Hi All,
Well, the Autohelm (Raymarine) 4000 MK I Autopilot on Journey's End (CD-36)has called it quits. What should I replace it with? There's Raymarine, Simrad, Nexus and ???
I was thinking about a under deck model but space and funds are limited so it will probally be a wheel pilot.
What are your experiences / recommendations?
Mike Thorpe
Journey's End
Hyannis, MA
mthorpe@capecod.net
Autopilot...which one???
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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will parker
Re: Autopilot...which one???
I don't know about the others, but I certainly recommend the Autohelm 3000, (belt driven). It took my CD 30 to Bermuda and back, and kept working in some pretty nasty stuff.
I have heard that it may be out of production, but its still listed in the BoatUS catalogue.
Good Luck,
Will
Jambalaya
whildenp@earthlink.net
I have heard that it may be out of production, but its still listed in the BoatUS catalogue.
Good Luck,
Will
Jambalaya
Mike Thorpe wrote: Hi All,
Well, the Autohelm (Raymarine) 4000 MK I Autopilot on Journey's End (CD-36)has called it quits. What should I replace it with? There's Raymarine, Simrad, Nexus and ???
I was thinking about a under deck model but space and funds are limited so it will probally be a wheel pilot.
What are your experiences / recommendations?
Mike Thorpe
Journey's End
Hyannis, MA
whildenp@earthlink.net
-
Larry M
Re: Autopilot...which one???
Mike,
How old was the 4000 and how well did it work? I have a 3000 on my 33 that works great but am thinking of replacing it with a 4000 and keeping it as a back up. We just did a trip up from Santa Cruz to San Francisco and for about 3 hours the 3000 would not hold the course but this was due seas I think. When we were hand steering the rudder felt like it was not there (no pressure on the wheel) and it was all we could do to keep the boat within 30 degrees of the desired heading. I think this was due to some sort of cavitation caused by the breaking waves because after the seas calmed down the 3000 worked fine again.
LarryM
How old was the 4000 and how well did it work? I have a 3000 on my 33 that works great but am thinking of replacing it with a 4000 and keeping it as a back up. We just did a trip up from Santa Cruz to San Francisco and for about 3 hours the 3000 would not hold the course but this was due seas I think. When we were hand steering the rudder felt like it was not there (no pressure on the wheel) and it was all we could do to keep the boat within 30 degrees of the desired heading. I think this was due to some sort of cavitation caused by the breaking waves because after the seas calmed down the 3000 worked fine again.
LarryM
Mike Thorpe wrote: Hi All,
Well, the Autohelm (Raymarine) 4000 MK I Autopilot on Journey's End (CD-36)has called it quits. What should I replace it with? There's Raymarine, Simrad, Nexus and ???
I was thinking about a under deck model but space and funds are limited so it will probally be a wheel pilot.
What are your experiences / recommendations?
Mike Thorpe
Journey's End
Hyannis, MA
-
Patrick Turner
Re: Autopilot...which one???
The last time I was looking into this I believe the Simrad had the faster time (hard over) and the more torque. It's not quite as sleek looking as the Raymarine and it doesn't have a display to speake of, but I'm pretty sure it's a sinch to use. I was under the impression that The Simrad autopilot is actually the old Nexus autopilot. Simrad purchased Nexus and when they did they upgraded the "brains" inside the whell autopilot to improve performance.
Anybody out there know if I have that correct?
Pat
Salt Shaker
CD36
San Francisco Bay
patrick.t@attbi.com
Anybody out there know if I have that correct?
Pat
Salt Shaker
CD36
San Francisco Bay
patrick.t@attbi.com
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John R.
Re: Autopilot...which one???
Pat,
That would be Navico not Nexus. yes you basically have it correct except I am not aware of any component changes by Simrad to the Navico engineering. Only cosmetic from the info I have.
That would be Navico not Nexus. yes you basically have it correct except I am not aware of any component changes by Simrad to the Navico engineering. Only cosmetic from the info I have.
