Autopilot haunted. Any ideas to exorcise it?

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Rick Evans

I've got a reasonably new Raymarine ST 4000 autopilot. It worked fine when first installed about a year ago but soon thereafter developed a problem. When you press the -1 and -10 buttons simultaneously, it should cause the boat to auto tack to port. Conversely, when you press +1 and +10 simultaneously, it auto tacks to starboard. Well, it does it just fine going to port but nothing happens going to starboard. I've taken the unit out and had it bench tested. The results were just fine. It auto tacked to port on the bench without problem. Any idea why it wouldn't do it on my boat? Could it be the flux gate compass? Otherwise, the unit works absolutely fine. For example, I can press -10 and it will adjust course 10 degrees to port. Or I can press -10 nine times and it will allow me to tack to port. It's haunted.
 
Jun 8, 2004
3,009
Catalina 320 Dana Point
Wish I could help, mine decided to heave to

yesterday and did such a dam fine job of it I decided to go with it and made lunch.
 
Jan 18, 2004
221
Beneteau 321 Houston
Gremlins in the Cockpit!

Rick, A couple of years ago, I experienced some really weird autopilot behaviors. Unlike you are describing, they were less predictable. After struggling for an explaination, I realized that it began soon after installing a new chartplotter. I ran a separate 12v feed from the panel to the autopilot and suddenly everything was fine. Jon McClain
 
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