MacGregorSailors.com

With the Sport pilot being discontuned, I was looking for another autopilot. I have only found 3.

Simrad AP12 http://www.simradusa.com/1-autopilots-main.php
This fits into the pedistal behind the wheel.

Simrad WP32 http://www.simradusa.com/1-wp.php
This attaches to the wheel

Raymarine ST4000+MKII http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/Prod ... uct_id=201
This attaches to the wheel

There are threads on all 3 of these in this forum. Does anybody know of another model?

I do like the Simrad AP12, however if the unit fails, I may have no steering.

Both the Simrad WP32 and the Raymarine ST4000 requires a 18 inch wheel. So I would need to replace the 15 3/4 stock wheel.

If money was no object, The Raymarine ST4000 has proven to be the best. However, for looks the Simrad AP12 is best.

Does anybody have a Simrad AP12?

Coments or suggestions?

Have you ever opened up your pedestal? I'd be surprised if the AP12 would even fit in there...

No I have not, Per the factory, I need 10 inches deep and 5 inches wide and 7 inches high.

Would it fit with all the other stuff in there?

The WP 32 is a nice looking unit, and it looks easy enough to install. My only concern is how it is installed. I would be concerned that the mounting bracket would shift causing allot of torque in which the gears or the motor on the AP could get damaged. Furthermore, only having 1 linkage between the wheel and the AP seems like a really bad idea. Again it puts another stress point, and it will inevitably torque as well. Possibly causing the unit to shift. However, it makes the unit more easily installed on various wheels. What type of warranty does the unit come with? Also, the lack of a display asside from the LED's would make the unit a little more difficult to operate over others and might would cause you to question whether it is doing what you intended, before its actually done. However, the lack of the display will save money and gives the unit one less thing to break. It would be interesting to see if they have it set up to show mh and such on an MFD. However, Track could be found using just about any GPS unit. For $800.00 it is a pretty tempting package; if they managed to address my concerns in the design. If you get one, let me know how it works out for you. I may just have to put one on my boat. (When I get one.)

JEM

As ive mentioned in numerous threads I love my Raymarine ST4000!!

Almost the bestest mod ever in the wide world.

Thanks for the advice, Here is what I have found.

Simrad AP12 http://www.simradusa.com/1-autopilots-main.php
This fits into the pedistal behind the wheel. Cons - It does not have the sail functions. It is for powerboats. You can not auto tack or steer to a wind angle. Also you will need to replace the stear cable. There also a problem with the space inside the pedestial box. The AP12R is out of sight, which is a real plus.

Simrad WP32 http://www.simradusa.com/1-wp.php
This attaches to the wheel. Company website response -

Please call us at 800 426 5565 IF you have the twin rudders and a push pull cable then the WP32 is NOT COMPATABLE with the type of steering the your MacGregor has.
The AP14R can be adapted. However there is aninternal clearance issue

The AP14R is like the AP12

Raymarine ST4000+MKII http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/Prod ... uct_id=201
This attaches to the wheel
In my opinion this is the best for me as I would like to sail and it has a LOT of miles put on them with MUCH bigger boats.
You can get wireless remote or a cable Control head that plugs in with as many locations as wanted. The control head comes with 20 feet of cable.

It does require an 18 inch wheel and a longer compass cable and a longer motor control cable and a bulkhead/box mounting kit.

The only two things to keep in mind with the ST4000 is you will have to go to a bigger wheel and it does take some custom mounting work to adapt the drive motor to our square pedestals. The mounts are designed for a standard round sailboat pedestal.

Neither of these are show stoppers however and many like the ST4000. I'm glad I got my Sport Pilot + when I did. It works great and the installation fits in so well with the mac pedestal. The two look like they were designed for each other. I'm very glad I don't have the big ring on my wheel.

It [the ST4000] does require an 18 inch wheel and a longer compass cable and a longer motor control cable and a bulkhead/box mounting kit.

You're no better than two out of four on those statements.

It doesn't necessarily require an 18" wheel, though most feel the finger clearance on the stock wheel is a might tight. Even so we'll give you full credit on this one.

It doesn't require a longer compass cable. There's no no reasonable place on the Mac to mount the control head and compass so that the compass cable doesn't reach. No credit.

It doesn't require a longer motor cable. If you mount the control head in some truly out of the way place, where you can't reach it and/or can't see it, you might require a longer motor cable.

Patient: "Doctor, it hurts when I do this."

Doctor: "Stop doing that. That'll be $250, pay on our way out."

If you mount it on the pedestal where it belongs, the motor control cable is way longer than it needs to be. No credit.

It does require an aditional part to mount it to the flat faced X pedestal. You can buy the Raymarine optional box mount kit, but making one yourself is not difficult. We'll give you this one, though if it were completely up to me you'd only get partial credit.

Note that the ST4000 is out of production and no longer available. As far as we know, though, the ST6000 based control head of the new ST1 Wheelpilot is physically identical to the ST4000, so your comments are equally valid (or not).

