autohelm

[bajo]

Anyone could give some opinion of the autohelm ST 1000 plus with remote control for a small 22ft sailboat 3,500 lbs displacement ,thinking of buying ''a store display unit''. Thanks

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[maltaboy]

I got one for my hurley 24/70 which is a bit heavier at 5000lbs and on the limit of the st1000, it worked very well up to a f4-5 but struggled after that (I think I should of had the st2000). The tacking mode again was good and a must for singlehanders, the remote control is hard wired and although it works is in my view not worth the extra £££ unless your happy to make course changes from the cabin.

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[Rabbie]

I've just bought one with a remote for my Westerly21 which is about the same displacement as yours. I pondered on the use of the remote, but decided it could be useful up front when picking up my mooring singlehanded - hope so anyway!.

<hr width=100% size=1>I admit to spending a fortune on women, booze, gambling and my boat. The rest I spend foolishly.

 

[charles_reed]

I had one of the original MkII on a boat the same size as yours and it was terrific until the water got into it, which happened regularly every season.
In those days Autohelm was a private company and I could take it into Farlington and get the PCB replaced in 20 minutes for a fairly small sum.

I did have an ST 2000 on my current boat but that was totally inadequate for serious use and died everytime it got really wet.

I've used a 4000 for the last 12 years which has been an adequate performer providing I service it regularly. (One of the 2 actuators is completely rebuilt every 24 months)

No autopilot with an unprotected keypad can be considered a mission critical bit of kit - all leak and all have their PCBs die as soon as they're subject to heavy rain or heads of seas.
To my mind the 1000 is too slow to control anything but a very stable vessel tho' it is fairly powerful, my Mk II was about 20% faster and produced about 50% of the thrust.

I've never found the remotes of any value whatsoever - I do about 3500nm a year single-handed.

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[philip_stevens]

I will contradict Charles' post, in that I have two Autohelms, an old 1000 and an ST2000 - both of 10+years old. I bought both second hand so don't really know how old they are.

The contradiction is that both have worked well, with neither having given any trouble or been in for service. Both have given spendid service and been out in all winds and weather. I replaced a broken drive shaft seal this summer, but that was my fault for falling onto the Autohelm. The older 1000 unit has been well used over the past five years while the boat (a Westerly Konsort of 29ft) has been on charter. So that proves the reliability of the smaller unit. The ST2000 has taken this boat, and our previous boat all around the south Cornwall and Devon coasts and across to the Channel Islands a few times.

As for the remote unit, I use mine in bad, wet weather so that I can shelter under the sprayhood, but keep a look-out at the same time. I have also used it on very hot sunny weather when we have been able to sit up on the coach-roof and enjoy the scenery and weather.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[bajo]

Thanks for all of those honest opinions ,this is a great site to visit . I have just bought a ST1000 with remote, and I got it at a good price. I may not use the remote much, since I sail in Barbados waters and choose the best days.[ EX RAF Bajan]

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