[C320-list] Dead Autopilot

[Michael Leschisin via C320-list]

Hi All,

When I put the boat in this season I found the Raymarine ST4000+ autopilot would only flash “4000 WHL” and beep at me continuously. According to Raymarine, the control head is shot and not repairable. I’m wondering if anyone might have upgraded their helm and still has a working ST4000+ control head they would be willing sell.

If not, Raymarine says I’ll need to upgrade to a EV100 controller and that it should play nice with my existing wheel drive and other components. Has anyone done this upgrade? Do you have any advice on the level of difficulty and trying to get everything to network?

Thanks Much,

Michael Leschisin
Wild Blue Yonder
2004 C320 #995
Menominee, MI

[Allan Field via C320-list]

Dan Gerhardt in Durango, CO might be able to assist with either fixing or
getting parts for your dead autopilot. c2...@mydurango.net.

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - C387, #103 (formerly C320, #808)
Columbia, MD

[Steve Weinstein via C320-list]

Michael, just a suggestion, but if you are going to the expense of upgrading the control head (it ain't cheap), you might want to consider upgrading the whole system.  I installed an EV-100 in my prior boat, a C270, and it is a major improvement over the old system.  It includes a much improved gyro-compass unit that does a much better job keeping the boat on track, especially in rough seas.  I found the drive unit to be more robust, and since it's SeaTalkng (NMEA 2000), it's compatible with most all equipment.  You may need a converter interface for the old instruments (SeaTalk to STng), but that's not expensive.  IMHO, it's well worth the upgrade.

Steve Weinstein,2000 C320 #722, Vega.

[Michael Leschisin via C320-list]

Thanks for the info guys,

I figured if I could throw a couple hundred bucks at the problem and make it go away I’d just go that route…..
I found a couple of used ST4000+ control heads on Ebay but they were wanting nearly $500 for them; doesn’t make much sense verses putting that money toward a new EV100.

Where did you mount the EV100 compass on your 27' Steve? My present “puck” is located in the back bilge which I think is the original setup from Catalina. The EV100 instructions talk about keeping it away from any magnetic materials, (like maybe an engine block?)


Michael Leschisin

2004 C320 #995
Menominee, MI

[Mark Seyler via C320-list]

Michael,

When I upgraded to an EV100 a couple of years ago I mounted the EV-1 sensor on the side of the bread box cabinet at the forward end of the port cockpit locker. It has worked fine, so apparently is far enough from the engine. It is easily accessible, and I used the network cable run to that location as one part of an eventual run for SeatalkNG/NMEA2000 backbone between the nav station and helm.

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality,
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA

[Steve Weinstein via C320-list]

Michael, on the C270 I was able to mount the compass "puck" unit forward in the bow below the forward berth.  Unlike the C320 where we have a water tank up there, the C270 has a nice big open locker under there.  The thru-hulls are up there too, so it was easy to run the backbone for the STng system up to the front and make connections up there.  The compass mounted easily up there.  I"ve been looking at the C320 trying to figure out the best place to put the compass, trying to get it as close to center line as possible and still be away from the engine or electrical interference.  If anyone has a good idea where to put it, I'd love to hear.
Steve Weinstein,2000 C320 # 722, Vega.

[Steve Weinstein via C320-list]

Mark, are you saying it's mounted inside the cockpit locker on the side of the "bread box" in the galley that most of us use to store pots and pans???  Just trying to visualize where it is.
Steve W, Vega, #722

[John Beck via C320-list]

Under the floor right behind the bilge opening! Just moved mine there.
John Beck
Sail On 518
Jb


On Wed, Jun 5, 2024 at 3:14 PM Steve Weinstein via C320-list <

[Jack Brennan via C320-list]

Remember you also have to mount the network box and run cable to the helm.

I have mine screwed into a wooden block epoxied to the hull on the centerline in the aft compartment. No interference, even though it isn't far from the steering column.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1988 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone

[Mark Seyler via C320-list]

Steve,

Yes, I mounted it between the side of the bread box toward the cockpit and the cockpit wall. I haven't had any problems with magnetic interference from pots and pans, but the few I have aboard are aluminum, and non-magnetic.