Agreed, I mounted mine with what came in the box on the stock wheel and love it

Chip- it really depends on where you decide to mount everything. The M has the batteries under the step so the compass cannot be put within 3 feet of it due to EMC. So I am going to put the compass in the head area.

The control LCD Display I wanted inside the cabin instead of the pedestal, this is more than 19 feet so an extension is needed, (i could be wrong on this but it is to close to call for a $ 40.00 part, i can always send it back if it is not needed). This display has failed due to weather damage. I did not want that to happen, that is why it is going inside. I am getting the ST600R to use outside.

The 18" wheel is so that I can get my big hands around the wheel although it is not that needed.

I am discussing an . The is different and you might be able to use what is in box without anything extra. Yours not mine.
As you said - The ST4000 is not made anymore however the ST4000+MKII is!! I have been emailing the factory about it.

What is needed for the autopilot really depends on what boat you have and what you have or plan to install and what you want. This is the way that I want to install it on my . Extreme, maybe. But it should last a long time and be quite reliable.

As you said - The ST4000 is not made anymore however the ST4000+MKII is!!

We have been using the term ST4000 as a generic description of the ST4000+MKII Wheelpilot. The ST4000, non-plus non-MKII has not been produced for years, and the ST4000+MKII Wheelpilot is discontinued. The ST4000+Tillerpilot is apparently still being produced, which may be wherein the confusion arises.

Some of our members have talked directly to the factory on this subject. You need to check this thread in which several people stated Raymarine told them the ST4000+MKII has been discontinued, and replaced with the ST1 Wheelpilot. This is the ST6000 control head with the MKII motor drive unit, which will retail for about $200 more than the ST4000+MKII but is not yet in the dealers.

If none of the dealers have it and you can't buy one, it's discontinued.

If you are mounting your control head in the cabin, you're even closer to the compass and you don't need an extension for that, though you will need one for the motor drive.

However, I don't understand your decision to mount the control head in the cabin. You say the display has failed due to weather damage, but I did a search and nobody on this website has ever reported such. Both the control head and the extension you mention are certified and warranted by the manufacturer to be waterproof to the same standard.

I'm only one person with anectotal evidence, but I've had mine on the boat for a year, and trailered it over 4,000 miles with the control head (and motor drive) out in the weather, including some torrential downpours. I can't imagine anything it's going to see afloat is going to test its water resistance as much as high speed trailering does.

Sure wish someone would make a sailboat AP which doesn't use a ring-on-the-wheel. The SP was the closest but no longer available and not a true sailboat AP. Probably wouldn't do well in choppy seas. Raymarine, are you listening?

Does anyone know what BWY uses for their AP option? I noticed they have an autopilot as optional equipment but they don't specify what kind.

James, I just installed the St4000...... on my 05M with everything from the box. I put the head on the port side beside the companion way entrance. On the port side you get great access to wiring in the back through the electrical panel opening. The compass is on the inside forward face of the cockpit, behind the stairs. This is in the center of the boat, a little higher than I would like but about 3' away from the batteries and electrical panel. I am mounting the rudder sensor inside under the motor well. With the 18" wheel you can have to motor to the one side and using a 10-12" - 7/16" dia rod strapped securely to the underneath of the pedestal box and slid into the slot in the ring to stop the unit form rotating; I did not want to use the motor and put additional strain on the drive system. We will find out how this all works soon, I hope.

Delevi,

While not sold as a sailboat AP, the SP works great under sail with the Mac. With the board and rudders down is holds the track right on course. It does not have a tack function on the build in control, but you can add any of the raymarine wired or wireless contolers to the SP and it will follow their commands including the auto tack.

BWY has mostly installed Sport Pilots. You could call Todd and see what he going to switch to.

NautiMoments - I have thought about doing that. The display on the cockpit bulkhead has me a bit worried. Weather stress is one thing, another is when I take my 260 pounds and put my foot on it moving forward and throwing stuff around in the cockpit, It just might get damaged. That is why I wanted to put it inside.

Compass location - I had thought about doing that but wanted to move it starboard and aft a little more in that space. My main concern was that I wanted to put a compass on the starboard cockpit bulkhead area and I was worried about EMC from the compass and ladder. Any comments?

I still have not deceided. I have been looking at the Simrad AP14R. It will cost a little less than the Raymarine ST4000+MKII (this includes new stearing wheel and remote control head) which is being replaced by the ST1, soon to be released this month. The differences is that it has a seperate computer and a Gyro. The Simrad AP14R does not have Wind steering or Auto tack. No big deal for me. I also do not have to replace the wheel and it is out of sight, out of the elements, away from being hit. I need as much space around the wheel as I can get. They both use the same amount of power. I have read a thread from powerboaters and there has been NO complaints on the Simrad AP14R.

By this time next week I will have deceided.