[C320-list] Autohelm

Fri Jan 13 14:05:49 PST 2006

The ST4000+ works OK on the C-320 (after you change the settings), but
it's not perfect.  The alternative fairly inexpensive pilot (can't
remember the name, but it doesn't fit on the older C-320s such as yours
with the old style instrument pod) doesn't talk directly to the
remainder of your RayNav instruments (as the ST4000+ does using
SeaTalk).

Mine was installed new on the boat as it came from Catalina three
seasons ago and didn't come with the rudder position indicator. Reports
are that this may improve the control under power, but I couldn't be
happier with the control that I have using the windicator or the GPS
(through NMEA from my Garmin).

The ST4000+ is a low end autopilot for our boats, but for most
conditions, it's adequate.  If I were to do serious cruising / ocean
voyaging, I would get a higher end unit such as the B&G mentioned in a
previous post.

You should be able to talk to RayNav at Strictly Sail, and they may be
able to recommend exactly what you need (possibly short of an entire
autopilot (maybe the 4000+head will drive the 4000 drive wheel and be
able to use the fluxgate compass too))  Gosh, I do ramble at times.

I'll be down at Strictly Sail on Saturday, so perhaps we'll run into
each other at teh Catalina booth

Steve
Alchemist #909

--- Sweetwater Yacht Charters <sail at sweetwater-charters.net> wrote:

