ST50 Wind

[Rick D]

I must be getting old. My ST50 Autohelm wind cups were reluctant to turn at low wind speed. I had a rigger take the unit down and Don Alexander in the UK gave me bearing information. I found the correct bearings in the US and got a couple. However, when I checked, I found some McLube on the bearings freed the cups right up. So, I had him put it back. Then, the cups spun merrily but no wind read at all (wind direction was OK). So, I had him take it down again. I figured the McLube had shorted out the board, but upon inspection, one of the pins had broken off. The connector looks like a standard maybe seven-pin one. I dropped it off at a marine electronics place for repair. The (smart a$$) technician called me back to say 'it isn't repairable'. When I asked why not, he said 'it's broken'. When I said, that it looked like just the pin, he said 'it isn't serviceable, you have to replace it'. I said it was my understanding that ST60 units were not compatible on wind speed (they indicate 25% greater wind speed according to Raymarine; some people said they don't work at all). He said 'I haven't checked but you'll just have to put in a new system then'. I have a very hard time believing I have to spend a grand and labor to put in a non-matching instrument because of a broken connecting pin. And, if they put the stupid thing together once, it ought to come apart. And, I don't believe they would use custom pins. So, I'm going to work this real hard. I understand why Raymarine doesn't want to get involved in servicing legacy stuff, but I may just ship it back to the UK to see what they can do (they seem a bit more accomodating than the US guys). Anyhow, it's just another annoyance with proprietary systems that we lay out big bucks for, and it sure seems wasteful to toss perfectly good instruments. Anyway, that's my story for today... Rick D.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

it makes no sense

Rickyou may be getting old(er) but not any faster than the rest of us.It might be a Molex plug which Ray used on lots of their stuff. I have the same wind instrument but I can't recall as it's been a while since I last saw it. Regardless, about the worst scenario (if you can't find a direct replacement plug)is to replace both the male and female ends with new compatible ends since these plugs can be easily replaced.If you don't want to just replace both ends, there are some places on the internet which sell as wide variety of connectors where you might find the broken one's mate.I'd certainly look around or just replace bith ends before trashing the whole unit.

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Rick, as one infamous person said...

I feel your pain. We have the suite of ST50 original (circa 1991) instruments on our boat and (knock on wood) they still work flawlessly. Some day I'll be in your situation, I'm sure. I do not look forward to crossing that bridge.I've been trying to find three original Autohelm sun covers since two have blown away from high winds. I've tried Raymarine, West Marine (same source), e-bay, etc., but no luck. If you know of anyone that has extras, I would appreciate your input.Terry

 

[Rich Stidger]

Rick, can you get somebody intelligent.....

at Raymarine to look up their ST50 build drawings, find the PL and then tell you who made the connectors? You than may be able to buy a new connector from Mouser or another electronics supply.I agree that replacing an entire instrument and possibly invoking compatibility problems in your system just because a $2 connector is broken is totally unreasonable. I would think that Raymarine would understand that too.Perhaps a Raymarine dealer that actually does repairs vs just send your unit off to the factory may have the parts info on these units.

 

[Steve Dion]

Speed & Depth transducers are compatible

Rick:My HV 36 came with ST50 depth & speed displays. I hooked them up to the ST60 Tridata without a hitch.If you are going to replace the wind instrument (vs repairing an unrepairable unit... I won't get started on your Jabsco head) you may want to consider one of those Maretron wind units. There is nothing to break mechanically. It would be a question of how difficult it would be to rewire (if necessary).

 

[Tsehum Pete]

Raymarine Instrument Covers

Terry,The white instrument covers that come with my boat are no longer made. I managed to find a couple of gray ones at a Victoria BC Canada marine store. There are hardly any left on the planet and they are super-expensive. However, the new gray ones look good with the white lettering. I am sure a Raymarine ditributor somewhere must have them. Good luck,Pete

 

[Timo42]

Look through the Mouser

catalog online, you should be able to match the connectors, get individual pc boaed pins and anything else you need, If you can't find the terminals there, just hardwire the cable to the board and add a connector inline. Tim

 

[DannyS]

Sun covers

Terry, I have a couple of oddball suncovers that came with our boat. The instruments are long gone but I use the suncovers as soap dishes. These are round and white, what are you looking for? Unfortunately, the boat is 4 hours away and on the hard for two more months so I couldn't tell you the diameter.

 

[Monty Miller]

Rick...Similar pain here too!

Rick you can have my ST50+ wind cups when I finish replacing them in a couple of months.Last fall, the display on our ST50+ head control went blank. I phoned Raymarine and was given the output voltages to check to determine which end died. Wind cups good but dead head. Phoned Raymarine and was told that they no longer repair the ST50+ head control and suggested that I replace it with a new ST60 head and it would be FULLY compatible with the old wind cups. So, I replaced it but could not calibrate the wind direction and the wind speed reading was about half of actual. Phoned Raymarine and was told that I had probably received a bad head. Replaced it and had the same results. I was then told that it was highly unlikely that I received two bad units in a row and that even though the output voltages from the wind cups met spec I now needed to replace the wind cups with the ST60 series. A very frustrating experience and I share your pain.Raymarine, also told me that you have to be very careful connecting and disconnecting the wind cups because the pins can be easily bent or broken. Good luck!Terry, the new ST60 covers magically fit on the old ST50 instruments.

