[C320-list] Repairs for Legacy Autopilots or finding Sea Talk problems

[Warren Updike]

When my ST50 GPS stopped I found a short in the cable connecting it to the
NavData instrument. Also, there is on the 320 web site a procedure for
testing the signals from the mast-top wind instrument. To do this, I cut the
cable in the cabin under the settee and rejoined it in a proper connection
box. From there I could easily check the signals from the mast. 
After 20 years, it's time to look for new instruments.

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Sloat [mailto:resloat at comcast.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 5:44 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Repairs for Legacy Autopilots

Tony-Without an error message on the AP it sounds like it is OK, but the
disconnect is easy and might indicate something.   One thing to check is the
Sea Talk cables inside the Nav Pod.  With a VOM check continuity for each of
the Sea Talk cables.  Some times they have a wire that is broken.  Also
check all the Sea Talk cables for good connections to the various
instruments.  If all else fails, the problem may be in the connection
between the instrument and the wind device at the top of the mast since you
get no true or apparent reading.  Good luck.

On Aug 11, 2014, at 2:23 PM, Tony Murphy <tony at midwestphysics.com> wrote:

> Robert,
> 
> I have a similar problem with my boat (hull 886).  When I bought the boat
3 yrs ago, the broker told me the wind instrument wasn't working properly,
so we sent off just that module to RayMarine for repair/inspection along
with the windex and wind speed device from the top of the mast.  This was at
the PO's expense.
> 
> Raymarine returned it saying everything checked out ok during their
diagnostics.  However, I still can't get true/apparent wind from that
console on the navpod.
> 
> I will try disconnecting the autopilot sea talk cable as you mentioned to
see if I have a similar correlation/causation that you mentioned.  If so, I
will probably end up sending off to Dan as you mentioned earlier.
> 
> I will note that we have absolutely no error messages on our autopilot
console.
> 
> Tony
> Bella Sol #886
> 
> 
> On Aug 10, 2014, at 10:00 PM, Robert Sloat <resloat at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
>> Warren-On my hull 894 (2002), the Sea Talk cables are daisy chained and a
faulty main processor in the autopilot instrument caused interference with
the true wind reading on the wind instrument.   Numerous times over a week
of sailing when the autopilot Sea Talk cables were disconnected from the
other instruments, true wind was displayed.   When the autopilot was
connected via Sea Talk, no true wind reading was available, so there was a
correlation.   I bet on it as a causation also.  The ST 4000 + will control
the boat heading to apparent wind angle as an option so there is some
interplay between the wind instrument and the autopilot and the faulty main
processor in the autopilot must have been the reason for no true wind.
Anyway, the autopilot is working and true wind is available again.
>> 
>> On Aug 9, 2014, at 1:02 PM, Warren <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Bob, true wind is only available with a good speed through the water
(STW) 
>>> signal from the speed transducer that connects into the speed display.
>From 
>>> there, the STW is output to the Sea Talk network in Sea Talk protocol.
When 
>>> that is available and there is a wind speed from the masthead transducer

>>> the wind instrument can calculate true wind. I'm not sure the autopilot,

>>> working or not, should have any affect on the wind instrument. There
really 
>>> isn't any "main processor" in the ST50/60 Sea Talk system. 
>>> 
>>> On Thursday, August 7, 2014 10:02:04 PM UTC-4, Robert Sloat wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Rod-If you can't get the autopilot into calibration mode, then you may 
>>>> have a problem with the control head.  Mine would not respond to any
input 
>>>> and also gave the dreaded STLK FAIL message.  Even when the autopilot
was 
>>>> on with the error message, you could not get true wind on the wind 
>>>> instrument.  The main processor interfered with the wind instrument.
When 
>>>> the autopilot was depowered and all Seatalk cables disconnected from it
did 
>>>> the wind instrument work fine.  The fluxgate compass inputs to the 
>>>> autopilot were on spec so the diagnosis was a faulty autopilot.  I
don't 
>>>> have the autopilot settings for C320s handy but they have been floated 
>>>> around over the last year and may be on the C320 site archives.
Sometimes 
>>>> the fluxgate compass can cause troubles for the autopilot.  There are
spec 
>>>> resistance settings for the various fluxgate connections.  Again I
don't 
>>>> have those handy but did find them on Raymarine support. 
>>>> 
>>>> On Aug 7, 2014, at 5:57 PM, Rod Boer <rod.boer1 at verizon.net> wrote: 
>>>> 
>>>>> Hi Bob, 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks for the timely information.  I am having problems with 
>>>> calibrating 
>>>>> "Audrey", which is my affectionate name for the auto pilot when she is

