Raymarine ST40 -Opinions

[alisdair4]

The NASA instruments on MD are at the end of their life, and I am looking to replace them as economically as possible. I already have an ST60 tillerpilot, so the option of refiting with ST60 Wind, Log and Depth is attractive, particularly as I can take the feed from the Wind instrument to the tillerpilot. The cost is around £900. The same (apparent) functionality with ST40s can be got for about £420.

On the assumption that you get what you pay for, do forumites think the extra £400 is worth the money?

 

[Pete7]

Raymarine selling off surplus ST60 Depth and Speed on e bay at the moment (£90 each) as they move to the ST60+ instead. We have just changed ours. Asked about any ST60 winds but they haven't any surplus unfortunately.

Pete

 

[KenMcCulloch]

This year I installed an ST40 Bidata instrument using existing sensors. It does everything I need in terms of depth alarms, speed and distance. It doesn't have all the functions of the more expensive kit (no race start timer for example) but if you want to know how fast / far / deep which is all the data I need, it's absolutely top notch.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

[ QUOTE ]
This year I installed an ST40 Bidata instrument using existing sensors. It does everything I need in terms of depth alarms, speed and distance. It doesn't have all the functions of the more expensive kit (no race start timer for example) but if you want to know how fast / far / deep which is all the data I need, it's absolutely top notch.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mind me asking how much you paid for it?

 

[Wunja]

[ QUOTE ]
Raymarine selling off surplus ST60 Depth and Speed on e bay at the moment (£90 each) as they move to the ST60+ instead.

[/ QUOTE ]

Postage to NL £49.95 - A little unrealistic.

 

[Pete7]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Raymarine selling off surplus ST60 Depth and Speed on e bay at the moment (£90 each) as they move to the ST60+ instead.

[/ QUOTE ] Postage to NL £49.95 - A little unrealistic.

[/ QUOTE ] Agreed, have you queried this with them, their is another seller selling Raymarine with a £14.95 price from shipping. I would e mail Raymarine. They were quite flexible when I collected mine from the factory.

Pete

 

[gandy]

[ QUOTE ]
This year I installed an ST40 Bidata instrument using existing sensors.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hi, can I ask what the existing sensors were? We have an ST30 Bidata with a flakey display, and was thinking of maybe replacing with separate ST40 Speed and Depth displays - hopefully using the same sensors so I don't have the dismantle the interior to route cables etc.

 

[wooslehunter]

Look very carefully before you buy an ST40 wind. There's no vane & it works out direction from a slight imballance in the speed cups. It's simpler, cheaper etc. BUT, from what I found it's not recommended for sailing boats. The direction will be very inaccurate in light winds. I went for an ST60 last winter. Worked fine all summer.

 

[DaveS]

Oh, there's nothing like reviving an old thread... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I fitted one of these a couple of years ago, and yes, I did read the warning which sort of says that for a saily boat a conventional vane / anemometer is better. But I fitted one anyway, for various reasons: (a) I've hopes of at some point fixing the previous Stowe conventional system (but a house move has put a maybe 2 year dent in that plan) which would then free the ST40 to give an in cabin wind speed display for use at anchor, with direction not important; (b) it would interface with the Autohelm to give wind steering; (c) only two wires up the mast has to be an improvement; and (d) it was reasonably cheap, at least by yotty standards.

For the first year it worked perfectly, and I have to say I could see no real performance difference between the "Rotovector" and a conventional system.

Last year was less satisfactory. It seems to have developed amnesia (internal battery died?) and the wind direction display is random until you go through the circling calibration routine, after which it performs fine until switched off. Next day if you want wind direction you have to calibrate again...