Autohelm vs. Cetrek vs. Alpha Autopilots
Marc S. Karlan, M.D.
What about current use, directional stability under adverse conditions.
Gyro inputs?
Reply to newsgroup or d...@merle.acns.nwu.edu
Bill Rohde
Outstanding unit. Never needed a repair yet. Easy to use with dual
controls (we have both outside and inside steering with controls at both
helms).
Several friends have the Alpha 3000s also (Boats 35-40'), all with the
same experience -- no problems, just keeps on working and working. I
can't say the same about our friends who have Autohelms. Don't know
about Cetrek.
Bill, s/v Superior Pilot, Lk.
Superior
Igor Kapuscinski
I have an Alpha 3000 on my boat. It is propably close 20 19 years old.
It run with no problems. I have both inside and outside in the cockpit
controls which make setting course easy. The 3000 is simple and does
not have capability for 0183 input. They make SPECTRA model which has
most of bells and whistles.
However, the way this autopilot performs I do not think I will be
changing it soon. It handles my boat in any conditions.
S/V Rainbow, Valiant 40
--
Igor Kapuscinski
SE Silver Spring Office
Voice: 301-572-8908, Fax:301-572-3280
Juan Zamorano Flores
|> We have an Alpha 3000, about 10 years old, on our Vancouver '32 PH Cutter.
|> Outstanding unit. Never needed a repair yet. Easy to use with dual
|> controls (we have both outside and inside steering with controls at both
|> helms).
|>
|> Several friends have the Alpha 3000s also (Boats 35-40'), all with the
|> same experience -- no problems, just keeps on working and working. I
|> can't say the same about our friends who have Autohelms. Don't know
|> about Cetrek.
|>
|> Bill, s/v Superior Pilot, Lk.
|> Superior
|>
I have an Autohelm 3000 and I must say that this unit is not salt water
resistant. Every 2 years I must dismount the control device and clean it with
a proper spray. This year I use an electric spray protection and I hope to
enlarge the clean period.
Anyway, it work OK in my 34' sailboat and the clean procedure it's fair
simple.
Juan Zamorano
david greenhouse
autohelm 4000 or much more expensive below deck system. cant be sure if
extra money for below deck is worth it . any help
Bob Richardson
In article <31814A...@interramp.com>, g-h...@interramp.com says...
>autohelm 4000 or much more expensive below deck system. cant be sure if
>extra money for below deck is worth it . any help
Don't get Autohelm!
I HAD an Autohelm 6000, below deck. The linear arm has gradually frozen up,
over seven years, so that it's impossible to steer by hand without physically
removing the linear arm from the steering quadrant. Autohelm said they no
longer make that part...the entire unit has to be scraped.
Good riddens, I never liked it much. Like many Autohelm owners, I called
mine "Crazy Auto". It often would lose it's mind, circle, weave like a
drunk, etc. The fluxgate compass was very sensitive. I've tried placing it
in at least six different spots around the boat, all with spotted success.
I'm replacing it with a W-H. I've also heard that Alpha Marine is good.
EdwardE101
I have an autohelm 6000 which is two years old and has performed very well
for me, no maintenance and no problems. The fluxgate compass is very
sensitive to placement and goes crazy with magnetic material around it (I
would wonder if some one placed an anchor near it to make it goe crazy).
This autopilot will be my primary in the upcoming single handed transpac
(San Francisco to Hawaii) this summer. However, to hedge my bets and to
create an emergency rudder capability, I will also take a fully mechanical
Monitor system like they used in the BOC. It costs about as much as the
6000 set up, so it is better than buying a back up system. I have tested
both in the same conditions, switching back and forth and find the
autohelm more reliable in lighter air. Both systems are very sensitive to
helm balance. If your sail plan is not correct, both will steer wildly
(again, a problem which may have occured in the erratic boats), In making
a choice, be careful to determine current draw, speed of dynamic
adjustment (can it keep up to a heavy, quartering sea), heuristic
capabilities (does it learn the sea state and boats response and adapt to
it), and capability with other systems (the autohelm computer, like many
others, gets confused when one broadcasts over ssb). Happy spending.
EdE
Skip
In <4m3et3$r...@newsbf02.news.aol.com> edwar...@aol.com (EdwardE101)
writes:
>others, gets confused when one broadcasts over ssb).
This is certainly a correct and disturbing observation, that radio
transmissions will cause many makes and models of autopilots to wig
out. Check it out before you leave. The most frequent cause of
accidental jibes in mid-ocean is talking into your SSB or Ham radio
microphone while on autopilot.
Skip
Wylie-27 "Wildflower"
Capitola,CA
Jeff Thompson
> others, gets confused when one broadcasts over ssb). Happy spending.
> EdE
Buy a WH and you won't have any of these problems. It's does respond to
SSB/Ham transmissions, it has a 1/4 hp motor so response is sure and not
erratic, does not have to learn anything but you have to - you set
everything with knobs, steers thru heavy quartering seas, and is not
overpowered by sail trim. We normally set the course, turn on the AP
then trim the sails for best trim, and if not to our liking, set an
altered course and re-trim. The Monitor is good, but you might have been
better off (especially financially) with a WH.
Shea Weston
I'll second the recommendation for the WH autopilot. It is an very
capable and robust unit.
Wil Hamm (WH Autopilots) recently came out with two new versions of the
P3-S model, one with digital compass display and onother with built in
nav interface.
--
Shea Weston
Offshore Outfitters
Marine Electrical & Electronic Systems
San Diego, CA
(619) 486-6470
offs...@millennianet.com
Carol O'Connor
Missed the beginning of this thread but will not let that hold me back - I
am on my 3rd Autohelm Pilot = 3rd boat. The pilot maker decision should be
part of a system decision. Even with standard interfaces like NMEA 0183
and the like the use of an electronics package made by or at least
marketed by the same outfit can be very very helpful in both avoiding
problems and getting them solved . As I am sure you are aware Autohelm
makes a full array of data devices that talk to each other on what they
call "Seatalk". They have for a few years now been owned by Raytheon who
among other things makes great radars, GPS's, Lorans, and more - You better
beleive all of those things work to gether and do it easily - and if not
there is a guy-sorry person(it actually is a guy though) who looks down on
all the systems and will get it straight. There is no room for saying that
it is the other guys falt (you are a computer user so I know you have been
down that road). The ability to call up data from the"Seatalk" network or
from the NMEA 0183 on the Radar is great - or to display the NMEA O183
data from the GPS/LORAN on a Seatalk display in the cockpit is also great
... even if you do not plan to go this far at this time - do not burn any
bridges for future expansion . Cheers, John , SV Knoclatoone, Annapolis