[C320-list] Help for older Autopilots

[Scott Thompson]

Details please! I have the ST4000+ but have never been completely happy 
with it. Won't steer a straight line even after tweaking all settings. 
It consistently steers 100 yards starboard XTE, which has almost taken 
me aground on occasion, and lately I'm getting fault codes ("Sea Talk 
Failure") on the control head and it doesn't work at all. I've tried 
checking connections at the head to no avail.) All this has led me to 
start contemplating an upgrade, and I would love to have one that is 
protected from the elements.

Scott Thompson
Surprise, 653

On 8/5/2012 2:17 PM, Len wrote:
>
> I'm replacing my S1 wheel pilot with Raymarine below-deck linear drive,
> which attaches directly to the rudder post - and replacing my 40" wheel
> with Lewmar folding 40" leather-wrapped wheel - added safety feature is if
> your wheel mechanism faults, you can still steer with the autopilot!
>   Linear drive uses same electronics as S1.
>
> Len Krane
> AQUA5
> Marina del Rey
>
> On Sun, Aug 5, 2012 at 8:19 AM, Jim Sweet<jamesweet at frontiernet.net>  wrote:
>
>> I found out about Dan about 3 days after I had purchased a new SX5 to
>> replace the old ST4000 whose control head had crapped out.  Sold him the
>> old unit and was very pleased with the transaction.  He is the only one
>> that I have found that will even work with you on the older Raymarine
>> instruments and wheel pilots.  Highly recommend at least contacting him
>> with any problems you might have.
>> The new wheel pilot is vastly superior to the older unit, ie, it works!
>> Never could get the ST4000 to really function properly (like the one I had
>> on our older Pearson 332) and the new unit has performed flawlessly in some
>> pretty trying conditions without the crazy ivans and the other issues with
>> the ST4000.
>>
>> Jim Sweet
>> TGIF (Thank God It Floats) 901
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Warren Updike"<wupdike at hotmail.com>
>> To:<C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2012 11:11 AM
>> Subject: [C320-list] Help for older Autopilots
>>
>>
>>
>>   I realize we shouldn't use this list for hyping vendors, so consider this
>>> more of a help for owners of older autopilots and instruments that
>>> Raymarine
>>> will no longer repair.  Dan Gerhardt [C250 at mydurango.net] a retired
>>> geologist in Durango, CO, may be able to repair your Raymarine / Autohelm
>>> /
>>> Raytheon autopilot.  He also does some work on the ST50s, but they are
>>> usually just as cheep to buy used as repair.  If he can't repair it, he
>>> may
>>> offer to buy it for parts.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> An while I'm at it, I had an occasion to obtain a newer wheel pilot (just
>>> the wheel stuff, not the control head.)  My impression is that it works
>>> much
>>> better with my old electronics than did the original wheel stuff.  The
>>> synchronous motor seems bigger, heavier duty, and responds well (better)
>>> to
>>> the ST4000+ controller.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Warren&  Pattie Updike
>>>
>>> 1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>