Raymarine auto pilot experts

Skipper

Skipper

.
Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
The SPX5 has a red or green line on the display, indicating course veering port or starboard.
How do I turn it off? Since it’s irrelevant info for a sailboat, which is constantly going to leeward.
Also, and more importantly, yesterday it was making leeway faster than usual due to a nice 11 knot wind and a new moon tide. Eventually, the boat would veer far enough to leeward off the track line that the AP would quit steering, then it would say “off course” and alarm.
In the attached picture, you can see the green indicator for veering. But how can it be off course, when the AP is always keeping the boat on a track line? Especially in this case where it is tracking to a waypoint. It also did the quit and alarm going out, when it was following its compass.
In the past years, it has only shown the red green indicator, not quitting and alarming.
 

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SycloneDriver

SycloneDriver

.
Jul 23, 2009
917
Beneteau 31 Oceanis Grand Lake, Oklahoma
Increase the off course limit/alarm point. I think the max is 40 degrees. There may be other options that I am not aware of, I only steer to a compass heading.
 
Skipper

Skipper

.
Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
SycloneDriver said:
Increase the off course limit/alarm point. I think the max is 40 degrees. There may be other options that I am not aware of, I only steer to a compass heading.
Click to expand
Thank you. But it does it steering to compass too.
The odd thing is that I was on the track line, not off course. You can see the boat there in the middle of the blue line. So why the long green indicator? :-|

I’ve studied the manual and nothing.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,446
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
You said that there was tidal movement.

If the AP is trying to go to a waypoint, and the tide is coming from the side trying to push the boat off course, the AP will turn the boat so your bow is pointing above and beyond a straight line to the waypoint. That green line is indicating how much correction is calculated to get you to the Waypoint. At some point the correction may be more than the AP can calculate. So it shuts off.
 
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Skipper

Skipper

.
Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
Captain Larry-DH said:
There would be no track line, just a numeric heading in degrees. How are you setting it? From the AP control head, or from the CP?
Click to expand
In the picture, it’s following the plotter to a waypoint. However, I got the same error steering to compass.
I’ve used this setup for years. It’s only now doing this.
 
Skipper

Skipper

.
Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
jssailem said:
You said that there was tidal movement.

If the AP is trying to go to a waypoint, and the tide is coming from the side trying to push the boat off course, the AP will turn the boat so your bow is pointing above and beyond a straight line to the waypoint. That green line is indicating how much correction is calculated to get you to the Waypoint. At some point the correction may be more than the AP can calculate. So it shuts off.
Click to expand
It’s confusing to me. And I’m a gadget freak. :-D
The green line might be needed-correction, but in the pic I’m on course. The blue line is the track line and it shows the boat dead center. And I arrived as always to harbor. Just had to go to standby then reengage, to get the AP working again.
I may have confused everyone including myself when I mentioned tide and leeway, for I realized later that boat was on the track line. Which I knew at the time .... etc but again am having trouble understanding why the error.
Also again same error using only compass instead of waypoint. IE: you could make loads of leeway, and still be heading south, which should not upset the course police in the unit.
Since it doesn’t make sense, it might actually be a malfunction.
 
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Captain Larry-DH

Captain Larry-DH

.
Jun 14, 2010
2,378
Robertson & Caine 2017 Leopard 40 CT
This is just a WAG: Try going through the setup calibration again. I remember a long time ago I was having an issue with a Raymarine AP, and the tech on the phone said it needed a value (any value) in the correction algorithms, because a null value produces erratic behavior.
 
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Skipper

Skipper

.
Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
jssailem said:
You said that there was tidal movement.

If the AP is trying to go to a waypoint, and the tide is coming from the side trying to push the boat off course, the AP will turn the boat so your bow is pointing above and beyond a straight line to the waypoint. That green line is indicating how much correction is calculated to get you to the Waypoint. At some point the correction may be more than the AP can calculate. So it shuts off.
Click to expand
Ok I get it now. Yep makes sense. However, there’s no way the angle could be that severe from my recollection of the view.
also this couldn’t occur under compass steering when the error first appeared.
 
