Although this autopilot is discontinued is it realible enough for trips off the coast? Is it a good one, or should I toss it overboard and pick up something else? Tks
Autohelm ST3000
- Thread starter sr1029
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keep it
Those 3000's have sailed thousands of miles for people. I still have one that I use. Which model do you have? the round rose compass one or a square housed one? Send a picture. It is true the new ones are slicker and do more things but often break too. If you are a coastal cruiser and take a few trips every year, I say use it until it givers out. Terry
Those 3000's have sailed thousands of miles for people. I still have one that I use. Which model do you have? the round rose compass one or a square housed one? Send a picture. It is true the new ones are slicker and do more things but often break too. If you are a coastal cruiser and take a few trips every year, I say use it until it givers out. Terry
ST3000
I have one on my 28, and it has served me very well for several years. It does have problem in a following sea, to the point of being basically useless. Other than that it is a good unit. I have single handed offshore a lot using mine. I have total trust in mine, and it does the job it I am sleeping.Had a problem with it when it was still in warranty, and Raymarine fixed it promptly. The new S1 is no doubt superior, but unless you just want to spend the bucks on the latest and greatest, I would keep it as long as it works.
I have one on my 28, and it has served me very well for several years. It does have problem in a following sea, to the point of being basically useless. Other than that it is a good unit. I have single handed offshore a lot using mine. I have total trust in mine, and it does the job it I am sleeping.Had a problem with it when it was still in warranty, and Raymarine fixed it promptly. The new S1 is no doubt superior, but unless you just want to spend the bucks on the latest and greatest, I would keep it as long as it works.
My old 3000..
Went from Maine to the Carib twice and was still working fine when I upgraded to the new S1..
Went from Maine to the Carib twice and was still working fine when I upgraded to the new S1..
I have one that
Came with my Oday 30 it's old but works. I had to build a motor mount for the wheel drive now it's even better and I can walk around the wheel to get behind it. 2 days ago I was running wing and wing downriver and the ST3000 was tracking better then me! However, later on when motoring back up river a tug boat passed by while I was tidy up lines and sails. the wake hit and it did a complete 360 by time I got it released! Close call too! nearly ran into some old steel loading crane structure. Wish i could figure out how to make it run on my handheld gps LOL someday i'll have the $ for a real chart plotter and AH good luck Denise
Came with my Oday 30 it's old but works. I had to build a motor mount for the wheel drive now it's even better and I can walk around the wheel to get behind it. 2 days ago I was running wing and wing downriver and the ST3000 was tracking better then me! However, later on when motoring back up river a tug boat passed by while I was tidy up lines and sails. the wake hit and it did a complete 360 by time I got it released! Close call too! nearly ran into some old steel loading crane structure. Wish i could figure out how to make it run on my handheld gps LOL someday i'll have the $ for a real chart plotter and AH good luck Denise
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