Patrick Turner wrote: The last time I was looking into this I believe the Simrad had the faster time (hard over) and the more torque. It's not quite as sleek looking as the Raymarine and it doesn't have a display to speake of, but I'm pretty sure it's a sinch to use. I was under the impression that The Simrad autopilot is actually the old Nexus autopilot. Simrad purchased Nexus and when they did they upgraded the "brains" inside the whell autopilot to improve performance.
Anybody out there know if I have that correct?
Pat
Salt Shaker
CD36
San Francisco Bay
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Leo MacDonald CD33
A/H, Raytheon, Raymarine (or whatever)
Hi Mike,
I know you had this info before but thought I would add my experience for this Board's consumption
I cannot recommend the A/H 4000.
1 - It appears to be a lighter duty than the A/H 3000, which I considered marginal for 'Heather Ann' (CD30K.)
2 - The A/H 4000 on 'Evening Light' had it's problems during our 2002 sailing season. The Manual & Raymarine's directions for getting into the 'program' have not worked (knowing my limitations, Bill & I both tried this.) I will try them again when I get to the boat - stay tuned.
Had the same *&^%$# problems getting into the A/H 3000 'program' on Heather Ann. The manual was wrong (new unit too.) I eventually did get into the program via cell phone to Raytheon while at the helm and for the remainder of the fall 2000 and the summer 2001 season it worked fine. During the Onset to Tenants Harbor sail it worked extensively. (I held my breath!)
3 - A/H, Raytheon, Raymarine (or whatever they are called this week) seem to have a consistent 'customer service' policy - BAD. I waited 8 months for warranty repair (including through most of the 2000 season.) Failed approx. Sept. 1999, received it approx. Sept. 2000. I will let you know when and if I ever detect a change.
At the time we got the new A/H 3000 for Heather Ann a former West Marine tech recommended "Navico", which, I think, is now "Simrad", (see "http://www.navico.com/".) He said they NEVER got a Navico unit back for repair and it took 1/2 the power of A/H. Wish I had listened!!
All that said, I seem to remember Allen Evans having a 'chip' problem with his Navico interconnecting 'bus' on Whisper (CD36 #83).
Allen, Your comments please.
Fair Winds,
Leo MacDonald
'Evening Light', CD33 #38
Lackey to the F/C (S/C)
macdoreNOSPAM@aol.com
I know you had this info before but thought I would add my experience for this Board's consumption
I cannot recommend the A/H 4000.
1 - It appears to be a lighter duty than the A/H 3000, which I considered marginal for 'Heather Ann' (CD30K.)
2 - The A/H 4000 on 'Evening Light' had it's problems during our 2002 sailing season. The Manual & Raymarine's directions for getting into the 'program' have not worked (knowing my limitations, Bill & I both tried this.) I will try them again when I get to the boat - stay tuned.
Had the same *&^%$# problems getting into the A/H 3000 'program' on Heather Ann. The manual was wrong (new unit too.) I eventually did get into the program via cell phone to Raytheon while at the helm and for the remainder of the fall 2000 and the summer 2001 season it worked fine. During the Onset to Tenants Harbor sail it worked extensively. (I held my breath!)
3 - A/H, Raytheon, Raymarine (or whatever they are called this week) seem to have a consistent 'customer service' policy - BAD. I waited 8 months for warranty repair (including through most of the 2000 season.) Failed approx. Sept. 1999, received it approx. Sept. 2000. I will let you know when and if I ever detect a change.
At the time we got the new A/H 3000 for Heather Ann a former West Marine tech recommended "Navico", which, I think, is now "Simrad", (see "http://www.navico.com/".) He said they NEVER got a Navico unit back for repair and it took 1/2 the power of A/H. Wish I had listened!!
All that said, I seem to remember Allen Evans having a 'chip' problem with his Navico interconnecting 'bus' on Whisper (CD36 #83).
Allen, Your comments please.
Fair Winds,
Leo MacDonald
'Evening Light', CD33 #38
Lackey to the F/C (S/C)
macdoreNOSPAM@aol.com
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Bob B
Re: Autopilot...which one???
