[C320-list] Raymarine Autopilot failure

[Chris Burti]

Yup. 

Actually the computer is designed to 'learn' from the
performance of the boat and reduce the amount of
correction required. Unfortunately the fluxgate is not
steady enough for this to work consistently (gyro
compass in the high-end units is why they work so much
better)and the unit calls for correction when it isn't
needed because the boat may be a bit slow in
responding or it may over-correct because the fluxgate
is lagging. 'Knowing' where the rudder is allows a
smart controller to compensate for these factors.

This is similar to intelligence of a thermos. They
keep hot things hot and cold things cold...but how do
they know the difference?
cb
--- Scott Thompson <sthompson at toad.net> wrote:

> Why would knowing where the rudder is make the
> autopilot more responsive 
> or help get the Sss out?  I've heard this before,
> but have yet to hear 
> any explanation for why it would help.  Does anyone
> have an explanation?
> 
> 
> Stan 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!
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> 


Chris Burti
"Commitment"
Catalina 320, #867, 
Farmville, NC

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