Generic/Raymarine Autopilot

[BossaNova]

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience with this autopilot and/or supplier?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Combo-Lin...tEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item3f07f104a5

Thank you

 

[Talulah]

No experience but the price difference between that and the Raymarine drive means I would opt for the Raymarine drive. The saving isn't significant enough.

 

[prv]

I've seen the supplier name around the place - believe they do third-party repairs of various marine electronics and have been going for some years. They're on my radar as the best-priced supplier of the new-model ICS Navtex receiver box, which I shall be purchasing in due course from them.

No experience with that pilot ram, though I have seen it offered elsewhere as well.

Pete

 

[prv]

No experience but the price difference between that and the Raymarine drive means I would opt for the Raymarine drive. The saving isn't significant enough.

The third-party one may be better . Hydraulics versus belt-driven screw, and while their linear drives do at least use mostly metal components, we all know Raymarine are not noted for their mechanical engineering excellence. I don't think we can automatically assume their device is superior to anything else.

(I did go for the Raymarine one, on the basis of devil-you-know, and because I found a good second-hand one for £450.)

Pete

 

[BossaNova]

The current autopilot is a raymarine wheeldrive unit, but I as I am looking to cruise the Atlantic islands a stronger autopilot is at the top of the wishlist. Would the Raymarine type 1 12 volt linear drive unit do the job for 7500kg boat? Raymarine says it should be good for boats up to 11000kg, in practice do they work well in heavy weather?

 

[Talulah]

The current autopilot is a raymarine wheeldrive unit, but I as I am looking to cruise the Atlantic islands a stronger autopilot is at the top of the wishlist. Would the Raymarine type 1 12 volt linear drive unit do the job for 7500kg boat? Raymarine says it should be good for boats up to 11000kg, in practice do they work well in heavy weather?

Ours is currently Raymarine Type 1 Linear on 10 ton boat and has been used in some serious weather.
No problems at all.

 

[pathfinder]

Installed the type 1 linear drive with the s1g controller in 2008,boat 6.5t,no problems with the drive so far.The control unit has switched to standby of its own accord every now and then but this is very rare.Other than that it controls the boat very well even in following seas which my old wheel pilot wouldn't.

 

[Colvic Watson]

I thought so many people had Raymarine gear that it is the generic option.

 

[Birdseye]

The service centre have a good rep and are used for repairs by some of the manufacturers.

 

[BossaNova]

thanks all for your thoughts.

 

[yoda]

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience with this autopilot and/or supplier?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Combo-Lin...tEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item3f07f104a5

Thank you

While I don't have that particular hydraulic drive I did get my hydraulic unit from the same company and have it linked to a Raymarine autopilot. Give them a ring and make sure that what you intend to do is a workable solution. I did the same thing replacing the wheel pilot with a below deck unit ( in fact I now have the choice as I didn't remove the wheel pilot). Great decision.

Yoda

 

[BossaNova]

While I don't have that particular hydraulic drive I did get my hydraulic unit from the same company and have it linked to a Raymarine autopilot. Give them a ring and make sure that what you intend to do is a workable solution. I did the same thing replacing the wheel pilot with a below deck unit ( in fact I now have the choice as I didn't remove the wheel pilot). Great decision.

Yoda

Hi Yoda,

That's what I intend to do as well. Did you get a complete new system (course computer, control head, etc) for the drive unit?

Cheers

 

[sailorman]

The current autopilot is a raymarine wheeldrive unit, but I as I am looking to cruise the Atlantic islands a stronger autopilot is at the top of the wishlist. Would the Raymarine type 1 12 volt linear drive unit do the job for 7500kg boat? Raymarine says it should be good for boats up to 11000kg, in practice do they work well in heavy weather?

I have a 6000 on a 37 ft fin & spade rudder, its now 15 yrs old & the boat goes where the pilot tells it to

 

[yoda]

Hi Yoda,

That's what I intend to do as well. Did you get a complete new system (course computer, control head, etc) for the drive unit?

Cheers

Yes, the wheel pilot was an old stand alone auto helm unit (4000 I think) so I started from scratch. I should have gone to the service centre straight off for advice but instead spent many evenings working out what would work only to get to the same answer they would have given me! I actually fitted the S3 course computer with raymarine feedback and gyros. My hydraulic unit needed to be as short as possible because of the limited beam in the stern of my boat so I used a different model ram that the Service centre had with a separate pump. Not as neat as the combined unit but just the way it needed to be. I also have raymarine control heads, one by the helm and one under the spray hood although I guess a remote control would be even better than the second control head. It works well for me and my boat has a very large and powerful rudder for the size of boat (35ft). The wheel pilot is the only wheel lock I have so just left it in place.

Yoda

 

[BossaNova]

Yes, the wheel pilot was an old stand alone auto helm unit (4000 I think) so I started from scratch. I should have gone to the service centre straight off for advice but instead spent many evenings working out what would work only to get to the same answer they would have given me! I actually fitted the S3 course computer with raymarine feedback and gyros. My hydraulic unit needed to be as short as possible because of the limited beam in the stern of my boat so I used a different model ram that the Service centre had with a separate pump. Not as neat as the combined unit but just the way it needed to be. I also have raymarine control heads, one by the helm and one under the spray hood although I guess a remote control would be even better than the second control head. It works well for me and my boat has a very large and powerful rudder for the size of boat (35ft). The wheel pilot is the only wheel lock I have so just left it in place.

Yoda

Hi Yoda,

I will have a word with the guys at the service centre before I decide whether to go for the raymarine or their drive unit. Thanks a lot.