Autohelm Tridata

[richardabeattie]

I have an ancient Autohelm Tridata which connects to a paddle wheel log and and hull mounted depth transducer. The screen still comes on and gives me speed and depth as ever but the depth readout is no longer trustworthy. It is sometimes right and sometimes wrong and when wrong it insists on telling me that I am sailing in 2.7 feet (yes it's that old) of water. I've checked the three connecting plugs/sockets and they look OK.

Is there anywhere in the UK where these things are still serviced? I've Googled but only got American sites.

Grateful for any advice - and if I have to bite the bullet and buy something new what does the forum advise me to go for - preferably continuing to use the old paddle wheel and transducer.

 

[rob2]

Don't go spending out on a new instrument until you've diagnosed the fault or you'll be mightily disappointed if the transducer is at fault! Often the best way to check it out is to take the unit to a friend's boat and plug into their (good) transducer and see how it performs. WE get stange readings when over very soft, muddy bottoms, but the 2.7ft sounds like you're only reading the offset so maybe a new cable and good clean connector will sort it?

Rob.