Tiller autopilot upgrade?

[Jack Schuhmacher]

I have an older Autohelm 2000 tillerpilot on my CD 28 that came with the boat when I bought it. It's the one that has a separate motor and control box, and although it still works I have been thinking of getting a new tillerpilot. Partly because this one makes alot of noise and I don't believe it has the Auto sea state feature the new models have and it has manual trim rather than the auto trim functions. I was wondering if these features would make this upgrade worthwile. Any opinions on the Raytheon ST 2000+ or the Navico 300CX.
Many thanks, Jack



jschuh@wt.net

[Ken Cave]

Jack:

As Raytheon is Autohelm (bought them some years ago) the Autohelm and Ratheon 2000 should be the same unit.

If you are looking at the SeaTalk feature that Autohelm offers, be sure that all your other instruments are compatable also.

Ken Cave



bcave@whidbey.net

[Jack Schuhmacher]

Jack:

As Raytheon is Autohelm (bought them some years ago) the Autohelm and Ratheon 2000 should be the same unit.

No, they are different units, the Raytheon ST 2000+ is a self contained unit whereas the one I have has a round drive unit and a seperate control box that measurs about 2"D*5"T**7"W. It has no display, six buttons one knob to ajust the tiller offset

If you are looking at the SeaTalk feature that Autohelm offers, be sure that all your other instruments are compatable also.

I am interested in the Auto Sea State and Auto Trim Functions.
Jack



jschuh@wt.net

[Bill]

Jack

Navico has been bought out by Simrad (I think that is right). They have supposedly made improvement to the Navico line and changed the model number (TP300CX is no TP30CX or something like that).

The older model Navico TP300CX was on sale from Boat US (web site only!) for $599. West Marine (in Tulsa OK would not price match) at the time. NOt sure if it was due to noe access to the net to "see the ad" or what. But I ordered one on line. about $100 off the new model still warrantyed (sp).

FYI

Bill

I have an older Autohelm 2000 tillerpilot on my CD 28 that came with the boat when I bought it. It's the one that has a separate motor and control box, and although it still works I have been thinking of getting a new tillerpilot. Partly because this one makes alot of noise and I don't believe it has the Auto sea state feature the new models have and it has manual trim rather than the auto trim functions. I was wondering if these features would make this upgrade worthwile. Any opinions on the Raytheon ST 2000+ or the Navico 300CX.
Many thanks, Jack

cd25d@yahoo.com

[Jim]

I contacted Raytheon to see if my ST2000 could be upgraded to a 2000+. The answer was no but you could buy a "bos" that would allow other instruments such as a GPS etc. to be plugged into the box and drive the 2000.



james.jamieson@yale.edu

[Ken Cave]

Check the net under Autohelm: It will give you all the info on all the steering units under Autohelm and Raytheon currently make. No mention of any Raytheon products for the unit that attaches to the tiller.

Ken Cave



bcave@whidbey.net