Auto Pilots.....

[NYSail]

I have a new to me boat....a 1986 Pearson P36-2. It has an auto pilot, an Alpha Martine 4404 with a Loran C/ Interface. I am shipping the unit to the company to have them check it out as some of the wires are cut and I do not have any idea of the status of the unit. I did not get a manual with it either and it just does not work.Are these systems any good.....how do they rate?Thanks!GregP36-2

 

[NYSail]

Alpha Marine 4404

What is a Alpha Martine anyway? It is late

 

[Honeyman]

Look at...

link provided below. I CANNOT believe that people just don't think to Google things they are trying to find out about!!!

 

[Herb Parsons]

That's Right!!

Goofy people, what's wrong with you!! Why ask specific questions on a sailing forum, including queries about opinions, and get specific targeted information? When instead you can Google, and get dozens, maybe hundreds of hits, most of which are advertisements and manipulated to be high on the list?Goofy people.

 

[Herb Parsons]

Seriously Greg

My opinion is that you'd probably be better off buying a new(er) unit, one that will interface with a GPS instead of a Loran.

 

[NYSail]

Honeyman.....

I did google....and I did talk to a rep at the company, and he told me to ship the unit to him and they will evaluate it....he also said the unit is the best made....should I believe the manufacturer or peoples first hand experience?It is my personal opinion that you get a biased opinion from the manufacturer....or what do you think Honey....he would say, heck if you want a good reliable unit go buy another model cause ours sucks....I think not Honeyman

 

[Honeyman]

Gee Herb..

that Texas heat making YOU a little "goofy" already? Sounds like you have a lot of "personal" experience to draw from to answer those insiteful questions such as "1)Are these systems any good 2) How do they rate and 3) What is a Alpha Martine anyway"... Don't be so quick to judge, the mfg. site was the very 1st hit on the Google page, it offered an owner's manual that NYSails said he didn't have as well as some diagnosis advice. You might Google "loran" yourself and learn that the whole system has been revamped and will be useable for decades to come. Lighten up.

 

[Herb Parsons]

Lightening Up

Yes Honeyman, I know that Loran is going to be revamped. My opinion still stands, I think he'd be better off with a system that interfaces with a GPS. I don't need to Google "Loran" to know it's being revamped, we covered it my USCG Captain's class before I got my 25 ton master's.My opinion of your response stands too. As a matter of fact, "ligten up" is what I was trying to say to you.He wanted OPINIONS. He came her for that, and politely asked for it. The comment that "I CANNOT believe that people just don't think to Google things they are trying to find out about" was both uncalled for, and presumptive. He DID Google it, he wanted OPINIONS, and information from sailors on this forum. That's why he asked here.As for Texas heat, it only got to 100 degrees today, that's not hot in this area, we barely break a sweat until it gets in the 110's

 

[NYSail]

Gee

Well Honeyman1 - the manual does not download for me, I do not have the proper unzip software and the company acknowledge that a majority of people cannot as their software is dated2 - It is hard to trouble shoot a unit that has wires cut and you don't know where they go (read original post)As Herb said Honeyman, I am looking for opinions of the units from people that use them. Not from the manufacturer. Thanks Herb

 

[BobW]

FWIW, I DO have the right software.....

and the file won't open. The problem is with the file. NYSail, I have to imagine that Alpha Marine would extract the files and e-mail them to you if you ask While I have heard good things about Alpha auto-pilots, you might want to keep in mind that the 4404 appears to be a discontinued model, and what that may mean in maintenance costs.Also, connection to GPS or Loran/C isn't mandatory for an autopilot. If I recall, it allows you to steer to a waypoint - and the advantages of that function were recently debated in this forum.Cheers,Bobs/v X SAIL R 8

 

[Herb Parsons]

Good Point Bob

I didn't even think along the lines of "Do you really want to use the Loran/GPS", I zeroed in on the fact that he mentioned the ability.On my O'Day 25, I don't even have the auopilot wiring set up for my GPS, as I wouldn't use it. When I get one installed on the Coronado 35, that might be a different story, but even then I don't know if it's worth the trouble.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

OK, I didn't think there was much of a difference

with the interface of GPS vs. Loran. My old Autohelm 6000 worked just fine receiving Loran signals for steerage. When I changed to GPS in 1991 no autopilot equipment needed updating. Reason? NEMA. It's all in the output of the receiver. Besides GPS and Loran are the same thing. But one of them is land based so it's not nearly as accurate and useful.

 

[NYSail]

Interfacing

When I talked with the rep from the company, he said that some GPS systems will interface with the unit the way it is, however not many do not.Also, he mentioned the fact that many people do not even use the interface and just set the current heading into the unit and change as the heading changes....I did read some of the pro's and cons of the thread regarding this topic.Thanks for the great advice/opinions!The unit appears to be a good unit based on what I have read and from a gentleman that has the same unit (without the interface) that I have talked to on the internet. I am currently in the middle of many projects and would love to be able to salvage this unit....the money is drying up with my new to me neglected 1986 Pearson P36-2 and all my over-ambitious projects.Greg