I am planning installation of an autopilot, and naturally assumed Raytheon. My electronics man says not to fast...he has problems with consistency with these units...calibration and accuracy is generally great, but enough complaints so after 10 years, on to another brand. Any suggections, experiences? This is for my 1992 30T
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Navico/Simrad
Bruce: Take a look at the Navico/Simard unit. Simrad recently took over Navico so you may find some older units still available. The Navico unit is the WP300CX. I am not sure about the Simrad model but I think it is the 30CX or something like that. These units are easy to install and seem to work fine. Mine has been installed for about 60 days and it work great. Have not had the chance to sail in heavy winds yet so I will reserve judgement until then. I do not know about any other units on the market that are in the sub $1000 price range.
Bruce: Take a look at the Navico/Simard unit. Simrad recently took over Navico so you may find some older units still available. The Navico unit is the WP300CX. I am not sure about the Simrad model but I think it is the 30CX or something like that. These units are easy to install and seem to work fine. Mine has been installed for about 60 days and it work great. Have not had the chance to sail in heavy winds yet so I will reserve judgement until then. I do not know about any other units on the market that are in the sub $1000 price range.
There must be better
After two years of frequenting BB's and having owned 2 Autohelm 4000's myself I think it would be fair to say that no finer piece of crap has ever been introduced into the marine market. While no autopilot is perfect you can't possibly go wrong by selecting a different unit if not a different brand. Suffice it say the 4000 is not a well engineered durable device that is going to give you years of uninterrupted service. If you disagree and you own a 4000, start knocking on wood now because it is only a matter of (short) time before it fails if it hasn't already. Can anyone give a compelling reason why someone should select a 4000 given the multitude of other choices out there?
After two years of frequenting BB's and having owned 2 Autohelm 4000's myself I think it would be fair to say that no finer piece of crap has ever been introduced into the marine market. While no autopilot is perfect you can't possibly go wrong by selecting a different unit if not a different brand. Suffice it say the 4000 is not a well engineered durable device that is going to give you years of uninterrupted service. If you disagree and you own a 4000, start knocking on wood now because it is only a matter of (short) time before it fails if it hasn't already. Can anyone give a compelling reason why someone should select a 4000 given the multitude of other choices out there?
ST 4000 - H335
Justin Wolfe does not say what problems he has encountered. I have used the ST 4000 over 6 years without problem other than a historical and occasional veer to port which was a software related problem. I have not heard of serious issues with this unit and would be interested to here what they are, under what conditions and on what size vessel. Ratheon in England provide first class support (other than shutting mid-day Saturday)
Justin Wolfe does not say what problems he has encountered. I have used the ST 4000 over 6 years without problem other than a historical and occasional veer to port which was a software related problem. I have not heard of serious issues with this unit and would be interested to here what they are, under what conditions and on what size vessel. Ratheon in England provide first class support (other than shutting mid-day Saturday)
Short and sweet
I have had my ST4000 for a couple of months and used it in up to 4/6 foot seas and it preformed great. The set up and installation was a breeze. I cannot give any advise on long term but so far it has been a sweet unit. Good luck on your choice.
I have had my ST4000 for a couple of months and used it in up to 4/6 foot seas and it preformed great. The set up and installation was a breeze. I cannot give any advise on long term but so far it has been a sweet unit. Good luck on your choice.
Archived...
This particularly unit comes up regularly on several bulletin boards. Usually it starts with my 4000 broke and is followed by half a dozen other owners lamenting that there's has failed at one time or another as well. I can't recall all the examples. My two failed so I was already convinced, but I do recall/have experienced clutch failures (most common), mounting bracket broken, remote shorted from brief rainfall, motor shorted out, won't hold a course. Used on boats as heavy as 20K (too heavy perhaps?), 13K, 10K, and others I can't recall, but seemed appropriate. I'm sure there are more that I haven't heard or don't remember. Go ahead, take a chance with the 4000. It's not my money. Of course there are plenty of examples of units that still work. We would expect that, but what percentage of failures is necessary to consider this an unreliable product. 1%, 10%, 25%? I stick with my original statement. There has got to be a better autopilot out there. Even my 15 year old Autohelm 3000 has a reputation for being more robust than the 4000. And Denis even you were able to site a defect on your unit. Sure it was correctable, but should it have occurred at all? Isn't that type of problem generally an indicator of overall quality of the design and manufacturing process. If I had to pick ONE electronic product sold today that is notoriously unreliable I would pick the 4000. I'm just telling you I've observed and seen in writing. Feel free to believe what you wish.
This particularly unit comes up regularly on several bulletin boards. Usually it starts with my 4000 broke and is followed by half a dozen other owners lamenting that there's has failed at one time or another as well. I can't recall all the examples. My two failed so I was already convinced, but I do recall/have experienced clutch failures (most common), mounting bracket broken, remote shorted from brief rainfall, motor shorted out, won't hold a course. Used on boats as heavy as 20K (too heavy perhaps?), 13K, 10K, and others I can't recall, but seemed appropriate. I'm sure there are more that I haven't heard or don't remember. Go ahead, take a chance with the 4000. It's not my money. Of course there are plenty of examples of units that still work. We would expect that, but what percentage of failures is necessary to consider this an unreliable product. 1%, 10%, 25%? I stick with my original statement. There has got to be a better autopilot out there. Even my 15 year old Autohelm 3000 has a reputation for being more robust than the 4000. And Denis even you were able to site a defect on your unit. Sure it was correctable, but should it have occurred at all? Isn't that type of problem generally an indicator of overall quality of the design and manufacturing process. If I had to pick ONE electronic product sold today that is notoriously unreliable I would pick the 4000. I'm just telling you I've observed and seen in writing. Feel free to believe what you wish.
