[C320-list] Autohelm
Robert E. Sloat
resloat at comcast.net
Sat Jan 14 09:32:42 PST 2006
Scott-Slow boats and fast cars are a great elixir. You should see what cool
things I do in my fast car when the Coast Guard isn't around. They scare me
at least. No remote control however.
All kidding aside, from your previous note I would not be very happy with an
autopilot that can't maintain a constant heading under ideal conditions.
Assuming all settings are factory default or those used by 320 folks and all
setups have been done, have you checked the fluxgate compass on your boat?
Maybe a loose or corroded wire at the compass or at the helm is giving
inaccurate readings. A few gentle shakes at these connections with someone
at the helm to see if there are varying readings would be a good test. I
don't know what year your 320 is, mine is hull 894 (2220) and the factory
mounted it at the centerline in the aft part of the bilge in front of the
engine. Was yours factory installed? If not maybe there is a location
problem. Also, when at the dock, does the heading reading on the autopilot
change much? If so this may indicate fluxgate problems.
Does the autopilot work fine in the wind vane mode? If so, then I would be
more confident that the problem is with the fluxgate.
Does the auto tack function work when on autopilot on a heading? If not
very well, I still would not rule out the fluxgate compass.
Lastly,
----- Original Message -----
From: "T. Scott Thompson" <sthompson at toad.net>
To: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Autohelm
> It might be "cool" to motor around with no one at the helm, but I
> suspect that the USCG might take a dim view of this if you were doing
> this in a way that actually scared people. And I doubt if it's legal in
> a harbor setting given that you don't have any control of your engine
> with units like this.
>
> Returning to the original question: It's not clear to me that the
> remote control is an argument for the ST4000+. I'm fairly sure you can
> get the same or better functionality with other Raymarine autopilots,
> and probably with units from other manufacturers too.
>
> Robert E. Sloat wrote:
>
> >I have Hull 894 (2002) and the OEM installation from the Catalina factory
is
> >Raymarine ST60 wind, speed and depth instruments along with latest 4000
> >wheel autopilot. Once you swing the fluxgate compass and set the wind
> >instrument calibrated per owner's manual everything works just fine. The
> >autopilot settings I use are those lifted from the 320 site which I
believe
> >are basically very close to factory recommendations.
> >
> >One advantage of the Raymarine autopilot that I just discovered on their
> >website is that their SmartController wireless autopilot controller
appears
> >to be plug and play with the 4000 autopilot and gives you both the
benefit
> >of wireless autopilot control and a repeater of digital data. I may
install
> >this in the spring and eliminate the hassle of installing a wired
repeater
> >on the mast. The hand held SmartController could be mounted or just
placed
> >somewhere under the dodger so you can observe speed changes based on sail
> >adjustment without having to go back to the helm or ask for a reading
from
> >the skipper. The SmartController display screen is not very large, but
it
> >would be right next to the crew and looks like a nice improvement.
> >
> >The wireless unit would be very convenient to make heading adjustments
when
> >soloing and at the bow setting the asymmetrical spinnaker. It might be
cool
> >to scare folks at the harbor when under power by emptying the cockpit,
> >hanging out at the bow and steering with the remote. I believe the
wireless
> >range is around 30 feet so there is a low chance some joker on shore with
a
> >similar unit could join in on the fun.
> >
> >I will stop but the Raymarine booth at Strictly Sail here in Chicago to
> >discuss installation with a rep.
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Sweetwater Yacht Charters" <sail at sweetwater-charters.net>
> >To: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> >Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 6:11 PM
> >Subject: Re: [C320-list] Autohelm
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>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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