Is your Autopilot Reliable???

lokegirl48 · Dec-16-2007, 12:19 PM

If you keep going hard over to the same direction, it's the compass. Before you take it all off and send it in they should go thru a troubleshoot session on the phone, call from the boat underway so you can test it.

riverplayer · Dec-17-2007, 10:41 AM

AP16....Flawless, easy to interface and the support from simrad is second to none!

johnnylite · Dec-17-2007, 11:14 AM

No, no I don't

sickcat · Dec-17-2007, 12:40 PM

IME Simrads are more realiable than RM. I do about 5 or 6 deliveries a year on the west coast and in the last few years have had 3 RM APs have problems with crazy ivans and such. I have seen 0 problems with Simrads. The number of APs has been pretty evenly split between the 2 manufactures. No TR1s but I have heard good things about them from other owners. I have owned boats with Robertsons (owned by Simrad) with only an owner caused problem - OOPPSS! - and Simrad service is top drawer.

Torsk · Dec-17-2007, 10:53 PM

Raymarine works flawlessly.

Had an expert install and test the entire system.

VHF RADIO: RAY54 Marine VHF Radio
RADAR: 5S 48 in. 4kW open array scanner 72 mile range
DSM: Raymarine DSM250
GPS ANTENAE: Raystar 120 Seatalk
PLOTTER: Raymarine C120
AUTO PILOT: Raymarine ST8001 control head.
ST60 Tridata Instrument

Electronics are interfaced through sealink cables

Laukia · Dec-18-2007, 09:34 AM

I have the Raymarine Smartpilot. It took a dump this summer.....course heading off by 100+degrees, boat doing circles in auto mode, then "no data" on the display. So I e-mailed Tech support and checked out all the obvious things that didn't help. They said send in the computer and display. Well, the rudder position indicator still functioned and I really didn't want any down time during the summer or fall plus I was already a few months past warranty (of course). So I just quit using the auto function and waited until last month to send it in. Much to my surprise I had the computer and display back in 6 days. Compass fixed, new software installed with a 90 day warranty on the repairs and NO CHARGE! That was really a surprise. Once I reinstalled and recalibrated it works like a champ.

newunamas · Jan-02-2008, 10:42 AM

My sport piliot works great for making big circles.

sharkstew · Jan-03-2008, 12:03 PM

My Sport Pilot used to make circles too. Sent it back to Raymarine. It cost $350 for a complete rebuild...that's the only way they do it since the model has been put out to pasture.

Works great now.

SS

gecsr1 · Jan-05-2008, 11:05 AM

I have RM ST80001G works great for 2.5 years took a shit the day I pulled the boat out of the slip for the winter, called RM they said send it in, so I remoevd off the boat sent in back to RM, within 10 days had it back all fixed and with upgraded software. I think ( not sure since the gps satelite change and RM multi function software up garde to 4.26) that the AP's may need an upgarde software as well. the best part no charge at all. they claimed warranty repair. But I was out of warranty by 6 months. go figure.