Auto Pilot Upgrade?

[Murray16764]

After just returning from a two week cruise around Lake Ontario, it became apparent that my Raymarine ST4000 was not up for the job in just about anything other than ideal conditions. My boat is a 35 foot 14,000 pound 352. The ST4000 could not keep us on reasonable course in heavier seas, head winds, trailing seas under motor or sail. I have adjusted the rudder gain (-2) and set it up the best I know how. Other sailing friends have said that the ST4000 is at the end of its range with a 35 footer. Could this be true? If so, I am confused about what to replace it with. The Raymarine web site shows tiller steer systems for larger boats, but on a wheel steer system. What type of system should I consider?

Murray

 

[Ron20324]

Murry, you might be expecting too much from your pilot. I've read that conditions like you mentioned are hard on pilots. Trying to auto-steer to such pitch-poling conditions are like putting someone in a round room and telling them to go stand in the corner. Usually, I'm sad to say, the magazine advice is to steer by hand. I was out on Sunday and the conditions were rough, and the pilot worked continuously but satisfactorily. On several occassions there were rogue waves on the quarter that, after the first one, I'd just as soon steer by hand so I could react to those pop-up problems. I have the Raymarine 6002.

Also, this not being restricted to Beneteaus, you should get more knowledgeable responses from "ask all sailors".