[C320-list] Raymarine Autopilot failure

[Scott Thompson]

I made a turks head on the edge of the wheel at the center spoke.  I 
just look how far it is from center and know the same thing, even with 
the autopilot turned off.  In fact I can figure it out in the dark by 
feel alone.

Len wrote:
> 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
>> __/)__/)__/)__/)__
>>