Disassemble ST4000 MK2 wheel unit

[dLj]

20 minutes of searching and to my surprise, you are right. All of the other units are tiller pilots, below deck or are using Raymarine's wheel unit

@Ward H mentioned the CPT autopilot above. It's been my experience that unit is about the least expensive option you can get to replace this kind of wheel pilot. It does have the limitations that it doesn't interface with chart plotters or wind indicators so only runs to a compass course. But it's a very reliable, robust unit and easy to use. I've sailed on numerous boats with that unit and have also installed them. If you don't need the external inputs - that's an easy install and an excellent unit. They have been used to cross oceans reliably.

dj

 

[Tally Ho]

I was out on Tally Ho today, nice conditions…1 foot or less seas, 10-15 knots of wind. I let AP handle the helm much of the time today. I put some tongue oil in my neglected cabin-top hand rails, made lunch, checked some emails, etc.

AP did a nice job as long as the winds didn’t gust too much. Even then it would get me back on track, just not as fast as I would.

As I was filming this little video, I realized me “newer” AP is the Raymarine 6002, not the 4002.

Greg

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Overall, the performance of the AP is pretty good. I made a 5.5 hour journey from the yard to marina last weekend. It did 95% of the work. It was a little wonky dealing with 3' waves earlier this week but it allowed me to trim the sails. It's probably far more effort than it's worth, but I with there was a remote module that would let me do simple AP adjustments when I'm sitting with guests forward of the helm. It could even be wired.

 

[Stu Jackson]

let me do simple AP adjustments when I'm sitting with guests forward of the helm

I solved that by putting the control head on the cockpit coaming easily reached from in front of the wheel, rather than behind the wheel.

See photo in reply #1 here: Single handing & Bull Rails

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I solved that by putting the control head on the cockpit coaming easily reached from in front of the wheel, rather than behind the wheel.

See photo in reply #1 here: Single handing & Bull Rails

What happens when you are on the opposite side of the cockpit or a guest decides to sit in front of it and their butt presses buttons? Then you crash into a multimillion dollar boat, your insurance denies your claim because it was a non covered guest operating. Now your on the hook for all those repairs. Suddenly, in an instant, your life is ruined! You can't even sail away from it all because they repo'd your boat!