2nd tiller pilot has just expired

Thanks Pete, I did try to make the adjustments without success. It was quite some time ago, but I seem to remember that it didn't seem to be following the sequence of responses that were described under calibration in the manual, so I couldn't get it to change in the way I wanted.

Actually, I found a post in another thread in the meantime (23/04/2009) that seemed relevant
http://raymarine.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/raymarine.cfg/php/enduser/prn... (I have just tried to reload this page but the website could not be found)
this described a condition in which an ST2000+ was behaving as though it were a Autohelm 800 and explained how to reset it to behave as an ST2000+.

I obviously found this post during winter months and I have only this week turned up the reprint that I made of it at the time. I can try doing the reset (of my ST1000) in a similar manner and if that works, perhaps I will be able to get into its calibration procedure, as described in the manual, to put it right. I couldn't do it that winter as the boat was laid up at the time.
 
prv said:
None of the other self-contained tillerpilots are any better.
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I have a Navico 1800 on my boat. I have no idea how old it is, but it could well be the replacement for the 1600 for which the original owner paid £204 + VAT back in 1986. It works reliably and dependably and seems unperturbed by weather: I have used it in some pretty manky conditions. Just in case, I have acquired a s/h spare and a brand new old stock 2000xl.

It seems bizarre that modern manufacturers cannot seal a cable and a pushrod as well as Navico could, 20+ years ago. Was chatting to a fellow owner of my model of boat in Bangor a week or two back, and he also reported (a) that his Raymarine tillerpilot kept failing and (b) that Raymarine had said that it was his own fault for using it at sea, for which it was not designed. "Harbour use only", apparently.

If anyone has a dead modern tillerpilot, it might make an interesting PBO article to pull it to bits and look at ways of beefing up the sealing. It would stuff the warranty of a new one, of course, but might be worth doing the day the warranty expires.
 
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JumbleDuck said:
I have a Navico 1600 on my boat. I have no idea how old it is, but it could well be the one for which the original owner paid £204 + VAT back in 1986. It works reliably and dependably and seems unperturbed by weather: I have used it in some pretty manky conditions. Just in case, I have acquired a s/h spare and a brand new old stock 1800.

It seems bizarre that modern manufacturers cannot seal a cable and a pushrod as well as Navico could, 28 years ago. Was chatting to a fellow owner of my model of boat in Bangor a week or two back, and he also reported (a) that his Raymarine tillerpilot kept failing and (b) that Raymarine had said that it was his own fault for using it at sea, for which it was not designed. "Harbour use only", apparently.

If anyone has a dead modern tillerpilot, it might make an interesting PBO article to pull it to bits and look at ways of beefing up the sealing. It would stuff the warranty of a new one, of course, but might be worth doing the day the warranty expires.
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does it really say for harbour use only..... surely not

D
 
JumbleDuck said:
That's what my fellow Victorian said Raymarine told him, so it's hear2say.
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From the ST2000+ manual it talks about passage making, sea state, keeping a watch out for ships travelling at 24 knots, following a route of waypoints, making plots of position hourly in open water etc. So I would say that your hearsay is just that. And why would you want an autopilot for harbour use anyway? It's the one place you don't want to use it.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
From the ST2000+ manual it talks about passage making, sea state, keeping a watch out for ships travelling at 24 knots, following a route of waypoints, making plots of position hourly in open water etc. So I would say that your hearsay is just that. And why would you want an autopilot for harbour use anyway? It's the one place you don't want to use it.
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I presume that harbour use would cover keeping the boat on course while rigging or removing fenders and lines, getting sails up and down, that sort of thing. I certainly find mine useful for that. The passage making stuff from the manual is interesting, but does raise the question of while they don't make the damn things waterproof. My informant carried two Raymarines, both quite new, of which one needed heated in the oven to work and the other had stopped responding to that treatment. Raymarine's reported response was, as I wrote, that they weren't intended for use at sea. This seems to agree with previous reports of Raymarine responses on this thread, which is why I mentioned it.
 
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We've had a Navico/Simrad TP10 for the last 10 or more years. When we are on the boat it lives outside so takes whatever the weather throws at it. It's a bit underpowered for our boat (28ft) but handles the easy stuff. I did have to replace a feedback PCB 7 or 8 years ago (£25) but apart from that it's been fine. It's starting to graunch a bit lately so I may need to replace it soon. I think I will avoid Raymarine.
 
An interesting part of the ST X000 pilot is the push rod going in and out of the unit. When it moves in and out the volume inside the unit changes and has to be ventilated. This is done through a small hole under the unit that has a "breathing filter"/"sticker" of unknown material covering the hole on the inside.

I am not sure how well this hole works when the unit is plashed and soaked while in operation. I have a feeling it may suck water in when push rod moves out.

Also make sure the seal around the unit edges is cleaned and lubricated. Also important the pushrod runs with some lubrication for seals not to run dry and wear out before the rainy day comes.

:)
 
Sybarite said:
I can sympathise. Mine (ST2000) stopped 2 months out of warranty. The estimate to repair was more than the original cost. The Raymarine distributor told me I shouldn't have let it get wet.

A marine machine intended to work in the cockpit......!!!
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Got the same response. Also told I shouldn't stow it in a damp cockpit locker. Asked if it'd be OK by the fireplace in my living room. No response.

I opened it up, dried it out and resealed it. It works for now.
 
JumbleDuck said:
It seems bizarre that modern manufacturers cannot seal a cable and a pushrod as well as Navico could, 20+ years ago. Was chatting to a fellow owner of my model of boat in Bangor a week or two back, and he also reported (a) that his Raymarine tillerpilot kept failing and (b) that Raymarine had said that it was his own fault for using it at sea, for which it was not designed. "Harbour use only", apparently.
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My son is a journalist and he says if you can't attribute a statement to a verified source, you have to assume it's not true.
 
Why not post in wanted forum Dylan or buy a new one?


dylanwinter said:
I started this trip with two tiller pilots

an ST 2000 that came with the bioat that was amazing

at night it was better on the helm than any human

but it rained and it stopped - now all it does is beep like a sad seagull chick

the other was the st1000

less good but I have been using it since I started KTL so it had a seven year bashing

It has got a bit wet but a few minutes under the fan heater and it starts again


not this time though

after the journey between Orkney and Eirbol when it got wet a few times it has also expired

the fan heater treatment produces no cure

does anyone have an old but unwanted one they are willing to swap for ktl DVds

yours

Ron Hopeful

PS - here is the story of the journey

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/sailing-around-britain/best-of-times-and/
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My experience with ALL all-in-one autopilots is that they die in the rain, whether or not you use plastic bags or covers (and I've done about 38K nautical miles with autopilots). Long ago I gave up the cheapskate attitude and bought a 3-part system, control-head in the dry, a fluxgate compass mounted low and close to CofG and a separate actuator out in the rain.
The only answer to this common weakness is to replace the control PCB.

One has to query "fitness for purpose". However I'm sure you'll find it's covered in the manual of instruction -" don't let it get wet".
 
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