Autopilot reccomendations

ccscott49

ccscott49

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Well, the old Sharp oceanpilot has finally given up, after 35 years! So I guess its time to retire it, even though I'm sure it could be repaired.
I will need an autopilot, to run a constant running pump, with solenoids, for my hydraulic steering system.
I want something robust and more topwards the commercial end, but not at that cost!
I have seen a Cetrek 740 system, which looks like it might do.
Any ideas, reccomendations, experience and anybody knlow where I could get one at a good price? Thanks for any help you can give.
I've come to this forum, because Englander is a rather big and heavy boat, (48 tons) with twin screws, plus sails, so basically a "stinkpotter", oh! and 24 volt.
 
You won't go far wrong with a suitable Raymarine model. Lots of folk in the market place can install and more importantly service and repair them if needed.
 
I have a fully integrated raymarine Auto Pilot which works very well. The guy who I bought the boat off had not had any problems, and I have not in my first week! I tested it in a force 7, gusting 8 and it sailed itself for 3 miles in big seas. That was a hell of a test (i was hanging on for dear life...so let her sail herself).

My boat only 17 tons though.

Paul
 
Collin, get a Raymarine auto pilot. I have an ST 6000 and it's brilliant, dunno which one will be right for you tho. Just press the button and it takes you where ever you want to go, within a few feet, or use it sort of manual auto, which you'd probably preffer. Not as good as letting the GPS do the work though.
 
Thanks everybody! The cetrek is out, they stopped making stuff in 2003, so no backup as such. Looks like a raymarine spx30 jobbie, but |I do hope it lasts as long as the Sharp, coz it's a bunch of spondoolers!
 
No, the sports boat in my Avater is the Tender to the big girl. This is the one that displaces 17 tons

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I will change my Avater eventually!

I have the Raymarine 6000 as well!

Paul
 
Ah! The peny droppeth!! A wee bit bigger! But I thought I had a big tender, at 3.4 meters!
I'm going for a Raymarine ST8002, with S3G corepack.
I dont need the new all singing and dancing SPX30, at twice the price of this new old stock stuff, with an excellent reputation AFAIK.
I have the compass unit and rudder feedback & indicator, from my ST50 system of instruments. So when I get the final price, thats it, bullet well and truly chewed up!
 
I'll just add my three pennyworth

Yep - definately Raymarine - there are so many about that fixing it later if necessary should be a doddle.

We've also done just under 4000 miles in just over a year (mostly using a Raymarine autopilot) and we are closer to 50 tons.

Anyway to my point.
I believe that Raymarine introduced a new course computer/pilot just after the ST70 colour control head was introduced so it would be worth making sure that you either buy the latest one or get a good discount on any old stock out there.
 
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