Auto Pilot Advice Needed

[NYSail]

Hello allIn my boat there was a Alpha marine 4404, however it was not working. I have sent it off to the company and found I need a new drive unit and some minor repairs to other parts.....about $2,000 worth of stuff. A new unit from them would be in the $6,000 range. This is a below deck unit that from what I can gather is a good system and very strong. However by just fixing the existing unit, it will only interface with the older technology of GPS units. Yes I could use the system without the GPS, however for $2,000 would it be worth it to have a real good below deck autopilot w/out the gps interface.I have never used an autopilot, however plan on a bunch of cruises.Greg

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Greg, our boat has a 1991 vintage...

Autohelm 7000 linear drive motor with a 6000 head AP (now Raymarine). It is a very strong below deck system and works quite well. I may have my versions wrong, but our AP is set up to use SV 1.X. Of course most all newer GPS units (we use a Garmin 178C) use SV 3.X. For the most part our GPS interface to the AP that I installed works just fine. Right on the money except when the boat comes up onto the next waypoint it gives me the tone, but when I acknowledge it does not do a quick turn onto the new course. If I let the system do its thing it will make a one half mile arc to reach the new course, over shoot, then do another long arc, and so on. So, what I do is make a manual change...no big deal.In my case it was worth the effort to make the GPS to AP interface connection even though they operate on different versions. You might consider doing the same. It makes the cruising part of sailing much more pleasurable. Even though they operate on different versions the system does compensate for tide current and wind drift. Terry

 

[Fred]

Before you invest $2000, at least look

at new systems. If your system is a commercial grade unit, it may be worth fixing.What is your boat? Wheel with cable steering? If you're lucky enough to have hydraulic steering you may have more options.I wouldn't worry about the GPS interface. You should be keeping watch anyway, so a course correction isn't a big deal. I'm not a gadget guy though.

 

[NYSail]

Boat

Is a 1986 pearson P36-2 that has cable steering.

 

[sailingseadragon]

Integrated Electronics are Nice

Clearly the Alpha autopilot is a (the) top of the line, industrial strength unit. However, one thing to consider is purchasing a recreational unit like B&G, Simrad, or Raymarine for $2,500 - $3,500 that will integrate with your existing speed & wind units. And then sell your existing unit on ebay... I continue to be surprised how strong the market is for used, quality marine parts (after last year's refit I picked up close to $2,000 selling working equipment that had been removed from Sea Dragon).The "wind vane" feature that is available with each of these units, for me, is one of the more appealing features of the newer units. This feature allows you to set a desired wind angle and the autopilot will steer NOT to a set course but to a set wind angle relative to the boat.Just a thoughthttp://www.sailingseadragon.com/AutoPilot.htmhttp://www.sailingseadragon.com/Instruments.htm

 

[Don Radcliffe]

A new brain for your Alpha

I used an Alpha across the Pacific in 1992, and the mechanical drive parts were great, but the brain was as dumb as a fencepost--we fishtailed for 13,000 miles. The Alpha guys don't have a good reputation for product service, either.One solution is to fit a new brain onto your existing Alpha drive--most underdeck autopilots have a control head, a drive, and a electronic box which provides the power to the drive. They are compatible with almost any drive--my Simrad doesn't even care which way you hook up the wires.