 

[Rick D]

Thanks For The Leads...

...and kind thoughts. Don, thanks for ID'ing the probable plug maker. Timo42, thanks for the link. Rich, I agree that there should be SOMEONE who can repair the unit, but I dropped it off at supposedly one of the best. Having said that, it looks like they favor new installations over servicing something they didn't sell. There is another guy in Marina del Rey I'm going to try and if that doesn't work, it's off to Raymarine (who still services ST60 instruments which use the same socket). Monte: think of me when you replace those cups. Steve, the Maretron unit looks wonderful, but until I replace my instruments and rewire it isn't practical. I'm sure I'd have to pop the mast for a variety of reasons just for openers. However, I am going to first have my rigger go up to be sure the female plug is OK and that the pin isn't jammed in there *o . Funny in a way since I didn't even have a wind instrument until the last ten years. However, I've really gotten used to it and find it really useful in light air for identifying wind shifts. My race crew relys on it too... maybe too much.And, yes Steve, I do get a bit Quixotic sometimes as in my aft $800 Jabsco. You will be happy to know that the pump is going on it's third year! AnyhowI'd rather spend $500 getting this thing fixed than fool around with replacing the instruments, especially given that Raymarine is out with a whole new line of instruments (which probably means the ST60 gets to be a legacy item in the future). http://raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=1792&PRODUCT=4142BTW, I did locate an apparent replacement unit out of the UK which may be my fallback. See the link:http://www.stowemarine.com/mastheadunit.htmThanks again guys. Any more thoughts, let me know!Rick D.

 

[Terry Cox]

Thanks all for the sun cover input. The ST50...

instrument heads take a white square cover. Because of the way Hunter built the helm pod the newer gray rectangular covers do not fit very well.Terry

 

[Pat]

I had problems too with ST50....

...speed. Bought a new transducer (ST60 which is compatable)thinking that was my problem. No luck. Assumed a bad transducer and returned it. Second new transducer did not work. Then I traced the wires and looked for problems and did continuity check. All ok. This led me to the instrument itself. And of course they won't service. Yes, the next step is to buy a ST60 instrument. This will not look good though on my boat cause I have 3 other ST50 instruments in a row. Can't have one grey and 3 black - not aestetically pretty. Next step is to see if you can find one on ebay. I saw one but the guy wanted it more than me for $300 plus. So I broke down and bought the ST60 speed, wind, and depth package along with the graphic display just recently. I will leave my existing transducers in place and just replace the instruments. They told me ST50 transducers and ST60 instrument displays were compatable (I have to put new connectors on the wires). So if all works out I will end up with a working system and spare ST60 wind, depth and speed transducers. Also will have a spare ST50 sreed transducer along with a ST50 GPS and wind displays. I already promised the old depth display to a friend. I may put some of the ST50 extras on ebay. Hopefully I am covered for 10 more years.

 

[Rick D]

ST50 Wind Update...

.. I picked up the unit from the 'repair' shop and took it home. Easy access to the plug. But, a complication. It appeared the wiring run wasn't long enough to pull the plug all the way out once we removed the set screw. We punted. We took a resistor with wire just about the same size, tapered the end, stuck it into the broken bases and dropped some solder in. Will it work? What's to lose? Will see for sure in the next couple of weeks. I hate these cascade problems where a two-bit part can cost thousands of $$$. Wish me luck! Rick D.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Good idea

if the resistor trick doesn't work Rick, you might get away with a short piece of SS heavy gauge wire too. Let us know what happens

 

[Rick D]

Steve Dion: ST60's...

are yours ST60s or ST60 Plus? Do you know if there is any compatability difference (there is with the WS) with ST50 transducers (in case I lose this whole battle). RD

 

[Steve Dion]

ST50 Speed & Depth replaced w/ST60 Tridata

Rick:My boat came with the ST50 Speed & Depth. It did NOT have a wind instrument. You know what my configuration looked like (just like yours).I replaced the B&G radio with the Ray radio. I put the autopilot on the aft pod (next to the Radio). I placed the ST60 (not plus) Tridata on the forward pod and then I "added" the ST60 (also not plus) wind instrument on the forward pod too.Have you contacted Raymarine? There is also that guy down in Fl. that repaired the B&G radio. He may be able to repair the parts that you have.I am sure that there are companies out there doing some of the off the wall repairs, so I would look around.

 

[Rick D]

Thanks, Steve..

I thought that was the case, just wanted to be sure. I am going to try this try at a repair before I go on to plan B (or C) or just get even more compulsive. Rick D.

 

[Timo42]

Have you been

to Minneys? Last time I was there a week ago, I saw a pile of instrument and autopilot parts upstairs in the back, maybe you could find one there. Tim

 

[Monty Miller]

Rick

If you can fiqure out the pin assignments and have a 8V power source you could bench test the transducer first before going up the mast again. See the Raymarine link below. I hope you win the battle!