Raymarine ST60 WindVane Question

Apr 8, 2016
114
Beneteau 361 Clipper Garrucha, Spain
Hi Friends,

Im about to climb my mast to remove and clean my wind vane, please see attached photo. The question I hope you guys can help with is... Having undone the large " Tube Connector " that I assume is a large/long threaded plastic nut, does the whole arm just un plug from the main mast fitting? Thanks in advance.
FullSizeRender.jpg
 
Sep 23, 2009
1,477
O'Day 34-At Last Rock Hall, Md
I have a new unit in the box here and according to the instructions and looking at it, yes it should easily disconnect to remove it from the base mounted to your masthead. Of course there is no telling what a po may done to it till you get there.
Good luck, should not be a problem.
 
  • Like
Likes: onlinelee
Jul 27, 2011
5,180
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
Hi Friends,

Im about to climb my mast to remove and clean my wind vane, please see attached photo. The question I hope you guys can help with is... Having undone the large " Tube Connector " that I assume is a large/long threaded plastic nut, does the whole arm just un plug from the main mast fitting? Thanks in advance.
View attachment 136534
The answer is yes. I just had mine off a month ago--cleaned, lubed, and reinstalled it. Also replaced the cup and vane. Be careful not to bend the pins.:yikes:
 
  • Like
Likes: onlinelee

Ted

.
Jan 26, 2005
1,278
C&C 110 Bay Shore, Long Island, NY
[QUOTE="Kings Gambit, post: Be careful not to bend the pins.:yikes:[/QUOTE]
Kings Gambit is correct. To clarify that point, do not twist the wind vane main arm as you are removing it. Pull it straight out after loosening the tube connector.
 
  • Like
Likes: sailboatracer
Feb 10, 2004
4,233
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Yes, it just pulls out of the socket after loosening the large knurled collar. I just rebuilt three of these transducers- my original, my spare, and also a friends transducer with new bearings and o-ring seals. They now spin like new! I will post a picture essay on how to do this within a day or so.
 
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
If anybody has a really busted one, that the nut is salvageable from, pm me please. It's a pita tie wrapping plastic around the fitting when travelling, and Ray won't sell the nut separately.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
I have a spare vane that I'm willing to sell if anyone's interested.
 

RoyS

.
Jun 3, 2012
1,742
Hunter 33 Steamboat Wharf, Hull, MA
Raymarine apparently does not realize that many of us were loyal customers only because they used to back up their products with parts and service. As they abandon the previous policy of excellent service their customers will abandon them as well.
 
Nov 23, 2015
10
Catalina 30 Stockton Missouri
Please Rich post that. Also are these transducers the same at the pin plug? I have an old Comni that is missing the anomometer cups. I was wondering if I could just buy another one (Comni is out of business) so anybody else, and just plug it in to the existing cable?
 
Apr 13, 2015
157
Catalina 309 Port Charlotte
I "second" the "Rich please post that". would like to know about rebuilding them.

Do they really need that periodically? Mine is 10yrs old. I would swear that it is reading wind speed too slow. This spring has seen lots of wind in Tampa Bay (seems like every time we go out). Windex is reading a nice gentle breeze....yet we are reefed, and heeling at 30 deg, and hitting 6.8knots boat speed. Just seems like there's more wind than it is reading....

Dave - Tampa
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,523
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Just seems like there's more wind than it is reading
Or maybe the spindle is so full of crud the little unit is struggling to spin and give you the info you so desire. Like running across the beach wearing clown shoes.
 
  • Like
Likes: Meriachee
Feb 10, 2004
4,233
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Me bad. I apologize for a delayed posting. I am stretched thin right now and it will take me an hour to put together the procedure with all of my pix. I will try to get it done by Sat, but no promises. BTW, my wind cups now spin nicely with just an exhale. If anyone is interested will have two sets of bearings and seals up for grabs, and I will post in the Gear for Sale with details. I could also be persuaded to rebuild if someone is hesitant to do it themselves.
 

BarryL

.
May 21, 2004
1,116
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Hey,

When I first sailed my boat in 2014 I thought 'wow, this boat is pretty tender' because I would be heeled way over in 10 kts of breeze. I also thought it was real real fast because I was going hull speed in 8 kts of wind. Then last year the wind speed was slower and slower and would not spin unless there was at least 10 kts of wind.

I replaced the vane assembly and like magic, my boat isn't tender anymore, but is a lot slower!

Barry

I "second" the "Rich please post that". would like to know about rebuilding them.

Do they really need that periodically? Mine is 10yrs old. I would swear that it is reading wind speed too slow. This spring has seen lots of wind in Tampa Bay (seems like every time we go out). Windex is reading a nice gentle breeze....yet we are reefed, and heeling at 30 deg, and hitting 6.8knots boat speed. Just seems like there's more wind than it is reading....

Dave - Tampa
 
Feb 10, 2004
4,233
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
I must apologize again. Life is not going well for me these days. My laptop that I am using now crashed 2 weeks ago and I have the bare minimum reloaded so I have web and email. My desktop totally crashed last night as I was writing up the procedure for rebuilding the ST-50/60 wind transducers. The sucker won't even post the BIOS. So until I can get access to the file on that system, I cannot finish and post the procedures here.
BTW, I am leaving tomorrow for an Alaska cruise/tour. I will return around mid June. So it is going to be a while.
Sorry to disappoint.
The way my luck with everything is going, you will probably see me on the world news as being involved in a fistfight in the friendly skies.
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,523
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Rich.
Hope you are going on a "relaxing Alaska Cruise/Tour" sounds like you are due.
Enjoy the experience. I cruised on a Princess Line ship a few years ago. It was 10 days of pampering fun.
Be careful on your flights. No way of telling what might happen these days.
 
  • Like
Likes: Rich Stidger
Apr 10, 2014
1
Bristol 41.1 Annapolis
Where does one get a rebuild kit ? Approximate costs? Can you buy equivalent o-rings at the hardware store ?
 
Feb 10, 2004
4,233
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Where does one get a rebuild kit ? Approximate costs? Can you buy equivalent o-rings at the hardware store ?
The bearings are S693ZZ Ceramic ABEC-5 (pretty sure of this number) and the O-rings are 0-018. You need 2 of each for the cups and also for the vane. I have two kits (4 bearings + 4 O-rings) that I will offer for sale with detailed instructions in Gear for Sale when I return from my trip. Forum rules prohibit me from offering them here. I understand that RayMarine used to offer a kit but no longer- or maybe just in Europe. Anyway I have not been able to find a kit in the USA.