which Raymarine autopilot course computer for our Moody 422?

[lille_bee]

we are in the process of upgrading our st6000 with a new raymarine autopilot, but we can't seem to get any objective information about which course computer would be best for our heavy 42-footer: has anyone out there got any tips, & can anyone tell us whether the mark-up for the "G" versions (i.e, S2G or S3G) is worth it if you don't use seatalk/plotters?

 

[Talbot]

The answer to this is so dependent on how you use your boat that we need a lot more detail

personally I would buy the "g" because of the added ability to work in bad weather.

 

[lille_bee]

Okay, it's confession-time: we're fair-weather sailors. For a start, our boat is in Greece, and we don't intend leaving the Med; as a rule, we don't do long passages, we just like to be able to potter along without necessarily needing someone at the wheel, especially when motoring in a boring straight line in calm seas. I can't really imagine us using the autopilot under sail in anything above a force 7 Bf (as I probably wouldn't allow Skippy to take me out of my safe harbour/anchorage in anything above a force 7!), so in that sense I guess the autopilot wouldn't be submitted to too heavy demands...
Does this shed some more light on our query?
Any comments greatly appreciated!

 

[Talbot]

so why do you need to upgrade your st6000?

 

[lille_bee]

because the display unit had been damaged, rainwater got in & finished it off, and we were told that it was not possible to find a replacement unit as the st6000 was no longer made; whether this is true or not is another story...

 

[Talbot]

sounds like a load of **** to me - talk direct toTech Support at Raymarine at:

Raymarine UK Limited
Quay Point
Northarbour Road
Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3TD
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0) 23 9269 3611
Facsimile: +44 (0) 23 9269 4642

Yes the st6000 has been superceded, but the ST6000 head should still be available.

 

[Oceanranger]

My ST7000 display head (c. 1993) expired last year, and although Datayacht in Lymington told me I would need a new computer I was able to just replace the head with a current unit at an all up cost of around £380 inc fitting.