raymarine auto helm in submarine evasion mode

[Mikehp0]

I've just completed what by my standards is a long cruise - Poole to Fowey.

My 2003 Prestige 32 has the OEM raymarine auto helm (sadly I don't know which model - will investigate and report back).

It has always worked very well - particularly given that I replaced the original raymarine plotter with a pair of the latest Garmin units.

However on this trip, just switching the auto helm to auto (to hold a compass bearing rather than follow a track/route) resulted in a zig zag course along the desired bearing - 30 seconds of hard left rudder, followed by 30 seconds of hard right, 30 seconds left, 30 seconds right and so on. Great for avoiding submarines but guaranteed to upset the crew. After 5 minutes, we switched it off. We tried again the next day (with a full power down overnight) and again on the third day - same result.

I'll get it checked out by my guy once back in Poole but it would be great if there was a simple solution I could try now to make the return trip more relaxing.

Any ideas or thoughts gratefully received, please.

 

[lpdsn]

I've just completed what by my standards is a long cruise - Poole to Fowey.

My 2003 Prestige 32 has the OEM raymarine auto helm (sadly I don't know which model - will investigate and report back).

It has always worked very well - particularly given that I replaced the original raymarine plotter with a pair of the latest Garmin units.

However on this trip, just switching the auto helm to auto (to hold a compass bearing rather than follow a track/route) resulted in a zig zag course along the desired bearing - 30 seconds of hard left rudder, followed by 30 seconds of hard right, 30 seconds left, 30 seconds right and so on. Great for avoiding submarines but guaranteed to upset the crew. After 5 minutes, we switched it off. We tried again the next day (with a full power down overnight) and again on the third day - same result.

I'll get it checked out by my guy once back in Poole but it would be great if there was a simple solution I could try now to make the return trip more relaxing.

Any ideas or thoughts gratefully received, please.

I'd guess at a problem with your rudder reference arm. The design doesn't seem to have changed for years, so it quite possibly looks like this. http://www.mesltd.co.uk/raymarine-rotary-rudder-reference-transducer-p-168.html

Chances are that it has just disconnected. Normally held on by a ball and cup type arrangement.

 

[jrudge]

Was the heading shown on the Raymarine head unit pretty much the direction you were heading ? If not the fluxgate on mine was always an issue of re calibrate.

 

[aquapower]

Could be as simple as putting something near the compass that's not usually there, I have had this many times before where the flat screen tv, toolbox or anything else electric/magnetic is placed on the cabin floor to prevent falling and being damaged whilst on passage and will throw the compass. The first time I investigated a fault of this kind the offending article was removed each time the boat was moored in marina so everything appeared ok until a sea trial was carried out and all became obvious.

 

[aquatom]

Sounds like the response or rudder gain settings are too high.

 

[Mikehp0]

Thanks again for all your help with this. I've had the rudder linkage checked - all fine. The Auto helm indicator shows 10% left rudder regardless of the helm position. I'm going to get my boat electrics guy to check it all out for me.