is connected to the Jefa geared steering system at the gearbox. It is the 24V planetary drive unit, controlled and powered by a Raymarine X30 course computer. The drive has been quite good, very powerful and capable of steering in the worst conditions. Part of the credit goes to Raymarine, their new X30 is gyro enabled and is MUCH better downwind than their older products. But the drive is at least as strong as a strong helmsman when he is fresh. A lot stronger 2 hours on. Probably its hardest job so far was about 32 hours downwind in 25-30 across Lake Huron in 2009, dead downwind in a rising seaway, very active steering required and never a worry about it getting overpowered or loosing control. Maximum course variation probably +/5 degrees, drawing an average of around 5 amps (my guess, I didn't measure it over a long term).

Complaints might be, is uses spur gearing and makes some gear noise as it steers. More noise than my previous boat's Raymarine linear drive. Mine connects to the gear box with an oval stud in a mating close tolerance hole. After a season this began making a slight clunk on heavy steering reversal under autopilot. Jefa responded by saying the have since changed the design to a keyway to eliminate this, but it was a very robust system, just grease it once a year. I did grease it and it has eliminated the clunk. It is a PITA to do because they did not leave enough space between the fixing bolts and the motor body to use a standard box or socket wrench. 4 nylock nuts about 20 turns one flat at a time with an open end. I guess I am going to machine up an ultra thin wall socket to deal with this.

One quirk: Jefa uses a pin clutch rather than a friction clutch. A pin drops into a hole to connect up the drive when the solenoid is actuated. It is returned by a spring, but will not return if the steering is loaded. So when you hit the "standby" button, you must grab the wheel and wiggle it enough to unload the pin, which will then retract and you have the helm. This isn't bad, just different, and must be explained to others on board. You can backdrive the motor (it isn't energized at that point) but steering is pretty heavy until it releases. In fact Jefa thinks this is an advantage, since it won't just turn the wheel loose on standby if no one is at the helm.

I haven't had any problems with any of the Jefa stuff on board so far. It all seems pretty well engineered and made. Except for those fixing nuts.