A/H 4000
I had one for nine years. Estimate 500 hours. I had the belt adjusted twice and the head was replaced under warranty when new and later repaired and the display replaced at about 475 hours. Handled a V32 well and installed easily. There are a gazillion of them where I am and I think my experience, aside from the warranty adjustment is representitive. Some of them are on boats that are way over the recommended maximums, and I'm sure that can't be helping them. Autohelm service has been first class on all the instruments, but they were not trouble free. I really have nothing to compare it with in terms of reliability.
I had one for nine years. Estimate 500 hours. I had the belt adjusted twice and the head was replaced under warranty when new and later repaired and the display replaced at about 475 hours. Handled a V32 well and installed easily. There are a gazillion of them where I am and I think my experience, aside from the warranty adjustment is representitive. Some of them are on boats that are way over the recommended maximums, and I'm sure that can't be helping them. Autohelm service has been first class on all the instruments, but they were not trouble free. I really have nothing to compare it with in terms of reliability.
Disapointed ST4000
I have had a ST4000 for two years. It has been in the shop more than on the boat. The manufacturer has stood behind it and replaced it twice and updated the software last year. I hope that is the end of it. Because of the ease of installation, I would get the Navico-Simrad. I have a Hunter 30.
I have had a ST4000 for two years. It has been in the shop more than on the boat. The manufacturer has stood behind it and replaced it twice and updated the software last year. I hope that is the end of it. Because of the ease of installation, I would get the Navico-Simrad. I have a Hunter 30.
Sad, Really Sad.
I work for Raytheon, and its a shame to see such poor responses about a product. I hope that someone else in the Marine Divisions see this. Hell I'll just give them the link. I would say this to all who use Raytheon products, actually any product, If you are unsatisfied with it, let the manufacture know. Period. You can NOT change what you do not know about. If Raytheon or any manufacture feels thier making a descent product, and no one is complaining, they will keep making the same product. Oh well I'll get of the soap box. I just really can't stand for anymore bad raytheon sh*t right now. Cheers TJ
I work for Raytheon, and its a shame to see such poor responses about a product. I hope that someone else in the Marine Divisions see this. Hell I'll just give them the link. I would say this to all who use Raytheon products, actually any product, If you are unsatisfied with it, let the manufacture know. Period. You can NOT change what you do not know about. If Raytheon or any manufacture feels thier making a descent product, and no one is complaining, they will keep making the same product. Oh well I'll get of the soap box. I just really can't stand for anymore bad raytheon sh*t right now. Cheers TJ
Raytheon 4000+
The unit is great, but there seems to be poor quality control on the heads. I have had two boats with the 4000+ and I had to exchange heads on boat one and the one on boat two (used) and past warranty, has an intermittent problem which causes the boat to go immediately in track mode (isn't that exciting). This happens only when I go down to the head and leave my wife at the helm. I have installed two others and both had to be exchanged because of problems. The QC vice-president should be fired! Chuckwolfe@mail.com
The unit is great, but there seems to be poor quality control on the heads. I have had two boats with the 4000+ and I had to exchange heads on boat one and the one on boat two (used) and past warranty, has an intermittent problem which causes the boat to go immediately in track mode (isn't that exciting). This happens only when I go down to the head and leave my wife at the helm. I have installed two others and both had to be exchanged because of problems. The QC vice-president should be fired! Chuckwolfe@mail.com
st4000 = ok
i have a '93 30T with a st4000 which gives me no problems at all. of course, you have to very carefully follow the calibration and set-up instructions - there are some tricks in there. i am very pleased with it as it works fine with the autohelm st50 windset and my philips mk9 dgps
i have a '93 30T with a st4000 which gives me no problems at all. of course, you have to very carefully follow the calibration and set-up instructions - there are some tricks in there. i am very pleased with it as it works fine with the autohelm st50 windset and my philips mk9 dgps
3 RETURNS IN 4 YEARS
In 4 years, I've had to return mine 3 times for head display failure, total system failure, clutch breakage, and wheel clip breakage. Even during the warranty period, they tried to charge me for warranty repairs until I pushed the warranty issue. The only good thing I have to say about this company is that they replaced my speedo control head for free because of poor visibility under light at night. I agree, there has to be room for more quality. jk
In 4 years, I've had to return mine 3 times for head display failure, total system failure, clutch breakage, and wheel clip breakage. Even during the warranty period, they tried to charge me for warranty repairs until I pushed the warranty issue. The only good thing I have to say about this company is that they replaced my speedo control head for free because of poor visibility under light at night. I agree, there has to be room for more quality. jk
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