> Just to bring this back up, because I don't think I asked the
> question
> correctly. Am I right in assuming that most are happy with the
> ST4000+ on
> their C320? OR, does anyone have a different unit which they think is
> better? I will probably be stopping by Strictly Sail in Chicago next
> month
> so I might be able to get a deal on something.
> 
> -Joan
>  C320 #90 Persistence
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "T. Scott Thompson" <sthompson at toad.net>
> To: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>; "Steven Magennis"
> <magenns at yahoo.com>
> Cc: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 1:58 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Autohelm
> 
> 
> The settings quoted below are for the ST4000+, which is NOT the unit
> in
> question.  In fact, if I read the messages correctly, Joan is asking
> whether she should upgrade to the ST4000+.
> 
> Steve:  What makes you say that the wind instrument just provides
> adjustments to the fluxgate input?  My impression has been that the
> fluxgate is no longer used to steer the boat at all when sailing to
> the
> wind instrument.  The wind mode gives by far the best performance, at
> least for sailing upwind, I've found.
> 
> Joan:  I've found that my boat with ST4000+ snakes about the same
> when
> using the GPS waypoint mode as when using a compass heading mode. 
> May
> be the function of one GPS vs. another, but I can't think of why the
> GPS would help much since according to the docs, the Autohelm does
> not
> use the GPS heading information at all.  (It appears to use the cross
> track error data and the bearing to waypoint data to determine which
> course to steer in GPS mode.  But my experience is that it will
> tolerate quite a bit of cross track error before it makes a
> correction.)
> 
> I've read here that Raymarine has recommended the rudder sensor to
> some
> owners, but have never heard anyone report that they noticed much of
> an
> improvement from installing one.  I'd love to be proven wrong,
> however.
> 
> On the other hand, installing one of the newer Raymarine units that
> includes a gyro unit to improve the heading response performance of
> hte
> compass should make a lot of difference.  I don't think you can add
> this to the ST4000 or ST4000+, however.
> 
> ------------------
> T. Scott Thompson
> sthompson at toad.net
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Quoting Steven Magennis <magenns at yahoo.com>:
> 
> > This has been discussed a lot on this site.  From Jan, 2005:
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Allan Field
> > To: c320
> > Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 5:44 PM
> > Subject: RE: [c320] User Setup for Raymarine ST4000 Plus Wheel
> > Autopilot
> >
> >
> > An important setting is drive type = 2.
> >
> >  Calibration Lock             OFF
> >      Pilot Type               4000whl
> >      Rudder Gain                 2
> >      Response                    2
> >      Turn Rate Limit            20
> >      Align Rudder               0
> >      Rudder Limit               20
> >      Off Course Alarm            20
> >      AutoTack                   100
> >      AutoTrim                    3
> >      Drive Type                  2
> >      Variation                   0
> >      AutoAdapt                  nth
> >      Latitude                   The correct latitude for
> >                                 the location of the boat.
> >      Rudder Damp               4
> >      Cruise Speed              A
> >
> >
> >
> > These settings sort-of work.  You will still get a wake snake, but
> > they
> > are much better than the original factory settings.  At least one
> > C-320
> > owner has installed the rudder position indicator on his boat (look
> > in
> > the C-320 photo archives), and that may help.
> >
> > I have been using these settings for the past four years with my
> > ST-4000+  on my C-320, and get a minimal wake snake when steering
> > off
> > the fluxgate compass under power.  However, when I use either the
> > wind
> > instrument or the GPS to control the direction (yeah, yeah, I know,
> > the
> > wind instrument just provides some adjustment to the fluxgate
> > control,
> > but what can I say), the boat runs straight as an arrow with no
> wake
> > snake at all.
> >
> > Steve
> > Alchemist C-320 #909
> >
> >
> >
> > --- Sweetwater Yacht Charters <sail at sweetwater-charters.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Believe me, we have tried everything! I would be happy with any
> > kind
> > > of
> > > course at all - even if it is a big "S". This unit simply will
> not
> > > hold a
> > > course at all. The previous owner actually sent the head in for
> > > repair and
> > > they upgraded the software and sent a list of all the correct
> > > settings, but
> > > it still won't work. After struggling with it for 2 seasons, I
> > think
> > > I would
> > > just rather get a new unit.
> > > -Joan
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Mark Koch" <markkoch738 at hotmail.com>
> > > To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 7:31 AM
> > > Subject: RE: [C320-list] Autohelm
> > >
> > >
> > > > Dear Joan,
> > > >
> > > > We had the same problem on "Still Crazy".  I could not make the
> > > system
> > > hold
> > > > a course in any kind of a sea.  Each variation to port or
> > starboard
> > > was
> > > > greater than the last.  We were sailing huge S's down the lake.
> > I
> > > contacted
> > > > customer service at Raymarine and he gave me a group of
> settings
> > > that
> > > > returned the unit to factory settings.  After performing the
> > > recommended
> > > > adjustments, the system worked flawlessly.  Raymarine service
> > > contacted me
> > > > several days later to check on the adjustments.  I am now very
> > > pleased
> > > with
> > > > both the Autohem and the Service Dept.
> > > >
> > > > Mark Koch
> > > > #738 Still Crazy
> > > > Huron, Ohio
> > > >
> > > > Mark Koch
> > > > KelKo Products Company
> > > > Sandusky, Ohio
> > > > (419) 626-2571
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >From: "Sweetwater Yacht Charters"
> > <sail at sweetwater-charters.net>
> > > > >Reply-To: C320-List <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > > > >To: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > > > >Subject: [C320-list] Autohelm
> > > > >Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 10:03:14 -0800
> > > > >
> > > > >We have never been able to get the Autohelm on Persistence to
> > work
> > > > >correctly. Apparently the previous owner had problems too. I
> > have
> > > decided
> > > > >to
> > > > >replace the unit this year. The old unit is the ST4000 (not
> the
> > > ST400+)
> > > > >My question: I think I can get an upgrade from Raymarine to go
> > > from the
> > > > >ST4000 to the ST4000+. This would be much cheaper since it
> > would
> > > work
> > > with
> > > > >the equipment already installed. Has anyone done this? Also,
> > does
> > > anyone
> > > > >have suggestions for a better system? My feeling after doing
> > > research is
> > > > >that the ST4000+ is adequate, but not great. Of course, the
> > > service
> > > > >department would like me to buy a nice, expensive system! I
> > sail
> > > on the
> > > > >Great Lakes (primarily Lake Michigan) so I don't need anything
> > > really
> > > heavy
> > > > >duty, but we do some long distances when delivering so it
> can't
> > be
> > > > >light-weight either.
> > > > >
> > > > >-Joan
> > > > >  C320 #90 Persistence
> > > > >
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