sensor?

The Evolution system uses an EV sensor as the central processor and heading sensor, per Raymarine's product pages. What is in the box depends on the pack listing.

Where do I confirm that a pack fits my boat?

Confirm the steering type with the listing's stated details, then check Raymarine's pack page and ask an authorized dealer before buying.