[C320-list] Autohelm depth display flashing zero...sometimes

[Kevin Rooney]

Transducer failing?

I have a '95 C320 with the original instruments (so 25 years old now). The
display for the Autohelm depth finder recently began flashing "0:00" for
extended periods, but it works other at other times.

I think this is an ST50 unit.

I'm guessing the transducer is getting ready to go bad but don't really
know. Has anyone dealt with this?

Also, my Autohelm speed display just reads zeroes all the time and has for
a while. I haven't dealt with that because speed over the bottom is
available on my GPS chart plotter. I assume this is unrelated to the depth
meter but don't know for sure.

Does anyone here know about these things? Any help would be greatly
appreciated!

Kevin
S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
Deale, MD
http://kevjot.com/boat/

[Mike Shetter]

I had a very similar problem on my 1999 250.  I have the ST-50.  The problem was a dirty connection in the instrument pod. Once I cleaned that and cleaned the impeller on the speed unit both worked fine.  Good luck
Mike ShetterPlymouth Hull 621



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[Chris Burti]

Kevin,
Unless my ST60 transducer is seated perfectly, my speed will not read. Since I need to take it out to avoid barnacles, it is a frequent problem for me.

Thanks,
Chris Burti
Commitment #867
Farmville, NC

[Jack Brennan]

I always view speed as outdated technology, like a sextant.

My Open CPN plotter gives me extremely good speed over ground. It’s not hard to figure out current where I sail when you combine that and the feel of the boat.

When I depended on a knot meter, I found that it was often inaccurate due to algae growth, etc.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Chris Burti]

I like the speed to work as my apparent wind reading relies upon it

Thanks,
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC

From: Jack Brennan
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 7:05 PM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Autohelm depth display flashing zero...sometimes

I always view speed as outdated technology, like a sextant.

My Open CPN plotter gives me extremely good speed over ground. It’s not hard to figure out current where I sail when you combine that and the feel of the boat.

When I depended on a knot meter, I found that it was often inaccurate due to algae growth, etc.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Chris Burti
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 6:59 PM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com

[Onat Dogruer]

Flashing display is loss of data signal from transducer. NMEA wire
connections may have dirt or water (corrupting the data signal). Can also
wrap a bit of electric tape at the junctions to prevent water/dirt getting
in if the pod is not keeping watertight seal.

Best,
Onat

[Troy Dunn]

I guess I’m in the 'not knowing true wind drives me nuts club'

I don't really have a rational reason for this. We sail in apparent wind
and even the 'true wind' our wind instrument calculates is erroneous when
you factor current into the mix, but I think a lot of people would argue
that the error induced in calculating true wind from our apparent wind
using this method is no big deal. I think that statement may be true for
casual cruisers but probably not for racers. I'm not a racer, nor do I
prefer to sail WoW DDW without a preventer, hence the no rational reason
comment. But...I guess because it still annoys me...using SOG when your
paddle wheel is broken would be a nice feature to have on the MFD, I’m not
sure...maybe you can do this on some plotters? I haven’t tried to figure
that out yet in lighthouse 3.0. Now that the sailing dashboards are
finally back in this version I'll have to poke around.

If you want to dive deeper down the true wind rabbit hole... here's a
great thread.
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2624124#post2624124


Sorry to further sidetrack the OPs topic.

Regards

Troy Dunn
Hull#514

[Joe Jablonowski]

I recently found an online source for my 1994 original Autohelm depth finder. I wanted to use the offset function to have the read out show depth at waterline (or below keel, but one or the other), and I needed the manual to figure out exactly what sequence to push which buttons for how long.  So I finally came across the online manual for the ST -30 (different from the ST 50). For some reason I cannot get to the online link. At any rate, I'm attaching a copy of the pdf for the model 30.Good luck.- Joe Jablonowski s/v Assignment - C 320 #103


===========================================

[Gene Helfman]

we had the same depth flashing problem with the same equipment. corrected
by replacing the display unit, bought on Ebay.
Satori 1997 #398

On Wed, May 27, 2020 at 4:05 PM Jack Brennan <jackb...@bellsouth.net>
wrote:

> I always view speed as outdated technology, like a sextant.
>
> My Open CPN plotter gives me extremely good speed over ground. It’s not
> hard to figure out current where I sail when you combine that and the feel
> of the boat.
>
> When I depended on a knot meter, I found that it was often inaccurate due
> to algae growth, etc.
>
> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> Tierra Verde, Fl.
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> From: Chris Burti
> Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 6:59 PM
> To: C320...@Catalina320.com

--
Gene Helfman, Professor Emeritus
Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
PERMANENT address:
498 Shoreland Dr., Lopez Is., WA 98261
(360) 468-2136
geneh...@gmail.com

“We will not see diseases like the coronavirus come here.”

