New tiller pilot -raymarine or simrad

[SteveSarabande]

My old autohelm1000 gave up yesterday. After 8 hours of hand steering I am ready for something new and reliable.

Any opinions on raymarine st2000 or simrad tp22. The boat is 3500kg, Sabre 27

The raymarine has similar controls to my old one. I can't work out if the NMEA input is any use to me. I have no wind instruments or raymarine on board. Can I get my CP180 chart plotter to send it route information to remotely steer it?

 

[jerrytug]

I've had two second hand ST2000's, when you open them up, the quality of the engineering is like a Chinese remote control car from a market stall, I just can't work out how they have the gall to ask £500.
If you are seriously contemplating a new one, bear in mind you could get a reasonable used wind-vane for that price..
I would not buy a new Ray one anyway, although I believe they sell the most.

 

[SteveSarabande]

Fitting a wind vane is a lot of work. Most of my sailing is coastal, not really the place for adjusting wind vanes.

I opened up the autohelm1000, I agree it's not sturdy engineering, but mine has lasted a good few years so it can't be too bad.

 

[Tranona]

The Raymarine usually comes out a bit better in reviews as a bit more responsive and faster, but in practice probably not much in it. Suggest you go for the ST 2000 as your boat's displacement is just above the limit for the 1000.

 

[awol]

I have opinions on both the Simrad and the Raymarine offerings. IMO the Raymarine, when working, will steer the boat when you hit Auto, the Simrad will go for a disconcerting meander first before settling down. Neither are built to a standard that encourages confidence. If your chart plotter outputs NMEA sentences then both will steer to a waypoint.

 

[ianfr]

I have the ST2000+ on my Sabre 27. It manages perfectly, the ST1000+ I had previously seemed to struggle a bit.

The SH CP180 chart plotter is connected to it, and I can just select a route and leave all the steering to the autopilot.

I did, however manage to get a second one very cheaply as a backup.

Regards

Ian

 

[mjcoon]

I can't work out if the NMEA input is any use to me. I have no wind instruments or raymarine on board. Can I get my CP180 chart plotter to send it route information to remotely steer it?

What does the manual say?

Mike.

 

[SteveSarabande]

What does the manual say?

Mike.

You should know that no self respecting sailor would admit defeat and read the manual. It needs at least a few days of fiddling with connections before I accept defeat and read the instructions.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have owned the same Simrad tp30 for many years, long before we sailed full time for half the year. It has been superb, never gave a moment's trouble despite much use. I bought a tp 32 from a forumite as a spare just in case, but no sign yet that it will ever be needed. Our only concession to long term use is that we fit a reflective cover in strong sunlight as the black plastic does become very hot.

 

[causeway]

I have the simrad tp32, seems to handle my 7T 35 footer, although I haven't given it anything too harsh to deal with yet.

I think they're much of a muchness but the new, expensive, raymarines are supposed to be better and use less battery.

 

[Sandy]

Getting the autopilot to work over the winter was fun, but Sunday saw me out for the first time this year single handed and I was so pleased I had taken the time and effort. Just need to paint some dots on the socked and plug as it is a fiddle trying to fit them in the bottom of the cockpit.

 

[rjp]

My Simrad tp 22, bought last July and used until September gave up the ghost first time out last week. Tried to phone Simrad this pm, nobody available to take call, please leave your number. Still waiting. Not impressed!

 

[dylanwinter]

Only ever had raymarine

katie L has the 1000

harmony has the 2000

v happy with both of them

D

 

[ballyabroad]

Another one who has a ST 2000 on a Sabre - works fines; the 1000 has been consigned to back up as not quite up to the job- however one of our club members burnt out a 2000 last week- probably too much weather helm for 6+ hours. Not quite got around to wiring up to the SH 180 chartplotter yet.

 

[johnalison]

If you can contrive to connect to a plotter, this can be very handy for coastal sailing. You can set it to go to your next waypoint or route and save the bother of having to fiddle with it to stay on track. Not so useful for cross-tide courses when you will want to set a course.

 

[SteveSarabande]

I am going for the st2000, port Solent are selling them for £429 free postage.

Another 4 hours beating to windward today, good fun but not being able to drink tea spoils it for me.

 

[lustyd]

we fit a reflective cover in strong sunlight

AKA tinfoil, or something a bit more engineered?

 

[NickRobinson]

we fit a reflective cover in strong sunlight....

AKA tinfoil, or something a bit more engineered? .....

Something waterproof too- My new to me TP10 died after a shower- circuit board under the buttons was fizzing...

BTW- Ebay your dead unit- even DOA there's a market which may surprise.

Enjoy the tea- I know what you mean

N

 

[SteveSarabande]

I left it on the boat, but was planning to advertise it. The motor and mechanics are fine. The buttons all beep, the - buttons work, just the plus buttons that don't extend the piston. They make it beep so I am guessing the electronics are confused.

 

[mjcoon]

we fit a reflective cover in strong sunlight....

AKA tinfoil, or something a bit more engineered? .....

Something waterproof too- My new to me TP10 died after a shower- circuit board under the buttons was fizzing...

My suggestion would be metallised plastic, such as the inside of a wine box. (I have had a cowl covered with that over the remote temperature sensor in the garden for years to keep the sun & rain off.)

Mike.