Looking for someone who has a Simrad autopilot, I currently have a Raymarine Mk 2 wheel drive on my boat and am not happy with it, thinking of a Simrad autopilot,the selfcontained one piece unit that goes on the wheel. Anyone have experience with this unit!
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Excellent units.
Pat: I have had my Navico for several years and it works fine. They have had some minor problems with them, but they have a good warranty and customer service unit. Simrad bought out Navico so they are basically the same units. We are using our unit on a 1985 H'31. There are a few owners out there using them on 37 footers too.
Pat: I have had my Navico for several years and it works fine. They have had some minor problems with them, but they have a good warranty and customer service unit. Simrad bought out Navico so they are basically the same units. We are using our unit on a 1985 H'31. There are a few owners out there using them on 37 footers too.
Five seasons. . . .
and nary a problem. My boat displaces over 18000#. This unit steered the boat for 45 miles in 30 knots of wind with following seas. I only recently learned of another feature compared to the A4000. You can take the wheel off just by popping off that cap on the lower spoke. We often do that when swimming or entertaining in the cockpit. Other features incl. easy installation due to no fluxgate and no display. My wiring all meets under the cockpit sole so it is easy to tie in to the GPS and wind transducer. P.S. Note that the unit as delivered has mounting only for the 4" pedestal. If you have a console you will need a different mounting kit. P.S.S. The picture does not display in the corner. Yet I can click to the left of the note and open it. Am I the only one? It was only 58K.
and nary a problem. My boat displaces over 18000#. This unit steered the boat for 45 miles in 30 knots of wind with following seas. I only recently learned of another feature compared to the A4000. You can take the wheel off just by popping off that cap on the lower spoke. We often do that when swimming or entertaining in the cockpit. Other features incl. easy installation due to no fluxgate and no display. My wiring all meets under the cockpit sole so it is easy to tie in to the GPS and wind transducer. P.S. Note that the unit as delivered has mounting only for the 4" pedestal. If you have a console you will need a different mounting kit. P.S.S. The picture does not display in the corner. Yet I can click to the left of the note and open it. Am I the only one? It was only 58K.
Had both
I've had a Ray 4000 on a 1981 H-30 and I now have a Simrad on my 1984 H-31. I bought the Simrad for the ease of installation and location of the control pad. As for a comparison, the Ray 4000 held a tighter course by 5 degrees. However, it may be a difference in the boats. My Simrad does annoy me a little when motoring. It will deviate 5 degrees to either side of set course which totals 10 degrees, as where the 4000 held to a total of 5 degrees. When set to the book specs it will over stear in auto tack mode. If it is set up to tack properly, it will under stear in normal sailing. I don't find this a problem, as there are few occasions when I would use the auto tack, even solo sailing. As I said before, comparing the units on two different boats isn't a good comparison. It sure was nice not to have to cut a hole and string extra wires.
I've had a Ray 4000 on a 1981 H-30 and I now have a Simrad on my 1984 H-31. I bought the Simrad for the ease of installation and location of the control pad. As for a comparison, the Ray 4000 held a tighter course by 5 degrees. However, it may be a difference in the boats. My Simrad does annoy me a little when motoring. It will deviate 5 degrees to either side of set course which totals 10 degrees, as where the 4000 held to a total of 5 degrees. When set to the book specs it will over stear in auto tack mode. If it is set up to tack properly, it will under stear in normal sailing. I don't find this a problem, as there are few occasions when I would use the auto tack, even solo sailing. As I said before, comparing the units on two different boats isn't a good comparison. It sure was nice not to have to cut a hole and string extra wires.
Raymaine 4000
Pat, I have a 92 33.5 and for the last 3 years have enjoyed the R4000 autopilot. I must say that it was returned to teh factory as the original unit was defective (after spending a summer trying to acceptable performance) I would recommend the new RayMarine unit as it performs very well under motor and also under sail as long the boat is balanced. I installed a Navpod at the wheel to install all the electronics including the autopilot control.
Pat, I have a 92 33.5 and for the last 3 years have enjoyed the R4000 autopilot. I must say that it was returned to teh factory as the original unit was defective (after spending a summer trying to acceptable performance) I would recommend the new RayMarine unit as it performs very well under motor and also under sail as long the boat is balanced. I installed a Navpod at the wheel to install all the electronics including the autopilot control.
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