Author Topic: New autopilot  (Read 5528 times)

Alma

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New autopilot
« on: October 15, 2017, 08:49:23 PM »
Our Simrad/Navico WP 30 quit the weekend before layup and since the fantastic WP 30 is discontinued I wanted to hear what other 323 captains are using.

I see the Raymarine wheelpilot has a $500 rebate making it about $1300 shipped.

The Raymarine and likely other new units do not communicate with my old Garmin chartplotter through NEMA 081 without clumst adapters.

What do you use?

selene

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Re: New autopilot
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2017, 05:42:10 PM »
Older model Nexus autopilot - they are now owned by Garmin, I think. Belowdecks hydraulic ram to the steering quadrant (love it). Flux compass under aft settee storage area.

The PO uploaded a great series of photos showing the installation:
http://www.pearson323.com/projects/autopilot.html

Only issue I have had is that I cannot get the autopilot to connect to the newer Garmin anemometer.  This is a pain, as it will not auto tack without that instrument connected - as I solo sail quite a bit, having a tack feature would be darned useful.

So far this has proved a reliable setup.  Disclaimer - I have increasingly become a Garmin convert.  Good products, good customer service...

Alma

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Re: New autopilot
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2017, 09:39:24 PM »
Thanks!

Dolce_Vita

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Re: New autopilot
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2017, 12:25:51 PM »
We use a Raymarine Wheelpilot with an ST 6001 control head, interfaced to our Garmin GPSMap 545 chartplotter via NMEA 183.
In addition, we have an ST60+ wind gauge, interfaced to the autopilot via (original style) SeaTalk.

This combination has served us faithfully for 8 years and thousands of Nautical Miles, although the wheelpilot is now showing some wear on one of the nylon components that can cause the clutch to pop open under load.  For now, a small bungee cord cures this, but the parts are available online for replacement.
@(^.^)@  Ed
1977 P-323 #42 "Dolce Vita"
with rebuilt Atomic-4

Alma

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Re: New autopilot
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2017, 06:48:11 PM »
Thanks Ed!