Benmar Autopilot upgrades / replacements help!

[talking head]

Hello,

I am not a sailboat expert, so please bear with me; my expertise is primarily automotive.

My dad is currently out in the Pacific on his Cal 2-46 bound for Hilo, HI from San Francisco. His autopilot, which at this point he has described only as an "ancient Benmar," has stopped functioning. I am awaiting more details, including model number and symptoms, from him. The boat is late '70s vintage, so I would put the autopilot as the same vintage for now. Anyway, he is on just the first leg of his journey to HI, AK and back to San Francisco, so an autopilot would be really nice to have. He has asked me to research different replacement options available, the installation of which would most likely take place on Oahu. I have found that Benmar is still in business and called but got an answering machine...I am awaiting a call back. I am looking for suggestions on a relatively inexpensive replacement for the equipment on hand. He is willing to consider a pedestal mount auto pilot, or one that can be relatively easily bolted in place of the equipment on hand. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking for practical advice and not brand loyalty.

On the face of things, it seems to me that repairing the autopilot equipment that is there makes more sense, especially if it can be nailed down as mechanical or electronic and the equipment is still supported. If the problem is electronic, maybe it can be updated with more reliable and accurate electronics that can still "talk" to the mechanical end of things. I found a place in B.C. that would appear to have an electronic upgrade such as this, and I'm in the process of contacting them. But maybe I'm way off base and that's like throwing a bunch of money at an old clunker that will never be right. I just know from my automotive experience is that it's never as simple as remove and replace, and when you're not on in your home port with a weather window breathing down your neck, the KISS principal is critical. What would you do?

I have limited communication with him via e-mail but will post more details as I get them.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[larryw]

As you know, support for old electronics is almost nonexistant. If the problem is mechanical, you or he can jury-rig something, but if it's electronic, your pretty much screwed, unless you can find a talented technician whose willing to poke around in the guts and try to make something happen. As for replacement, a wheel-mount AP probably won't work, it doesn't have the power. You most likely will need an under-deck unit. You may be able to marry a modern Benmar brain to the old motor, but I wouldn't count on that. Brand-crossing, trying to mate a Benmar to a Raymarine, is very difficult due to protocol differences. Check the local craigslist, there may be someone parting out a boat. Check the local marinas and yacht clubs. It might be simpler and cheaper to just spring for a new unit, with a warranty. Good luck.

 

[Rick D]

A friend just had one repaired on his trawler by a local guy. They are not complicated units I understand, so a local technician may be able to do a fix. There were very popular power boat units.

 

[talking head]

As you know, support for old electronics is almost nonexistant. If the problem is mechanical, you or he can jury-rig something, but if it's electronic, your pretty much screwed, unless you can find a talented technician whose willing to poke around in the guts and try to make something happen. As for replacement, a wheel-mount AP probably won't work, it doesn't have the power. You most likely will need an under-deck unit. You may be able to marry a modern Benmar brain to the old motor, but I wouldn't count on that. Brand-crossing, trying to mate a Benmar to a Raymarine, is very difficult due to protocol differences. Check the local craigslist, there may be someone parting out a boat. Check the local marinas and yacht clubs. It might be simpler and cheaper to just spring for a new unit, with a warranty. Good luck.

I spoke with Benmar, and they do offer a refurbishing service for a flat fee. Obviously we are not able to send in what he has, but they also may be able to put together what he needs once I have the model number.

Benmar also recommended a guy in Kona (other side of the island from Hilo) who specializes in their older units, and he was very nice, offering lots of suggestions and things to check. It sounds like he's semi-retired but he said he has a lot of parts and pieces laying around. His opinion was that these autopilots are oldies but goodies and very simple, therefore very simple to fix.

I also had a great conversation with ComNav Marine, a place in Canada that can retrofit their electronics to run Benmar mechanicals. It's actually quite simple if the equipment is mechanical, which as I recall it is. As he explained, the mechanical end of things is nothing more than a reversible electric motor connected to the steering mechanism by a sprocket. The brains simply reverse the polarity of the motor to get it to turn one direction or another. There are some amp limitations to their unit but if the motor exceeds 10 amps when pulling the rudder hard over, then they add what is essentially a fancy relay that handles the power end of things. This explanation may be oversimplified somewhat, but it's my understanding that this is basically how things work. The price seemed a little hefty (about $3k with an upgraded flux-gate compass) but then again the little I do know about boats is that nothing for them is cheap.

Anyone have experience with ComNav Marine equipment?

 

[talking head]

Also, can you explain why a wheel-mounted unit wouldn't have the power? I've spent some time at the helm of this boat and while it does take a little bit of effort to steer, it's no more than a car with power steering. Of course, the wheel is also pretty big, so there's some mechanical advantage. How do the wheel mounted units work, anyway? Do you affix some sort of ring gear to the helm or something?

 

[Rick D]

Also, can you explain why a wheel-mounted unit wouldn't have the power? I've spent some time at the helm of this boat and while it does take a little bit of effort to steer, it's no more than a car with power steering. Of course, the wheel is also pretty big, so there's some mechanical advantage. How do the wheel mounted units work, anyway? Do you affix some sort of ring gear to the helm or something?

You are correct basically in the description. However, most wheel-mounted AP have a limitation in the displacement of the boat. At 15 tons dry, the Cal 46 outweighs the maximum by about twice. There is a unit advertised in Latitude 38 that is a belt drive system, but my feeble memory is that the C46 is overweight for it too. Whether the Cal is hydraulic or cable steering makes a difference too. It may well be hydraulic. I'd have the guy in Kona look at it and would bet you a beer he can fix it fine. OK, two beers. It isn't that far from Hilo.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I agree with Rick, but try this, too, if your fix doesn't work. I haven't checked the displacement specs. I've met the guys who sell and make it, good stuff. Should be easy enough to mail over there.

http://www.cptautopilot.com/

Also recognize that what makes a boat work is BACKUP, BACKUP AND MORE BACKUP. Sure, we're all frugal, but it might be workthwhile to consider a wheel backup in addition to getting it fixed, 'cuz if it broke once... and he's out in the ocean... and there's no backup system... guess what?

He could also learn about sheet to tiller or wheel steering.

 

[talking head]

Thanks for the link on the wheel-mounted autpilot; deinitely worth looking into and the price seems reasonable.

I received some more information this morning; the unit is a Benmar Course Setter 21R. The whole system was refurbished about 4 years ago by BenMar. It definitely sounds electronic; no apparent response to seastate adjustments, and when engaged on either controller (the helm or the chart table) they "immediately take a stupid pill and work hard moving the helm with wild abandon to their own satanic purpose...having no regard for the course input." He does have a way with words. The flux-gate compass is not near any metal objects, wires, or magnetic fields. Sounds like the brain is cooked but if anyone has some diagnostic tips to try, I'm all ears.

 

[Rick D]

I just talked to my friend that had his repaired a few months ago. He said the guy who repaired it said the most common problem was a solder connection failure in the course computer.