What frustrates me is that folks expect manufacturers to support electronic products for eons when they are marine but no one expects a 20 year old TV or a Motorola Star Tac phone to be supported? In today's day and age it is just not possible to support electronics very long as manufacturers of components discontinue the components.
I find Raymarine is actually better than most in supporting older products, I deal with them all. of course I am not an n=1 case like Morty is so I get a much wider sample to draw my conclusions from.
Need a fluxgate for 1980's vintage Autohelm, yep still supported and they still have them or they will still fix the one you have. Need a rudder position sensor for an 80's through 2012 autopilot? Yep they still have them and still can repair it or sell you a new one. Need a new ram drive for that 80's AP yep they have them and they will work with the old AP. Need a new wheel drive? Yep they can sell you one that is compatible with your old AP. They even kept the plug the same so just swap the drive and away you go!!! Most manufacturers would have changed the fluxgate or rudder transducer or the plug on the wheel drive, when moving to a new series, yet Raymarine did not. Need a new course computer and display for an older AP yep they have them and they are compatible with your old already installed gear. For a long while Ray was upgrading older domes to work with newer C & E series displays. They eventually ran out of parts to do so but they offered it to their customes. This happens. They recently recalled every AP at the distribution and retail level to swap out the control heads. Why? Part of the reasons is so they can continue to support the 6002, 7002 etc. control heads longer.
Aquasignal spent tens of thousands of dollars developing the series 32 LED nav lights. By the time they got through all the in house development and testing and the ABYC and USCG approvals they had a run of about 1 year. All of a sudden the manufacture of the LED emitter stopped production. Aquasignal was dead in the water with the 32 series lights. You can not just substitute another LED bulb in an already approved product. I suspect hey LOST money on the entire venture and never made a dime. This is just how it goes with electronic component's.
Heck my brother needs a brake part for his 1991 Toyota land cruiser. Toyota no longer has it nor does any after market shop. It is going to cost him 6X what Toyota used to sell it for to have his rebuilt because the shop that does it has to make the parts one off... Toyota's answer was the brakes work without the power assist... Even the companies with the best reputations sometimes discontinue support.
I spoke with Ray this morning while checking on a radome (still supported BTW) and they confirmed the life cycle of the ST-4000 which began in 1991 and ended in 2003 with the introduction of the S1. Based on Morty's statements he purchased it when it was either being discontinued or had already been discontinued. he may not have known but that is the reality. I talked MANY customers out of buying ST-60 products this season because it is now GONE... There will be 3-5 years of support, if that, in parts... Buying end of cycle anything leaves one with an even shorter support life.
Despite that the ST-4000 was then supported through almost 2011 until they ran out of components and could no longer source them. That is a NINE YEAR RUN OF SUPPORT after the product had been discontinued. Not bad.. My Garmin 182C had about 3 years!!!!! Depending upon what was needed they could or could not repair them after 2011 so they put a hard stop on repairs. Need a new plastic case, UV cover or need one tested? They can still do that if you ask nicely.
Morty has been bashing his ST-4000+, and Raymarine, since 2005 when he claims it "blew up" his DC panel.... Not possible, if properly installed, but that is the claim and where this all apparently began.
His 3010C plotter from Garmin is also running on borrowed but as of now is still technically "supported". I seriously doubt it will be supported for NINE years after discontinuation like the ST-4000+ was. Considering I have had both of my 3200 series plotters back to Garmin for repair, and the 3000 & 3200 are in the same family, I suspect Garmin might get the wrath next.
Oh and I had to speak with both Garmin and Raymarine today. Garmin hold time for marine was about 4 minutes and I did not wait at all with Ray, admittedly a bit unusual but the season has passed, and spoke with Linda right off the bat to get my ticket number. She then transferred me over to Lee and he picked right up too...
mainesail (corrct spelling)
A little presumptions Morty.
Maine Sail is the "(correct spelling)".... A mainsail is different... Main
e with an "e" is a state, also where I live. Sail is what I like to do, hence Maine Sail seeing as I created the screen name I suspect I actually know how I wanted it spelled...