I am slowly but surely figuring out what is what in this old boat. Most of it is beginning to make sense now. I think the last owner(s) never took a wire out, they just put new ones in as they broke, and left the old ones hanging. I must have 3000 feet of loose wire in this boat. Its a 1976 Hunter 30' by the way. It has an Autohelm 4000 (control box, I think)in the main cabin at the nav station that is not connected to anything. It has another device on the wheel, which I think is part of the autohelm, and a molded connector attached with the wire going into the pedestal, and down, but it never made it to the control box. Can anyone explain how it works, what I should be looking for, and if it doesn't work is there anylace that repairs them. My wife and I are new sailors (really, really, really, new) and I am not sure it is worth replacing with something newer. We probably wont be circumnavigating the globe anytime soon. I am not sure we will be circumnavigating cape cod anytime soon either. Manuals or instructions would be great. Bhile I think about it, thanks to everyone, you have all been a great help in Boat deciphering 101. I am e-mailing everyone on this site a case of beer for christmas. Enjoy.
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AUTO PILOT
IF YOU HAVE AN AUTO PILOT ITS WORTH TRYING TO REPAIR , THEY ARE VERY HANDY NO MATTER WHERE YOUR SAILING , EVEN IF YOUR ONLY USING IT FOR A SHORT WHILE .
IF YOU HAVE AN AUTO PILOT ITS WORTH TRYING TO REPAIR , THEY ARE VERY HANDY NO MATTER WHERE YOUR SAILING , EVEN IF YOUR ONLY USING IT FOR A SHORT WHILE .
Bob -
Not sure how old that 4000 is, but if it's like my ST-4000, what you should see on the back of the display head is something like this - 1. power in - positive and negative heavy gauge wire from the DC panel, via a circuit breaker. 2. drive unit - the cable from the unit on your wheel. You probably have a black or grey plastic ring about 8-10" in diameter attached to the wheel. Look for a lever along side this ring. This engages the drive unit. 3. Compass - not your wet compass, but an electronic compass that should be mounted on the centerline of your boat down below somewhere. Look in the bilge, on a bulkhead, or way back on the inside of your transom if you can get back there. 4. Maybe a SeaTalk cable, that would connect other instruments (speed, depth, wind) on the system's own network for sharing info. Very basic use - with the A/P wired properly, you should see a magnetic heading on the display. Engage the drive unit on the wheel (remember that lever?) and press the 'Auto' button. Take your hands off the wheel. To disconnect, press the 'Standby' button, and disengage the lever. That's it. It does do more, however, and for all of that you will need the book. If it doesn't work, you can buy a new one for about $800 bucks. Make mine a case of Shiner Boch (Texas micro brew).
Not sure how old that 4000 is, but if it's like my ST-4000, what you should see on the back of the display head is something like this - 1. power in - positive and negative heavy gauge wire from the DC panel, via a circuit breaker. 2. drive unit - the cable from the unit on your wheel. You probably have a black or grey plastic ring about 8-10" in diameter attached to the wheel. Look for a lever along side this ring. This engages the drive unit. 3. Compass - not your wet compass, but an electronic compass that should be mounted on the centerline of your boat down below somewhere. Look in the bilge, on a bulkhead, or way back on the inside of your transom if you can get back there. 4. Maybe a SeaTalk cable, that would connect other instruments (speed, depth, wind) on the system's own network for sharing info. Very basic use - with the A/P wired properly, you should see a magnetic heading on the display. Engage the drive unit on the wheel (remember that lever?) and press the 'Auto' button. Take your hands off the wheel. To disconnect, press the 'Standby' button, and disengage the lever. That's it. It does do more, however, and for all of that you will need the book. If it doesn't work, you can buy a new one for about $800 bucks. Make mine a case of Shiner Boch (Texas micro brew).
Manual for ST4000
Here is the web site for Raymarine (formerly Autohelm) for the Autohelm ST4000 manual. They also have the manual for the 4000 if you do not have the ST version. It is in PDF format to review or download. www.raymarine.com/raymarine/SubmittedFiles/Handbooks/Legacy_Handbooks/Autopilot/ST4000Wheel.pdf This will help you get started. Rich
Here is the web site for Raymarine (formerly Autohelm) for the Autohelm ST4000 manual. They also have the manual for the 4000 if you do not have the ST version. It is in PDF format to review or download. www.raymarine.com/raymarine/SubmittedFiles/Handbooks/Legacy_Handbooks/Autopilot/ST4000Wheel.pdf This will help you get started. Rich
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