>>>>> operating properly.  I will contact Dan and see if it needs service or

>>>> if 
>>>>> there is a way to get everything working by a pressing and ordered 
>>>> sequence 
>>>>> of buttons. Thanks again. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Rod 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message----- 
>>>>> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On 
>>>> Behalf 
>>>>> Of Robert Sloat 
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2014 12:09 PM 
>>>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
>>>>> Subject: [C320-list] Repairs for Legacy Autopilots 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Mates-I just had my ST 4000+ wheel autopilot  control head which 
>>>> Raymarine 
>>>>> no longer services repaired by Dan Gerhardt who was mentioned a few 
>>>> months 
>>>>> ago by a fellow C320 owner on this site. Costs vary with the amount of

>>>> work 
>>>>> and my repair was a lot less than what Raymarine charged the last time

>>>> this 
>>>>> unit was repaired 6 years ago.  He turned it around in a few days and
it 
>>>> is 
>>>>> running fine with all the original settings intact.  His contact info
is 
>>>>> c250 at mydurango.net.  He is out of that great sailing community of 
>>>> Durango 
>>>>> CO!  He also buys and sells autopilots and services autopilots from 
>>>>> Raymarine, Raytheon and Autohelm. He told me he has done other 
>>>> instrument 
>>>>> repair but with varied success.  Advise dropping him a note if you
have 
>>>> an 
>>>>> autopilot repair need for cost and shipping information.  I don't know

>>>> if he 
>>>>> does autopilot repairs for units that Raymarine still services.   
>>>>> 
>>>>> I am not Gerhardt's agent nor is he related.  I am just delighted to
get 
>>>> the 
>>>>> repair done quickly in the middle of the season and saving me a lot of

>>>> angst 
>>>>> over spending a lot of money for an upgrade replacement and the hassle

>>>> of 
>>>>> installation a control computer along with the instrument display or 
>>>> taking 
>>>>> a chance on buying a used control head over eBay..   
>>>>> 
>>>>> If your legacy autopilot control head breaks down, the alternative if 
>>>> you 
>>>>> cant't get it repaired could be well over a $1000 for a new display
and 
>>>>> control computer or looking on eBay for a used control head which
would 
>>>> be 
>>>>> cheaper.  Most of the ST 4000 + control heads on eBay when I last
looked 
>>>>> were used and cost well over twice my $150 repair cost which included 
>>>>> including return shipping if prepaid.  While the upgraded Raymarine 
>>>>> autopilot is very good looking, it doesn't match the 2002 area ST60 + 
>>>>> instruments I have on the Nav Pod. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> One thing I learned about the Raymarine ST 4000+ is that both the 
>>>> display 
>>>>> and the control computer are in the control head which is the
instrument 
>>>>> itself.  This apparently was a poor design as this is the second time
it 
>>>> has 
>>>>> been repaired over 13 seasons.  STKL FAIL error message is bad news on

>>>> the 
>>>>> instrument.  The newer wheel autopilots have a separate instrument and

>>>>> course computer, the latter installed some where else on the boat. And

>>>> you 
>>>>> might have to get a separate drive motor which may not be a direct 
>>>>> replacement for the drive motor for the 4000 + possibly requiring more

>>>> holes 
>>>>> to drill in the Edson pedestal and maybe moving the engine instrument 
>>>> box a 
>>>>> little. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Bob Sloat 
>>>>> Savannah 894 (2002) 
>>>>> Waukegan Harbor, IL 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Bob Sloat 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>> 
>> Bob Sloat
>> Savannah 894 (2002)
>> Waukegan Harbor, IL
>> 
> 

Bob Sloat
Savannah 894 (2002)
Waukegan Harbor, IL