[C320-list] Raymarine Autopilot failure

[Len]

Knowing where the rudder is helps when you have the wheel and in tight
situations.

Len
Aqua5  #1070


On 7/26/06, Chris Burti <cburti at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> 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
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>