wind instrument kaput?

Grehan

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11 Jun 2001
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My Raytheon ST 50 wind instrument has stopped working. Have checked what I can - instrument itself looks ok, so do deck level/instrument connections, and the masthead wind vane.

Before it packed up completely it had started to give inaccurate (and also obviously wrong) direction and force readings, and behave very sluggishly (e.g when tacking).

Qn. :: It's 10+ years old (although it's never given a spot of bother in the 5 years we've had Grehan). Is the instrument itself likely to have just died of old age or is the problem more likely to be elsewhere? Like the cabling connecting masthead and instrument/SeaTalk system?

If it's the instrument, I guess there's no point in thinking about a repair . . is there?

Thoughts or suggestions much appreciated. Thanks.
 

cliff

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15 Apr 2004
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I had a similiar intermittent problem, I changed the M/H unit (borrowed of other boat) to no avail. I sent the head back for testing / checking - it came back O.K. was pee'd off totally then found the problem was the so called Dri-plug connection was not as secure as it could be and ONE of the cables was not making a good connection froom time to time. Fixed the dri-plug properly (originally fitted by a "marine electrician") and problem cured.
I would check the cable and all connections or better still see if you can "borrrow" another M/H unit first.
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Fin

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9 Jan 2004
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I've had the same problem. Sent the masthead unit to Raymarine who couldn't be more helpful. They serviced it and fixed it and had it back nice and quickly. Before I went down that route I also double checked my system by isolating all of my displays one at a time. Turned out that the close hauled indicator was also dragging the rest of the indicators down. The cable was also knackered and corroded. Got a new one with the mast head block attached, only down side was that it came with enough cable to go across the atlantic. They only come in one length unfortunately.

tracking down the wiggly amps is such a faff!!!!

Fin
 
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