New Autohelm needed or not?

[watercraft]

Hi I purchased my13m 1996 yacht fitted with the original Raymarine Autohelm ST7000 and type 300 course computer. Also the wind/log/nav data runs the ST50 and a E80 chart plotter (this bit works well).

I'm pretty sure there's a failure within the course computer and possibly the fluxgate compass too as sometimes the compass heading goes haywire and or the rudder wont turn to port somtimes when it feels like it . The linear drive is good and is still current design (Type 2s). I haven't tried to find a marine electronics engineer who knows this system well (Gosport area) yet.

My question is do I repair or replace the autohelm system and with what? Advice would be welcome. I don't want to renew all the systems if I don't have to as other stuff needs doing on the boat too.

Thanks

 

[Rappey]

There is often a guy on ebay that takes your old 300 and gives you a fully refurbished one for £300.
I saw a working 300, rudder sensor and compass sell for £115 ?.
I wanted it as a spare but missed out.

 

[PaulRainbow]

If you replace the autopilot with a new Raymarine core pack it will work with the current linear drive and you can still interface it with your current Raymarine equipment by using an adaptor kit, Raymarine part number: e22158

 

[watercraft]

Thanks for the advice - I’ve spoken with a few people and it seems the sensible thing to do is renew with an adaptor kit as suggested by PaulRainbow. It’s the only long term option as I’d hate to have it fail when miles from nowhere it was bad enough doing 12 hours at the helm Monday!

 

[watercraft]

There is often a guy on ebay that takes your old 300 and gives you a fully refurbished one for £300.
I saw a working 300, rudder sensor and compass sell for £115 ?.
I wanted it as a spare but missed out.

I had a trawl through various places and unable to find what I needed and to tell you the truth I’m not wanting the hassle of repairing again in 2 or so years time. Thanks anyway.

 

[ryanroberts]

Mine decided it really liked a cruise ship the other day and nearly gybed trying to go and say hello. Fluxgate is well out of whack

 

[Rappey]

Mine is superb.. Even tacks the boat better than a person !
The only time it had a big moment was when i went inside to look in cooker, crouched down and felt the boat turn sharply ???
discovered it was the phone in my pocket which was nearly touching the compass..