I have a beautiful 1995 Cat 30 Mk III with just one problem. Unlike my previous 1985 Cat30 with an autohelm 3000 that steered straight as an arrow, the 1995 with an autohelm 4000 wheelpilot is SSSSSing. I have tried much dealer and factory tech help with only minor improvement. Has anyone had this same problem, if so were you able to correct it and how? Now the factory is telling me I need a rotory rudder reference transducer for another $300.00. Has anyone had experience with this upgrade?
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S ing
Hi Steve. I have a 1996 C30 MKIII, and last year installed a Autohelm 4000+. I set the adjustable settings for sensativity and response time, etc to the numbers the Autohelm tech rep gave me for my boat and every thing is fine. It tracks well even in following seas in 15 to 20 knots. Make sure the flux gate compass is located where minimum error is found. Mine in on the bulkhead next to the opening port in the rear quarter berth. Only 5 deg error and a couple of inches to the Edison pedistal bottom for the cable to run. Try to recalabrate the combass according to the directions with the auto pilot and see what you get. (You know the 720 deg circles) The only problem I have found is that if I use the handheld VHF right next to the autopilot, it will alter course slightly sometimes, good luck and let us know how it comes out. Dave SV Westwind
Hi Steve. I have a 1996 C30 MKIII, and last year installed a Autohelm 4000+. I set the adjustable settings for sensativity and response time, etc to the numbers the Autohelm tech rep gave me for my boat and every thing is fine. It tracks well even in following seas in 15 to 20 knots. Make sure the flux gate compass is located where minimum error is found. Mine in on the bulkhead next to the opening port in the rear quarter berth. Only 5 deg error and a couple of inches to the Edison pedistal bottom for the cable to run. Try to recalabrate the combass according to the directions with the auto pilot and see what you get. (You know the 720 deg circles) The only problem I have found is that if I use the handheld VHF right next to the autopilot, it will alter course slightly sometimes, good luck and let us know how it comes out. Dave SV Westwind
setting-310
I have a 310 and a company called Ocean Equipment gave me these settings. They were for a 320 but work great for the 310...cal lock off, rudd gain 2, response 2, turn rate 20 alion 0, rud limit 30, off course 20, cruise sp 8, rudd damp 1, latitude 45 (I'm in Marina Del Rey CA,) auto adapt nth, variation 0, auto trim 2, auto track 100. Seems to work fine. Have not sailed in 20 knot winds. My boat needs to be trimmed or reefed at about 15. At least the traveler has to be run down. Before I set up these settings my boat would round up or fall off, but motor straight in the harbor. Ocean Equip number is 949 1470 or fax 949 588 1479 and ask for Marlena x229. She was very helpful.
I have a 310 and a company called Ocean Equipment gave me these settings. They were for a 320 but work great for the 310...cal lock off, rudd gain 2, response 2, turn rate 20 alion 0, rud limit 30, off course 20, cruise sp 8, rudd damp 1, latitude 45 (I'm in Marina Del Rey CA,) auto adapt nth, variation 0, auto trim 2, auto track 100. Seems to work fine. Have not sailed in 20 knot winds. My boat needs to be trimmed or reefed at about 15. At least the traveler has to be run down. Before I set up these settings my boat would round up or fall off, but motor straight in the harbor. Ocean Equip number is 949 1470 or fax 949 588 1479 and ask for Marlena x229. She was very helpful.
Autohelm Mistake
Hey Steve. I had a problem with my new autohelm 4000 Head. It was steering me back and forth. I guess you could call that SSSSSing. Anyway, after trying a few things, my dealer called some autohelm teckie's. They found that the directions written in the book for one of the set ups was wrong. Can't remember off the top of my head the exact name but it is the one for the type of steering. The options are 1 or 2 and the book is wrong. After changing it I was able to get the thing working properly and then to fine tune it. I'll find the exact settings if you need them. Let me know. RG.
Hey Steve. I had a problem with my new autohelm 4000 Head. It was steering me back and forth. I guess you could call that SSSSSing. Anyway, after trying a few things, my dealer called some autohelm teckie's. They found that the directions written in the book for one of the set ups was wrong. Can't remember off the top of my head the exact name but it is the one for the type of steering. The options are 1 or 2 and the book is wrong. After changing it I was able to get the thing working properly and then to fine tune it. I'll find the exact settings if you need them. Let me know. RG.
Which pilot???
Is it a AH4000, AH ST4000 or AH ST 4000+? The Autohelm 4000 has only one adjustable settting, the knob on the front which is set to a position corresponding to the number of turns of the wheel, lock to lock. There is no remote compass, it is internal.
Is it a AH4000, AH ST4000 or AH ST 4000+? The Autohelm 4000 has only one adjustable settting, the knob on the front which is set to a position corresponding to the number of turns of the wheel, lock to lock. There is no remote compass, it is internal.
SSSSing
I had sssssssing when motering in Hi wind 20knots and up into the wind . My wheel stearing cable had to much slack . It did not feel so bad to me.But the auto helm 4000 hated it . snuged cable a few turns and it was working sweeeeeeet . J Olson
I had sssssssing when motering in Hi wind 20knots and up into the wind . My wheel stearing cable had to much slack . It did not feel so bad to me.But the auto helm 4000 hated it . snuged cable a few turns and it was working sweeeeeeet . J Olson
sail trim
All the settings & steering cable slack issues aside (they are important), if you don't balance your sails & helm for the wind and seas before putting the autopilot on, it is likely to result in the "Sss-ing" you've experienced. If you are hand-steering with too much weather (or lee) helm, you will be working the wheel (tiller) back and forth a lot to hold a course. No different for an autopilot. --Ron
All the settings & steering cable slack issues aside (they are important), if you don't balance your sails & helm for the wind and seas before putting the autopilot on, it is likely to result in the "Sss-ing" you've experienced. If you are hand-steering with too much weather (or lee) helm, you will be working the wheel (tiller) back and forth a lot to hold a course. No different for an autopilot. --Ron
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