Pilot error

[trev]

My ST7000 auto pilot went on the blink last summer, but I bravely continued our cruise without it.
The repair is part of the winter lay up programme but I've now been told that spares are unavailable, and I will have to fork out loads of the hard earned for a new system !!
I fail to understand why no spares are available for such a widely used piece of kit and doubt if any great changes have been made to warrant a whole new 'system'.
There must be a warehouse somewhere full of 'obsolete' bits of electronics which are still perfectly capable of doing the job.
Any advice from the illustrious and well informed gratefully received.

Trev

 

[BarryH]

Unfortunatly, thats the throw away society we live in now days. I've got a laptop thats 2 years old. Hard drive went tits up. Sorry mate cant get them anymore! This electronic industry should be like the car industry, spare should be available for a set period after the end of production.

 

[mainshiptom]

I know someone which will be happy to fix your hard drive !

Tom

 

[kingfisher]

And which car industry might that be, where spare parts have to kept available for a set period of time?

Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[trev]

Never mind his hard drive ! - what about my auto-pilot??

Trev

 

[qsiv]

Just out of interest - what part is broken - I cant promise but I might be changing my 7000 pilot this spring...

 

[byron]

Exactly what bit is broken on the A.P. ? There's a dude in Ramsgate pretty cool with this sort of thing. His name is Brian Fleurie. I don't have his number but I reckon if you contact Marlec Marine in Ramsgate they will have it.

http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[trev]

From what I can tell its the computer which is duff. I'm in Saudi at the moment and therefore have to rely on what the boatyard tell me. Apparently it was sent to Raymarine and the say the cle (whatever that is) is not putting out but the FETS (whatever that is) is OK. They go on to say they no longer carry spares and a total new system is required.
Haven't any clue as to cost of new system but suspect several hundreds or more.

Trev

 

[mainshiptom]

I bet that could be fixed and all !

Tom

 

[qsiv]

If you cant get it fixed economicallylet me know ...