Skipper

Skipper

.
Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
Captain Larry-DH said:
This is just a WAG: Try going through the setup calibration again. I remember a long time ago I was having an issue with a Raymarine AP, and the tech on the phone said it needed a value (any value) in the correction algorithms, because a null value produces erratic behavior.
Click to expand
Ok thanks. Can’t hurt to try that. :)
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
I realize my C80 is not the same as your unit, but my green line represents where the boat will go if left on it's present heading. So, if you see the entrance to a harbor way ahead, if you steer so the greenie is on the harbor, hit the auto and it should get you there, as long as the green is there.
 
Paul Mermelstein

Paul Mermelstein

.
Oct 3, 2008
325
Beneteau 393 Chesapeake Bay
If the green line you are referring to is the green horizontal indicator at the top, then that is NOT the veering or course correction. It is the rudder position, currently showing about 20 degrees to starboard. Are you sure it is calibrated correctly?
 
BigEasy

BigEasy

.
Jun 21, 2004
2,957
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Definitely agree with Paul, the horizontal red/green line at the top of the display is the rudder angle. If you do not like your current display, you can change it to display a large numerical display of your course. Open the menu screen and scroll thru it to change the display. Because I have dedicated instruments for speed, depth, wind, & a chartplotter that displays sog, etc. I choose not to clutter the auto pilot screen with those displays as shown in your photo. Just my personal choice. You do have a limited number of display window options for the spx5; however, the displays that are available are not customizable to my knowledge.
 
Skipper

Skipper

.
Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
BigEasy said:
Definitely agree with Paul, the horizontal red/green line at the top of the display is the rudder angle. If you do not like your current display, you can change it to display a large numerical display of your course. Open the menu screen and scroll thru it to change the display. Because I have dedicated instruments for speed, depth, wind, & a chartplotter that displays sog, etc. I choose not to clutter the auto pilot screen with those displays as shown in your photo. Just my personal choice. You do have a limited number of display window options for the spx5; however, the displays that are available are not customizable to my knowledge.
Click to expand
Thank you but there is no rudder angle sensor.
And even if there are, in track or compass mode, the red or green line grows longer over time, until it reaches the end. Why would the rudder constantly increase deflection especially in compass mode, and how is that change not physically perceivable to the sailor regarding the boat’s sailing status?

I like the display setup. I’ve tried them all. It’s only the green red I could do without.
 
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BigEasy

BigEasy

.
Jun 21, 2004
2,957
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Look at the wiring inputs on the back inside aspect of the instrument. Bet you are going to find wiring inputs for a rotary rudder reference transducer. Unplug it and see what happens. If you don't have a rudder reference transducer, as you stated, the horizontal graph at the top of your display shouldn't be present. Assuming that you do have a rudder transducer, it may be malfunctioning & require replacement if you desire. Review your instrument manual instructions for further information; if you don't have it, you can always download from Raymarine. If all else fails, call Raymarine tech support for help.
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

.
Jan 25, 2011
2,439
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Don’t bother calling or emailing tech support. They are gone. Their forums are no longer functioning. Replies to emails are over a week out. They owe me a few on an evo pilot. Their manuals suck. They make s/w changes that render manuals obsolete. If I didn’t have A nice radar hanging on the mast, Raymarine would be toast...But then again, maybe they’re all like that...
 
Skipper

Skipper

.
Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
BigEasy said:
Look at the wiring inputs on the back inside aspect of the instrument. Bet you are going to find wiring inputs for a rotary rudder reference transducer. Unplug it and see what happens. If you don't have a rudder reference transducer, as you stated, the horizontal graph at the top of your display shouldn't be present. Assuming that you do have a rudder transducer, it may be malfunctioning & require replacement if you desire. Review your instrument manual instructions for further information; if you don't have it, you can always download from Raymarine. If all else fails, call Raymarine tech support for help.
Click to expand
There’s no rudder sensor. I’m the one who installed the AP. :)
 
BigEasy

BigEasy

.
Jun 21, 2004
2,957
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Skipper said:
There’s no rudder sensor. I’m the one who installed the AP. :)
Click to expand
Sorry, thought that a PO may have installed. As I was no help at all, time to call Raymarine tech support. I did speak to them about 2 months ago, w/o difficulty, when installing a new autopilot. Not sure how responsive they are now with the covid situation. Best of luck!:)
 
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