Kayleigh McEnany, Pres. Trump’s 4th Press Secretary

". . . I think by Memorial Day weekend we will have

this coronavirus epidemic behind us,”

Vice-President Mike Pence

[Scott Thompson]

I think you mean true wind. Apparent wind is what the masthead unit measures directly.

> On May 27, 2020, at 7:21 PM, Chris Burti <clb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I like the speed to work as my apparent wind reading relies upon it

[Harry Juris]

The US Navy thought the sextant was outdated technology and stopped teaching celestial navigation. 10 years later they reversed the decision:

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2015/11/01/naval-academy-reinstates-celestial-navigation/

Harry Juris
Polar Star, 1998 C320 #541
Graduate California Maritime Academy
USCG previous license 2nd Mate (Navigator) Steam and Motor Vessels, Any Gross Tons, Oceans

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Jack Brennan
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 7:06 PM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Autohelm depth display flashing zero...sometimes

I always view speed as outdated technology, like a sextant.

My Open CPN plotter gives me extremely good speed over ground. It’s not hard to figure out current where I sail when you combine that and the feel of the boat.

When I depended on a knot meter, I found that it was often inaccurate due to algae growth, etc.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Chris Burti
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 6:59 PM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com

[Chris Burti]

Correct…

Thanks,
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC

[Jack Brennan]

The difference with us is that the 320 is largely a coastal boat. I’ve been 40 miles offshore with mine, but I always knew basically where I was. A compass would be enough to get me where I’m going, but less convenient.

I started sailing 40 years ago. I remember sailing the Keys with a fold-up map and a hand-held compass. I never had need of a sextant because I could always sight a landmark and have a general idea of where I was. We went aground a few times, of course.

If I were going trans-Atlantic, I might take the time to learn sights. But I don’t think that’s happening in this lifetime.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.

Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Bruce Heyman]

In Engineering we stopped teaching how to design circuits with vacuum tubes decades ago as semiconductors are far superior....at least until they are hit with EMP. Some schools are now teaching it again....

Bruce Heyman
(949) 289-8400
bruce...@cox.net

[John morrison]

Back in the 50s ,1950s that is, I remember my Dads Chevrolet came equipped with a starter crank (anyone remember them/know what that is?) even though the car had electric start. Know any cars today come with a starter crank???
I understand commercial ships no longer required to carry paper nav charts! Just saying’.
JohnM
1999#574

[Bob Borelli]

Hello Kevin,

I have the Autohelm TRIDATA ST50 Plus (Tridata & Repeater depth & speed) on my boat.
I have not had a similar issue to yours.
When underway & moving, if my ST50 reads 0.0, I remove & clean the ST600 paddle wheel, then it reads the speed.
I have to clean the paddle wheel frequently
I do have the ST50 manual if you would like a copy, I can scan & email.

The ST50 speed read out does not match the SOG on my Standard Horizon HX870 VHF.

Celestial navigation with a sextant is alot of fun!

Bob Borelli
C320 no. 209 'Elusive'
Georgetown, MD

________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Jack Brennan <jackb...@bellsouth.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 11:03 AM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com <C320...@Catalina320.com>

Subject: Re: [C320-list] Autohelm depth display flashing zero...sometimes

The difference with us is that the 320 is largely a coastal boat. I’ve been 40 miles offshore with mine, but I always knew basically where I was. A compass would be enough to get me where I’m going, but less convenient.

I started sailing 40 years ago. I remember sailing the Keys with a fold-up map and a hand-held compass. I never had need of a sextant because I could always sight a landmark and have a general idea of where I was. We went aground a few times, of course.

If I were going trans-Atlantic, I might take the time to learn sights. But I don’t think that’s happening in this lifetime.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.

Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Chris Burti]

If you measure the time to go one nautical mile both ways on a calm, no current, day and average the result you can accurately calibrate your speed unit. Current and wind will result in a difference between a GPS reading and the through the water speed of a paddle wheel unit.

Thanks,
Chris Burti
Commitment #867
Farmville, NC

[thar...@innovations-plus.com]

I think CS boats you can start with a crank. They have a tractor engine in them.

Ted

[SCHWARTZ]

ahoy...we had an irwin sailboat ...1967...with a universal diesel with a crank as a backup to starter...used it once to see if it worked....it did...paper charts?????I like them,,,,have on boat and use them,,,,I retired from airline flying two years ago....was a few years prior that paper charts went obsolete....

