I've had my Hunter 40 1986 since 1991; have always had the ST4000 autopilot but have gotten very disenchanted with this gizmo; do not interface with my navigation instruments, just want the thing to stay on the heading I set; don't know if the displacement plus generator, 70 gal diesel, 175 gal of water and all my stuff = 20,000 lb has put me over the limit but performance is dismal; someone rec the ST7000; this would have to be hooked to the quadrant, wheel drive is not possible; open to other brands, configurations; price is not a consideration; I do a lot of solo cruises and autopilot is a must. has anybody got a good system? Love my boat.
autopilot for 40' Hunter
- Thread starter charlie knupp
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Charlie, Wanting to drive through the ship's wheel is the Achillies heel of your system. Far better to drive direct, either using a Raymarine rotary drive with a chain to a sprocket on the end of your wheel shaft (if possible) or direct to quadrant with a linear drive. These configurations have vastly more power and do not go out of adjustment so are more trustworthy. For your size of boat I wouldn't consider a wheel/belt driven unit.
I have the ST6000....
...on my Hunter 410. It is the rotary chain drive mentioned by Donalex. It is very capable of handling the load. I have had the control head replaced once in the now 10 years of use. It holds a heading under both power and sail much more precisely than I can.
...on my Hunter 410. It is the rotary chain drive mentioned by Donalex. It is very capable of handling the load. I have had the control head replaced once in the now 10 years of use. It holds a heading under both power and sail much more precisely than I can.
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