autopilots

[Ken Orthner]

Looking to acquire an autopilot for my 26X - have priced out the Raymarine Sportpilot and the ST4000 Mk 2 - in looking at the specs - it seems that the ST4000 can do a bit more than the Sportpilot, but appears to be bit more difficult to install (belts, motortmount, etc.). The ST400 is also slightly less expensive - what experiences have you guys had and which would you recommend - are there any other brands that are worth considering.

I can also get the Sportpilot with the 'Linear Rudder Reference" - is this something thats needed

thanks

Ken

[cuisto]

Checked it out in depth...
If you wish to use the auto pilot at under power at any spped manufacturer does not recomend the 4000
Sport pilot is better (they say) as it is designed for fishing boats..gain controll adjusts easily for speed or sail or in the case of fishing vessels for getting out there and for trolling.
I installed the sport pilot plus...a little more expensive but is made for use over longer periods...all day long as opposed to a few hours at a time..stronger motor etc..
Controlls are simple and are set up much like your cars steering colum controlls...wiper or turn signals...
I spent aprox $1000 canadian

Hope this helps

[dclark]

As far as I've ever seen, those are your two choices. There really aren't a lot of autopilot manufactures. Which is better?...as best as I can tell the consensus here is more or less split down the middle. I reality there probably is little differance. I went with the ST4000 for the simple reason that I consider my boat more of a sail boat then a power boat. The Sport Pilot is made with power boats in mind which the ST4000 for sail.

With the ST4000 you'll deal with a bulkier unit and more difficult installation. With the Sport Pilot you'll likely experience the "wobbly wheel" problem I've heard mentioned over and over again.

As a general observation over the years...It sure seems like a lot of people have had to send in the Sport Pilot for repairs. But I rarely hear of problem with the ST4000. I could be way of base, but that's my impression from general observation.

[Chip Hindes]

I second DClark's observation concerning the power/sail question.

I think it's a matter of different strokes, though I'd be extremely interested to learn the factory source of the statement, "If you wish to use the auto pilot at under power at any spped manufacturer does not recomend the 4000". There's certainly no such statement on the factory website.

Make sure you're comparing apples with apples. I found the ST4000 has features I wanted standard: full display and autotack; which are available for the Sportpilot only through some rather expensive upgrades. The Sportpilot Plus, which I believe most Sportpilot owners recommend for the Mac (as opposed to the basic Sportpilot), lists for $50 more than the ST4000. When I bought my ST4000 on sale at Defender it was over $150 cheaper, street price than the cheapest available Sportpilot Plus.

I have almost completed the installation on mine so I can't comment on performance.

BTW, there are no belts on the ST4000 though I admit it appears to be a considerably more difficult installation than the Sportpilot. It also requires a larger wheel though I had planned that mod anyway so it didn't matter.

[cuisto]

As per manufacturers recommendation, it was a dealer who told me that the factory advises against the 4000 on a mac....
quite likely just dealer BS

[Scott]

We have the Raymarine "Wheel pilot". It doent have belts and pullys. There are pretty good pics of the install on our web page.

I like it and the only change I would make is going with the wireless remote (wasnt available when I bought mine and I got my remote free with purchase.) and I would go with rudder reference.



The remote is next to the radio, 30 foot cord reaches the bow





We have since put the autopilot control below the wheel

[Chuck Healey]

I installed the Sportpilot Plus this winter, but only had a chance to use it once this season. I have been happy with the results. The installation was fairly easy and the unit fits well behind the wheel, (it looks like it was was made to fit there). One reason I went with the Sportpilot Plus is because I didn't want the big ring attached to my wheel, but I guess it's a matter of personal preferance. I think either one works well from what I've heard. I purchased mine at West Marine, but I brought in the price sheet from Boaters World which was $100 cheaper and WM was able to match their price.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I have over 500 Nautical miles on my Sport Pilot Plus last year alone, couldn't be happier. It works great under power or sail. No wobbly wheel, this is a greatly exagerated claim by those who want to justify choosing the ST4000. Be realistic, sure we have a mast and sails, but a mac is really a powerboat hull and design. Installation is a snap, it's designed to mount to a flat surface like our pedestals. The ST4000 is designed for a round pedestal and you have to make modifications to install it. As you can see in the picture above of the ST4000 installed on the stock wheel, it's really made for a bigger one so you better plan to install a bigger wheel as well if you want to actually grip the wheel.

Plus ,I just like the look of the Sport Pilot so much better. It's un-obtrusive, fit's into the mac pedestal like it was designed for it. No big ring that announces you have a pilot. If you don't look close you might not even notice it is there.

[Chip Hindes]

It works great under power or sail. No wobbly wheel, this is a greatly exagerated claim by those who want to justify choosing the ST4000.

Greatly exagerrated by whom? Nobody made this claim. We can justify the ST4000 for real reasons. We don't have to make up bogus ones.

Be realistic, sure we have a mast and sails, but a mac is really a powerboat hull and design.

I've been both a powerboater and a sailor since long before I owned a Mac, and I've never seen a power boat with a hull shaped like the Mac's. I taught sailing on Rebels back in the late seventies, and the Mac hull shape is strangely reminiscent.