I have used a Navico tiller pilot on my boat. I did not have the manual to reset the gain and such for this autopilot so sent Simrad (now Navico is Simrad) an email. A few days later I received the entire manual, no charge. I hope that the service is always that good.
Bob B
CD25D Tiva
Charleston, SC
BundyR@aol.com
Bob B
CD25D Tiva
Charleston, SC
BundyR@aol.com
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Chris Reinke
Autohelm 3000 limitations
Larry - I have a Autohelm 3000 on my CD330 and have experienced similar problems in seas. Raymarine advised me that the 3000 is undersized for my CD. Actually, the 3000 is recommended for vessels under 13,200lbs which would exclude use on the CD33, 330 or 36. I am considering upgrading.
Chris Reinke
CD330 - Innisfail
Back in NY from Onset, MA
Chris Reinke
CD330 - Innisfail
Back in NY from Onset, MA
Larry M wrote: Mike,
How old was the 4000 and how well did it work? I have a 3000 on my 33 that works great but am thinking of replacing it with a 4000 and keeping it as a back up. We just did a trip up from Santa Cruz to San Francisco and for about 3 hours the 3000 would not hold the course but this was due seas I think. When we were hand steering the rudder felt like it was not there (no pressure on the wheel) and it was all we could do to keep the boat within 30 degrees of the desired heading. I think this was due to some sort of cavitation caused by the breaking waves because after the seas calmed down the 3000 worked fine again.
LarryM
Mike Thorpe wrote: Hi All,
Well, the Autohelm (Raymarine) 4000 MK I Autopilot on Journey's End (CD-36)has called it quits. What should I replace it with? There's Raymarine, Simrad, Nexus and ???
I was thinking about a under deck model but space and funds are limited so it will probally be a wheel pilot.
What are your experiences / recommendations?
Mike Thorpe
Journey's End
Hyannis, MA
-
Ed Haley
Re: Autopilot...which one???
Hi, Mike:
I installed a new Simrad 5000WP wheel pilot on Mokita this summer and so far I've been sort of happy with it but not too thrilled. It may need a bit more adjusting in the gain/sensitivity software but to me, it takes too much time to adjust to the seastate and sailing conditions when first activated. For instance, if I needed to go put a reef in the main while close-hauled, when I activated the autopilot it took 3-5 minutes for the electronics to adjust to the course and provide a stable track. A couple of times when I went to the mast to do something, the boat went +/- 10 - 20 degrees off course.
I used to have an Raytheon Autohelm ST4000 wheel pilot on my CD28 and when I activated it it began to stabilize the track in seconds. It also held a course well for all points of sail except downwind.
I looked at both types but chose the Simrad since it was an upgrade of the previous autopilot that was installed aboard. I didn't have to mount any hardware that wasn't already installed. If everything being equal, I would have installed the Raytheon ST4000 again on my CD330.
IMHO, of course.
Ed Haley
s/v Mokita
CD330 #1
Kingston, ON
eghaleyNOSPAM@twcny.rr.com
I installed a new Simrad 5000WP wheel pilot on Mokita this summer and so far I've been sort of happy with it but not too thrilled. It may need a bit more adjusting in the gain/sensitivity software but to me, it takes too much time to adjust to the seastate and sailing conditions when first activated. For instance, if I needed to go put a reef in the main while close-hauled, when I activated the autopilot it took 3-5 minutes for the electronics to adjust to the course and provide a stable track. A couple of times when I went to the mast to do something, the boat went +/- 10 - 20 degrees off course.
I used to have an Raytheon Autohelm ST4000 wheel pilot on my CD28 and when I activated it it began to stabilize the track in seconds. It also held a course well for all points of sail except downwind.
I looked at both types but chose the Simrad since it was an upgrade of the previous autopilot that was installed aboard. I didn't have to mount any hardware that wasn't already installed. If everything being equal, I would have installed the Raytheon ST4000 again on my CD330.
IMHO, of course.
Ed Haley
s/v Mokita
CD330 #1
Kingston, ON
eghaleyNOSPAM@twcny.rr.com