NFCN
Well-Known Member
Dear all
I started having a problem with my autopilot at the end of last year. It has performed faultlessly for many years, including during a 11k NM Atlantic circuit undertaken from Jul 18 - Jul 19.
The set up is a Raymarine ST7001G+ Autopilot with Giro rate processor type II, linked via Seatalk to an Axiom 7 helm chartplotter, on a 2006 Hallberg Rassy 40. The autopilot and compass are original, but the converter and plotter were added in 2018.
The symptoms are that the autopilot is often 30-40 degrees off the compass bearing, leaving the 'course up' display on the plotter skewed and difficult to follow. It occasionally rights itself, very occasionally whirls around then settles down, and occasionally shows the correct bearing. I can no longer rely on the autopilot.
My immediate thoughts were that there was metal which had found its way too close to the fluxgate compass, which is located in the aft cabin. Having checked, this isn't the case, and I keep mobile phones away from the area, and from the helm itself.
Any ideas? I have yet to re-calibrate by going around in circles, but thought I'd ask if anyone else has a better idea before I did. Or perhaps the fluxgate compass has come to the end of its life.
Grateful for any thoughts.
Nick
I started having a problem with my autopilot at the end of last year. It has performed faultlessly for many years, including during a 11k NM Atlantic circuit undertaken from Jul 18 - Jul 19.
The set up is a Raymarine ST7001G+ Autopilot with Giro rate processor type II, linked via Seatalk to an Axiom 7 helm chartplotter, on a 2006 Hallberg Rassy 40. The autopilot and compass are original, but the converter and plotter were added in 2018.
The symptoms are that the autopilot is often 30-40 degrees off the compass bearing, leaving the 'course up' display on the plotter skewed and difficult to follow. It occasionally rights itself, very occasionally whirls around then settles down, and occasionally shows the correct bearing. I can no longer rely on the autopilot.
My immediate thoughts were that there was metal which had found its way too close to the fluxgate compass, which is located in the aft cabin. Having checked, this isn't the case, and I keep mobile phones away from the area, and from the helm itself.
Any ideas? I have yet to re-calibrate by going around in circles, but thought I'd ask if anyone else has a better idea before I did. Or perhaps the fluxgate compass has come to the end of its life.
Grateful for any thoughts.
Nick
