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I do not know exactly how it is done. From what I was told by the Raymarine Certified Tech was that you had your channel and few others had it. If there was ever a problem then you could change the channel.

Another boat would have to be close, less than 150 feet with there control unit on to effect yours. The chance is rare.

Please note that this is a chance with any remote.

You can go to http://www.raymarine.com/
web site and email a question to a Tech if you are worried about it.

Overlapping signals of their wireless remote wouldn't worry me in the least. It's the price that gives me pause - $600!

But there's also another issue w/wireless helm - I just don't see much advantage in it. Yeah, I suppose it would enable me to steer the boat from the forehatch, but to what real purpose? Can't control the throttle while motoring ... so it's mainly for sailing.

But who would want to be so far from the cockpit under sail? And how much steering can you do without simultaneously managing trim? The autohelm is simply a steady hand on the wheel so I can trim sails from the winching seat - which is where I want the control display.

A wired-remote at the wheel adds a another bit of convenience, but as for wireless-anywhere steering ... that's a rare-enough need that I'll save that investment for other priorities. One example is a wireless VHF mic, since I can imagine needing to communicate from anywhere, and anchoring comms from bow-to-helm would be very nice - Uniden's base radio PLUS their wirelss mic costs less than Raymarine's wireless remote autohelm.

I noticed when using the head this weekend on my boat that I had excellent visibility. With that wireless control you would be setup well from this inside steering position.

ssichler if you have excellent view from the head you must have an M. Frank has an X and has only an excellent view out to starboard from the head.

As for my take on wireless components, in my world a wire is a lanyard and wireless is something else to drop overboard.

(yes the bottom of our lake is where I store some of my stuff)

What you can't steer from the head of an X? Best upgrade to an M and cut the cords. Wires are so last century;)

What I did not like was the possible damage to the controler in the cockpit. Having it inside was the best solution. I can still use it if the remote was down.

On long passages, after it is set, there is no need to adjust.

For single handing, it is nice to be able to steer while being forward looking for stuff in the water like coral heads or rocks.

James V wrote:For single handing, it is nice to be able to steer while being forward looking for stuff in the water like coral heads or rocks.

Point well-taken ...

ssichler wrote:Wires are so last century

Point well-taken ...

soon it will be

Wireless remotes without a neural interface are so last Millennia....

Frank wrote:But who would want to be so far from the cockpit under sail? And how much steering can you do without simultaneously managing trim?

This past weekend, on a broad reach doing about 4 knots in about 10 knots of breeze, I stood on the deck leaning against the shrouds marvelling at the hundreds of jellyfish just under the surface for nearly 30 minutes. The ST4000 kept the boat on course, no trim adjustment needed.

With the remote, you could do this for hours. Sometimes it makes more sense to leave the sails alone and steer to maintain trim rather than vice versa.

Frank wrote:

But who would want to be so far from the cockpit under sail? And how much steering can you do without simultaneously managing trim?

2 Weekends ago while singleing I spent time on deck dousing the jib, stowing the lines and raising the sock, lowering the main and putting up the cover while running from a lightening producing cell. Soaking rain the whole time all under Cap't Otto. Even motored to nearly docked while stowing everything else. Hit the dock at a run and beat for the truck!!

The ST1 has a wind vane input so any changes in wind will know. Also the Auto pilot is designed for offshore use where the winds are more constant than inshore.

Does anyone know where I might obtain a rudder positioning sensor for the sportpilot plus?

Send Raymarine customer support and email and see if the current one will work.

With one of these clear domes it would be a piece of cake to set up an inside steering station with dual controls and great vis.

http://www.cleardomes.com/domes.htm

http://www.cleardomes.com/cdroundbs.jpg

I've contemplated putting one of these in the middle of my companionway sliding hatch (though I realize it wouldn't be readily compatible with the dodger .... without modifying the dodger somewhat) , perhaps in the middle of an opening square acrylic marine hatch.
In a slightly different vein I've had one of these hatches before:
http://tinyurl.com/oh63b
With it's cast aluminum support bars you can stand or jump on it without fear of it's breaking. I've contemplated one of these to place on the main sliding hatch with the possibility of a flush-mount opening hatch just forward of the (closed) slider.

Today I picked up a piece of 1/4 inch acrylic which I'm going to reinforce with a couple of hdpe bars and add one of these West Marine 'single loop' handles:
part # 65101 http://tinyurl.com/haofr
to both the inside and outside. It will be much lighter and easier to stow than the stock weatherboard companionway hatch.