Inboard autopilot: your thoughts?

Koeketiene

Koeketiene

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Le Roussillon (South of France)
www.sailblogs.com
We've currently got a Cetrek 727 autopilot; and when it works it's absolutely brilliant. Sailing or motoring, in any seastate, its's never more than 2 or 3 deg off course. It draws quite a lot of amps (15 - hydraulic ram), but other than that I can't fault it. The long term plan is to have at some time in a windvane autopilot (Hydrovane) fitted and just use the Cetrek when motoring.

Anyway, the glitches we've been experiencing have now been traced to corrosion inside the head unit. CPU and compass still very much in business. A replacement 727 head unit is nowhere to be found - still have to hear from one possible source.

So, what next?

a. I've been offered a brandnew Cetrek 730 autopilot (complete system bar the ram which I don't need anyway) for just over a grand. By far the cheapest option. But would you take a risk with such an item from a manufacturer no longer in business? On the other hand, the 727 lasted over 10 years.
b. Other option: a Furuno NAVPilot500 - I can get one for 1.7K. Manufacturer still very much in business. Any-one got any experience of this pilot? Furuno are relatively new to the leisure autopilot market.
c. Last option: a B&G Hydra - by far the most expensive option. They have a very good reputation, but are they really worth the extra money? And how long will they (& the support) last now that they've been taken over by Simrad?
Anyone got one of these? Where did you get it?

Your comments appreciated.
 
Not quite sure of my facts here but you might find Robertson (now sold under the Simrad name) made the bits that Cetrek sold you anyway. I bought a Robertson in 1997 which cost me over £3500 but it is the best thing I ever bought. All my other instruments unfortunately were Cetrek. Catamarans are often not the easiest things for an autopilot to steer but mine is simply wonderful and still going strong. I have a feeling that Robertson might well sell you a head that will work with yours but not sure. In any case for heavens sake don't cough up a grand for an old Cetrek. I am progressively purging all the old Cetrek stuff off my boat as you can't get it serviced anywhere. For everything else I have gone Raymarine but if I ever wanted another autopilot it would be Robertson.
 
Just a long shot! bearing in mind that I have now been off the water for THREE years! (but should make it in for July) Have you tried R&J @ Levington? They had a far amount of bits & pieces for Cetrek back in 03'....HTH
 
Have a look at the S1 packs that are just out this month from raymarine. Very good value for the money, and have built in gyro as well.
 
That's because Simrad now own Robertson but Robertson are the manufacturer of Simrad Autopilots. You might find a Simrad head works, but it's only a thought. No idea how you would find out..... I think I would try getting the existing one repaired first. What sort of corrosion damage have you got... Does it still work at all?
 
Forget B&G: spare parts are awfully expensive.
I got a Raymarine S2 with Lecomble&Schmitt hydraulic ram: works quite well in any condition. The only problem was cramming this hydro unit with the dual rudder arrangement of the SO35 (lifting keel species). That's why Jeanneau option is only the electric unit.
 
Some of the buttons on the control unit don't work anymore.

I can engage the autopilot on a certain course, and it will keep to it very well. Never more than 2 or 3 DEG off.
However, the only way to disengage the autopilot is to cut the power to the entire system. The CPU does not like that one bit. And when it reboots it more often than not throws a wobbly. Not ideal, I'm sure you'll agree.

I've had a couple of people look at it - lots of ooh & aah & tutting. All of them assured me that the unit was beyond repair. And that if I could not find a replacement I would have to chuck the lot and buy a completely new system (which, of course, they all want to sell to me).

Last week, my one man shipyard took the unit apart and cleaned the corroded areas as much as possible. So now instead of not disengaging all of the time, it operates on a hit or miss basis.

I'm still hoping that I will be able to obtain a replacement, or failing that going for option a, b or c
 
[ QUOTE ]
Forget B&G: spare parts are awfully expensive.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know B&G's the most expensive option; but does the extra cost mean extra quality or do you pay for the name?

Thanks for your suggestion; but no Raymarine on my boat (rather passionate about that /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )
 
I was somewhat disappointed with loch and wind instruments fitted on my former boat (excessively proprietary specs and expensive spares).... the name is not worth the price IMHO.
 
Yeeesss.... That does not sound terribly useful. Especially if you need to change course quickly. Tell me, is this a square box with a rotary knob in the middle below an LCD screen with "dodge" buttons on either side, and does it have a seperate computer unit mounted below which is about 10inches by 6 inches with loads of connections along the bottom edge or are all the electronics in the head?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Tell me, is this a square box with a rotary knob in the middle below an LCD screen with "dodge" buttons on either side, and does it have a seperate computer unit mounted below which is about 10inches by 6 inches with loads of connections along the bottom edge

[/ QUOTE ]

That's the one.

Situattion at the moment:

1. I'm hot on the trail of a BNIB 727 head unit which 'might' be available at a good price. Computer says they've got one in stock, but they can't find it. Fingers crossed.
2. A fellow forumite with access to some good stuff thinks my current one can still be salvaged.
3. The Service Centre - who bought all Cetrek stuff when they ceased trading - can supply me with a complete Cetrek 730 (head unit, CPU & compass) for just over 1K. If I take away the VAT (which I can recover) that's a 'new' autopilot for less than 900 quid. Even offered warranty on it. Considering that the current unit is 18 years old, an option. If this one lasts another 18 years it'll be good value for money.
4. I get a Furuno NAVPilot from the US - about 2$ to 1£ at the moment. Through connections a work can get it shipped here FOC and no customs tax either (US military mail).
 
Sounds exactly like mine then apart from yours is branded Cetrek. If your current efforts don't work out I suggest you contact Simrad and see if you can talk to a Robertson technical man. I recon they can supply a replacement that will work if you can only find out what it is...
 
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