Auto pilot choice, Raymarine, Simrad or Jefa

[Peter]

Boat showing coming up and will be purchasing a new autopilot system (all the bits). Not sure if you can still get discounts at boat show but will try. But gives me the opportunity to talk to different suppliers/manufactures as you don't many suppliers to talk to in sunny Cumbria. Sized unit up and based on Raymarine looking at there SPX30 with there No 2 hydraulic drive or Simrads equivalent. During my search's came across a Jefa electronic direct drive, there size type 2 with a Gamlin autopilot/course computer. Looks a good unit and interested in it, and from web searching seems to have a good reputation, but expensive compared to Raymarine of Simard.
Just looking for any advice or comment's on these autopilots with regards to quality, longevity, ease of use, availability of spares, reliability, how easy to fix etc especially the Jefa unit which at the moment seems to be my front runner, but price of this unit is an issue.

Thanks

Peter

 

[Rivers & creeks]

You will get more anecdotes talking about Raymarine problems because the installed user base is huge. I'd guess that the percentage is the same or lower than other companies though. I've had two Raymarine units and loved them. It's gone all multi function touchscreen now but my stuff is mostly 2005 vintage and it's all going strong. I love the tech support, I've called them about a dozen times with numpty questions and they've always helped, even though the main unit is well and truly legacy. The bits all work together even though the wireless remote is brand new and the autopilot box is 2005, with a 2010 control head and a 2006 compass. I've gradually upgraded bits and it's truly plug and play.

 

[Sans Bateau]

You may well find that whether it be Simrad, Raymarine or Garmin they will only make the electronics, in (I believe) most cases, Jefa make the bit which does the hard work. Jefa also make just about (again I believe) every rudder pintle on boat today.

 

[wully1]

Jeffa supplied me with a tiller arm and I would have bought their whole system but for the fact that it couldn't take two control heads.
So I fitted a Raymarine system instead.
Very happy so far.

 

[KellysEye]

>Not sure if you can still get discounts at boat show but will try.

They all discount on the last day so they have reduced stock to take back. We had a Raymarine autopilot.

 

[Quandary]

I have a Raymarine ST 6000, it gave intermittent trouble since new (2007) and eventually started doing unannounced lunges without warning on the season after the warranty ended, 2011. I tried Raymarines help site but got no response at first then the advice to take it to a dealer. Did that, they checked the symptoms and talked to Raymarine then I took out the display head and course computer and they sent it off to be repaired, returned after 4 weeks with a bill for £275 but no worksheet. The repair was warranted for 12 months. I asked dealer to find out what the problem had been, he was told, verbally, 'faulty chips in the display head' Re installed but seemed difficult to maintain calibration. 2012 it did not hold course at all so I emailed dealer within the repair warranty period, delayed removal because of long summer repair turn around, but in August as we circled Ardnamurchan point it suddenly started showing the course changing and performed OK for the rest of that season. In 2013 it never showed a true course despite continuous efforts at calibration, took it to dealer at the end of the summer, display head, computer and compass sensor, included detailed history of the faults with an expectation of 'no charge'. Returned a couple of weeks ago after about 6 weeks with Raymarine, FOC but no report, the dealer knew I would expect one so rang them and got a brief verbal reference to a 'gyro problem in the course computer'. This time the repair is only warranted for 6 months which means that I will only have a week or two to test it after launching. Dealers help has been excellent (Ardfern) but Raymarine have been disappointing particularly if you had experience of the old Autohelm service procedure and reliability. Since I had this done, Raymarine have simplified???? their charging with a standard charge of about £400 for minor repairs and about double that for bigger ones. MY problems may be an isolated example of bad luck but the slowish response and the unwillingness to report on the repair work have disappointed me.

My steering (and rudder) is Jefa and I have had some contact with them, great engineering, communication and service, great technical website but as the OP says their stuff is not cheap. They claim that their pilot is fully electrically isolated which may be a benefit if you have a alloy rudder shaft, when I asked Raymarine about this they could not understand the question. If I was buying a pilot again I would give Jefa much more serious consideration

 

[Sneaky Pete]

I believe they have fixed price servicing and repair. I sent a radio for repair. They completed the job but broke the backing plate from it sent it back to me in two pieces. I had a discussion with the service manager regarding this. There then followed two attempts at replacing this. Overall custom journey was disappointing. One thing they are very good at is charging £'s S D.