Raymarine

[higgs]

I have bad mouthed my ST6001 several times here as it has given me lots of problems. Raymarine and I have gone back and forth looking for a fix, but I have not been able to use it for the last two seasons. We would get it fixed, but then it would quite working a few days later. It was finally determined to either be the rudder sensor or the computer, but both tested out fine. They even sent me a new sensor which worked for a couple of days, but then the computer couldn't locate it. Finally, I decided the problem must be an intermittent one in the computer and decided to just by a new computer for $600. Before laying down the money I wrote Raymarine asking them if they might give me a discount on a new one. They would not, but are instead just giving me a new one. It is out of warranty, but they are still going to replace it free of charge.

 

[sailingdog]

Sounds like Raymarine is trying to solve your problem even in spite of your badmouthing them repeatedly...

 

[Tim R.]

ooops

 

[higgs]

Sounds like Raymarine is trying to solve your problem even in spite of your badmouthing them repeatedly...[/QUOTE

It did take them two years. Would you have been satisfied with a $3000 auto pilot that had only worked half the time?

Still, I am grateful and wanted to be sure, since I had bad mouthed them, to let the board know they did finally come through.

 

[DannyS]

Good for them for making things right and good for you for sticking with it.
Raymarine fixed my autopilot head after the warranty had expired free of charge. It was only a couple of months out of warranty, but they didn't need to do it for free.

 

[BobM]

I'd still be pretty upset given the massive upcharge on all things marine. I would have hoped that they would have swapped out all the components for you, one at a time, within the first few months to nail down the issue.

 

[higgs]

I'd still be pretty upset given the massive upcharge on all things marine. I would have hoped that they would have swapped out all the components for you, one at a time, within the first few months to nail down the issue.

Bob - that is certainly one way to look at it. At this point though, all I want is an AP. I was willing to shell out $600 of my own money for a new computer and am grateful they are going to send me one free of charge.

They did send me a new rudder sensor, which took 2+ hours to install and when that did not work, they sent me a third one. That is when I gave up and decided to buy a new computer, which they are now giving me with no charge.

 

[Franklin]

The sea gods are with you....go sailing...to the Med Sea

A good working AP is a wonderful thing...so much so that I hope to have a spare part for everything AP related on board before I go cruising even though it only has about 50 hours on it in 8 months.

Right now I got my eye on quitting work and sailing to Grenada in 4 weeks

 

[Stu Jackson]

Raymarine's APs

have received somewhat of a "bad press" recently. Not underserved from what I've read here and in many other boards.

The wheel drives are suitable for up to our C34s and are reportedly "pushing it" for even C36s. Now, it seems to get a reliable AP one has to spend $2500 at RMs pricing even for a wheel unit, to say nothing of the below decks linear drives. The wheel plastic/metal pin horrible designs are increasingly failing as reported frequently.

It really is a step backwards. Our ST3000 still does a very good job, and it doesn't have all the extra (and not required unless you work for RM) doodads like rudder sensors, separate fluxgate compasses which are heck to locate properly, and all the associated wiring that comes with them. It is truly disconcerting to see something as simple as the ST3000, and their reliable tiller pilots, be turned into pieces of junk at high prices.

I agree with Franklin that spare parts are necessary, but are now impossible to find for our ST3000s. Unfortunately, everything related to the St4000s and newer require double, if not triple, backups. Yuck!

I am seriously considering a CPT, if only to get away from RM and the other copycat plastic junk providers. http://www.cptautopilot.com/

 

[Franklin]

I love the simplisity of it. No electrical sensors to fail and install. Simple dials instead of buttons. It doesn't seem to have a weight limit. And it's a lot less expensive then the below deck models.

It's kind of ugly but I like it and am tempted to buy that as a backup.

 

[Franklin]

Power Requirements

12 Volts DC
0.027 amp standby current
0.3 amp average current drain, varies with load & settings

wow....very impressive. I believe my below deck type 1 uses average of 2-4 amps.

Torque/rpm at Wheel

86ft.lbs
Up to 7 rpm at the wheel
.23hp motor

The torque is twice that of the new RM wheel AP so that's good but the 7rpm seems slow to me. It shouldn't take 9 seconds to turn the wheel.

 

[Franklin]

Well....then again.... according to the manual, my RM Type 1 rotary drive only does 8.7 wheel turns per minute. It sure seems a lot faster. Seems it only takes about 3 or 4 seconds to turn the wheel which would be about 15 rpm at the wheel.

 

[higgs]

The sea gods are with you....go sailing...to the Med Sea

A good working AP is a wonderful thing...so much so that I hope to have a spare part for everything AP related on board before I go cruising even though it only has about 50 hours on it in 8 months.

Spare parts for all components of my AP is 3k.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Spare parts for all components of my AP is 3k.

higgs, did we miss a post here after your quote?

Franklin, what's the list of spare parts that "only" adds up to $3K? And I wouldn't buy the CPT ($1700) as a backup, I'd put my ST3000 down below for that purpose. That way I'd probably never have to use it again.

 

[Franklin]

higgs, did we miss a post here after your quote?

Franklin, what's the list of spare parts that "only" adds up to $3K? And I wouldn't buy the CPT ($1700) as a backup, I'd put my ST3000 down below for that purpose. That way I'd probably never have to use it again.

That was Higgs post, but basically, a whole new AP (all the parts) will equal 3k and then some.

 

[Stu Jackson]

That was Higgs post, but basically, a whole new AP (all the parts) will equal 3k and then some.

OK, then Franklin, save the difference between $3K and $1.7K and buy a CPT and have some $$ left over. And an AP that actually works!

Gosh, what an creative solution!!!