tillerpilot: Raymarine or Simrad

thanks for the quick reply. I think PS rated both tiller pilots about
even, with the barest nod given to the Simrad as it used slightly less
juice.

Beyond the PS rating, I hadn't heard anything critical about either
unit, nor positive for that fact; but doing a web search, I came
across a very angry Raymarine customer who claimed have quickly burned
out two units, and then was given the run around from Raymarine
support. I figured I'd ask here to see if any one experienced
anything like that with either of the brands.

My GPS unit is a Holux Bluetooth receiver. It works well, but I think
all it does it track satelites. There is no function to provide for
Xtrak error, etc. that an autopilot would need-unless I'm missing
something.

Gary




Matt Colie <mattcolie RemoveThis @providenospam.net> said:

>Gary,

>I have had a Ray 1000+ and used may others for years and have had no
>problems. I had also used the Sim with much the same result. I get
>some comfort from the display that the Ray has, but Practical Sailor
>like the Sim better but I had purchased the Ray two years before and
>do not remember what they liked better. Both do much the same
>things.

>You don't need Capn to run it, just make it talk to the GPS (and
>your RWI if you are hoping to sail on it). Just use the software
>(any software - some is free of cheap) to load waypoints and routes
>to the navigator.

>If the GPS is going to steer, DO NOT use navaids as
>waypoints. You might not miss the turning point.

>Matt Colie



>gbooth@rockisland.com wrote:
>> I need to upgrade my tillerpilot on my 30' sailboat so my PC can talk
>> to it. I'll be using the CapN software via NEMA output to direct the
>> tiller. In the tillerpilot world, Raymarine and Simrad seem to be
>> the primary (only?) players.
>>
>> Any strong feelings about either one? Any advice as to operability?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Gary
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
gbooth RemoveThis @rockisland.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
 >> Stay informed about: tillerpilot: Raymarine or Simrad 

In <442b8bef$0$11075$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl>, on 03/30/06
at 09:42 AM, Kees Verruijt <kees RemoveThis @scanner391.net> said:


Kees:

thanks for the reply. You didn't mention how much damage was done to
you by falling on it. That might be some way of judging the strength
of the unit!!

The Raymarine unit I thought would work for my boat is the ST2000
plus. My boat displaces 7500 pounds, so from the literature this unit
looks as though it would work. The Simrad unit that is the equal is
the TP32.

Gary



>gbooth@rockisland.com wrote:
>> I need to upgrade my tillerpilot on my 30' sailboat so my PC can talk
>> to it. I'll be using the CapN software via NEMA output to direct the
>> tiller. In the tillerpilot world, Raymarine and Simrad seem to be
>> the primary (only?) players.
>>
>> Any strong feelings about either one? Any advice as to operability?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Gary

>I once destroyed an AH-1000 by falling obliquely on it; the pin on
>the underside was ripped out of the plastic body, and bits of the
>plastic body itself gave way. Tried different kinds of glue and even
>melting it, but it never got back to the original strength. Also, on
>our ship (long keeled 26" sailboat) with reasonable weatherhelm the
>power of the unit was satisfactory, not brilliant.

>So we upgraded to a Ray ST-4000T which has (a) separate control head,
> (b) full metal tiller arm, (c) NMEA input (which our old tillerpilot
> also didn't have). The pin is held at the rear of the motor in a
>hefty aluminium bracket. Never had any problems after that -- much
>better made and much better performance. Quieter as well.

>--
>Kees
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
gbooth RemoveThis @rockisland.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
 >> Stay informed about: tillerpilot: Raymarine or Simrad 

gbooth.RemoveThis@rockisland.com wrote:
> I need to upgrade my tillerpilot on my 30' sailboat so my PC can talk
> to it. I'll be using the CapN software via NEMA output to direct the
> tiller. In the tillerpilot world, Raymarine and Simrad seem to be
> the primary (only?) players.
>
> Any strong feelings about either one? Any advice as to operability?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gary

I once destroyed an AH-1000 by falling obliquely on it; the pin on the
underside was ripped out of the plastic body, and bits of the plastic
body itself gave way. Tried different kinds of glue and even melting it,
but it never got back to the original strength. Also, on our ship (long
keeled 26" sailboat) with reasonable weatherhelm the power of the unit
was satisfactory, not brilliant.

So we upgraded to a Ray ST-4000T which has (a) separate control head,
(b) full metal tiller arm, (c) NMEA input (which our old tillerpilot
also didn't have). The pin is held at the rear of the motor in a hefty
aluminium bracket. Never had any problems after that -- much better made
and much better performance. Quieter as well.

--
Kees
 >> Stay informed about: tillerpilot: Raymarine or Simrad 

On Wed, 29 Mar 2006 09:36:18 -0800, gbooth.RemoveThis@rockisland.com wrote:

>I need to upgrade my tillerpilot on my 30' sailboat so my PC can talk
>to it. I'll be using the CapN software via NEMA output to direct the
>tiller. In the tillerpilot world, Raymarine and Simrad seem to be
>the primary (only?) players.
>
>Any strong feelings about either one? Any advice as to operability?

If you are crosing oceans by yourself, carry lots of spares. Not
spare parts - too much trouble, spare units.
 >> Stay informed about: tillerpilot: Raymarine or Simrad 

>> If you are crosing oceans by yourself, carry lots of spares. Not
spare parts - too much trouble, spare units.


If you're on a budget, get spare tiller actuaters only; the "brainbox"
failure rate is much lower than the mechanical arm.
 >> Stay informed about: tillerpilot: Raymarine or Simrad 

On 1 Apr 2006 22:45:58 -0800, "Mark" <axolotl73 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:

>If you're on a budget, get spare tiller actuaters only; the "brainbox"
>failure rate is much lower than the mechanical arm.

Perhaps but I've experienced both failure types, and that was just
during routine coastal cruising. I'm told that the single handed
transat types frequently go through 3 or 4 units during a crossing.
 >> Stay informed about: tillerpilot: Raymarine or Simrad 

"Wayne.B" <waynebatrecdotboats.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1p713299c5tiihd6erheap9mg647trfbf8@4ax.com...
> On 1 Apr 2006 22:45:58 -0800, "Mark" <axolotl73.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >If you're on a budget, get spare tiller actuaters only; the "brainbox"
> >failure rate is much lower than the mechanical arm.
>
> Perhaps but I've experienced both failure types, and that was just
> during routine coastal cruising. I'm told that the single handed
> transat types frequently go through 3 or 4 units during a crossing.

That's why they all switch to NKE. Supposedly the best autopilot on the
market.

Meindert
 >> Stay informed about: tillerpilot: Raymarine or Simrad