[C320-list] Raymarine Autopilot failure

[Len]

Having the rudder position show on the S1 autopilot is terrific---helps to
stop the "oversteer" most of us are guilty of.

Len
Aqua5 #1070


On 7/25/06, Stan <ola7442000 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Ben,
>
> Was not sure if your tongue was in your cheek when you refered to the
> usefulness of a rudder transducer.  If not,  the rudder transducer does an
> excellent job of telling the autopilot where the rudder is.  Making the
> unit
> more responsive.  It gets the Sss out.
>
> Stan
> "Our Little Amusement" #744
>
>
> On 7/21/06, Ben Waltuck <benw at sun.com> wrote:
> >
> > Aside from the rudder transducer, I can't see any reason to upgrate to
> > the more expensive S1.. so I just wanted to get my old ST4000+ repaired,
> > but since it was only an extra $140 to get a new MKII wheel drive over
> > repairing my older wheel drive, I upgraded to the new MKII.
> > Raymarine sold me the new MKII for $439 with my old MKI as a trade-in
> > instead of charging me $299 to repair my old MKI..
> > The real problem was that my control unit died.  I sent in both the
> > control unit and the drive unit, and they said that my drive unit was in
> > pretty rough shape and probably the root cause of the control unit
> > failure because it had to work so hard to turn the wheel.
> > So in the end it was $199 to repair the control head plus $439 for a new
> > wheel drive = $638 for a new system (half the price of a new S1)
> > I just don't see the point in the rudder transducer because I can look
> > at the steering wheel more easily than looking at the autopilot to see
> > how I'm steering.
> >
> > Thanks for all the input.. if it stops raining up here in Boston
> > sometime soon I might actually get out for a sail!
> >
> > Ben Waltuck
> > Getaway #352
> >
> > Len wrote:
> >
> > > Or are you looking a a used MKII?
> > >
> > > Len
> > > Aqua5 #1070
> > >
> > >
> > > On 7/21/06, Jeff Church <jjemail at comcast.net> wrote:
> > >
> > >>
> > >> Ben,
> > >>
> > >> I installed the new wheel drive this Spring. Lowering the pod is no
> > >> problem.
> > >> Remove the front panel, unscrew the 2 screws that attach the pod to
> the
> > >> binnacle, remove the caulk that seals the aft binnacle post to the
> > >> pod so
> > >> that the pod will slide down the post, drill 2 holes through the back
> > of
> > >> the
> > >> pod, bolt and seal the pod back to the binnacle.
> > >>
> > >> You might want to install the wheel drive so that the clutch and
> > >> motor are
> > >> in the 5:00 o'clock position like the original unit was. The 2
> > >> positioning
> > >> holes that are provided will only allow the unit to be mounted so
> > >> that the
> > >> motor is in the 11:00 o'clock position. If you mount it there you
> will
> > >> have
> > >> to deal with moving or extending the wires that connect to the unit,
> as
> > >> well
> > >> as the aesthetic differences. Repositioning requires drilling a new
> > >> locator
> > >> hole in the forward ring of the wheel drive. You will also need to
> > >> drill a
> > >> hole in the pod to move the engine-stop handle outboard about an inch
> > so
> > >> that it does not hit the motor. Fill the old hole with a white
> plastic
> > >> snap-in button that you can get at Ace.
> > >>
> > >> Good luck.
> > >>
> > >> JeffC
> > >>
> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >> From: "Ben Waltuck" <benw at sun.com>
> > >> To: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > >> Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 1:14 PM
> > >> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raymarine Autopilot failure
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > Has anyone replaced their raymarine ST4000 with the newer MKII
> wheel
> > >> > drive?
> > >> >
> > >> > I send my unit in to raymarine for repair, and they said that both
> > the
> > >> > control unit and drive unit were broken.. and that it would be $299
> > to
> > >> > replace my old drive unit or $439 to get the newer MKII drive unit
> > (on
> > >> top
> > >> > of $199 to repair the control head). I decided to go ahead for the
> > >> newer
> > >> > MKII unit, but I seem to recall a post sometime back where someone
> > >> > mentioned that they were not able to fit the MKII unit without
> moving
> > >> the
> > >> > engine control pod down.. So my question is.. has anyone
> successfully
> > >> > replaced the ST4000 with the newer MKII wheel drive?
> > >> > AND, did you have to lower your engine control panel?  Is that as
> > >> > difficult as it looks?
> > >> >
> > >> > My fear is that lowering the control panel might be a bit of a
> > project
> > >> if
> > >> > I have to drill a new screw hole because I'd first need to get all
> of
> > >> the
> > >> > wires out of the pedestal.. and that could be a bit of a pain.
> > >> >
> > >> > Thanks!
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Stan
> C320 "Our Little Amusement" #744
> __/)__/)__/)__/)__
>