> On May 28, 2020 at 9:54 PM thar...@innovations-plus.com mailto:thar...@innovations-plus.com wrote:
>
>
> I think CS boats you can start with a crank. They have a tractor engine in them.
>
> Ted
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com mailto:c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com > On Behalf Of John morrison
> Sent: May 28, 2020 8:47 AM
> To: C320...@Catalina320.com mailto:C320...@Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY
>
> Back in the 50s ,1950s that is, I remember my Dads Chevrolet came equipped with a starter crank (anyone remember them/know what that is?) even though the car had electric start. Know any cars today come with a starter crank???
> I understand commercial ships no longer required to carry paper nav charts! Just saying’.
> JohnM
> 1999#574
>

> > > On May 28, 2020, at 11:34 AM, Bruce Heyman <bruce...@cox.net mailto:bruce...@cox.net > wrote:
> >
> > In Engineering we stopped teaching how to design circuits with vacuum tubes decades ago as semiconductors are far superior....at least until they are hit with EMP. Some schools are now teaching it again....
> >
> > Bruce Heyman
> > (949) 289-8400

> > bruce...@cox.net mailto:bruce...@cox.net

[Scott Thompson]

Funny, but I've thought learning celestial would be a fun retirement
project even though I'll probably never need it. I find that learning
these "old" skills is part of the enjoyment of sailing. I do my own
splicing and whipping too, for the same reason.

Scott Thompson

On 5/28/2020 11:03 AM, Jack Brennan wrote:
> The difference with us is that the 320 is largely a coastal boat. I’ve been 40 miles offshore with mine, but I always knew basically where I was. A compass would be enough to get me where I’m going, but less convenient.
>
> I started sailing 40 years ago. I remember sailing the Keys with a fold-up map and a hand-held compass. I never had need of a sextant because I could always sight a landmark and have a general idea of where I was. We went aground a few times, of course.
>
> If I were going trans-Atlantic, I might take the time to learn sights. But I don’t think that’s happening in this lifetime.
>

> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> Tierra Verde, Fl.

> Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
>

> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>

--
Scott Thompson
Surprise, #653

[Scott Thompson]

Hi Troy:

At the risk of raising somewhat esoteric issues, you are wrong about the
true wind calculation being erroneous because it does not account for
current. True wind calculated by our wind instruments does account for
current, since current creates apparent wind measured by our masthead
instruments. I suspect you are confusing true wind (wind relative to the
water) and ground wind (wind relative to the ground). True wind is the
sum of the apparent wind vector and the vector of boat speed through the
water, as approximated by compass heading and knot meter speed. Ground
wind is the sum of the apparent wind vector and the vector of boat
movement over the ground (as measured by GPS). The difference between
true wind and ground wind is current. See post #4 in this thread for
further explanation:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/differences-between-ground-apparent-and-true-wind-direction-73563.html.


My Raymarine chart plotter has options to report both. It does not
display ground wind by default, but it does display current. The
difference between ground wind and true wind can be substantial if there
is a strong current, and this is especially noticeable if the current is
running perpendicular to a light ground wind.

Anyone who has raced under those conditions knows what I'm talking
about. The anchored race committee sets a starting line that appears to
be perpendicular to the wind as they measure it. But that makes it
perpendicular to the ground wind because the committee boat is anchored
to the ground. The racers believe the line is biased because they
experience a true wind that is different because they are drifting with
the current even when head to wind. I've experienced this situation
often near Annapolis. The committee boat flag will be perpendicular to
the starting line and yet people have trouble crossing it on starboard
because of the current.

Scott Thompson

[Jack Brennan]

My solution to this is to put on the autopilot and pop another beer.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.
Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay


Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Troy Dunn]

Wait what? True wind isn't the true wind speed? Who knew... turns out
not Merriam-Webster. They also think true wind is the same as ground
wind. Turns out Wikipedia does a much better job of explaining apparent
wind (in the eyes of a sailor). Thanks for schooling me on that one Scott!

Cheers

Troy

[Kevin Rooney]

Thank you, Bob, Chris, Mike, Onat, Joe, Gene, and everyone else who weighed
in. Very helpful info!

Kevin
S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
Deale, MD
http://kevjot.com/boat/

On Thu, May 28, 2020 at 11:50 AM Bob Borelli <cassa...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Hello Kevin,
>
> I have the Autohelm TRIDATA ST50 Plus (Tridata & Repeater depth & speed)
> on my boat.
> I have not had a similar issue to yours.
> When underway & moving, if my ST50 reads 0.0, I remove & clean the ST600
> paddle wheel, then it reads the speed.
> I have to clean the paddle wheel frequently
> I do have the ST50 manual if you would like a copy, I can scan & email.
>
> The ST50 speed read out does not match the SOG on my Standard Horizon
> HX870 VHF.
>
> Celestial navigation with a sextant is alot of fun!
>
> Bob Borelli
> C320 no. 209 'Elusive'
> Georgetown, MD
>
>