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Alt to Discontinued Sportpilot - Is Simrad WP32 or AP12 OK?
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:26 am
by chrisb
My less than one year old Raymarine Sportpilot was damaged beyond repair by a lightning hit. Since Raymarine has discontinued its Sportpilot series, what is an alternative easy to use/install autohelp for a 26X?
Does anyone have experience (positive that is) using a Simrad WP32 or AP 12 ??
Thanks
Chris
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 12:05 pm
by Frank C
It's been debated recently. I don't remember them exactly, but I discovered several disadvantages when I did some basic research in the product manuals, or maybe with a phone call to the Mfg. IIRC, they don't have any version of auto-tack, for starters. Also, I think the engage/disengage requires a hard clutching, and less convenient than Raymarine.
Could you get by with a partial upgrade to Raymarine's new version?
Links to recent discussions:
Auto pilot, Simrad AP12 or WP32 or Raymarine ST4000+MKII
Simrad WP32 autopilot
What about the Simrad WheelPilot 10?
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:17 pm
by James V
I was looking into them and decided on the Raymarine S1 wheelpilot.
For me, the Simrad is a good product however their wheel pilot was too big for the Mac and the one behind the stearing wheel might need to have the pedistal box replaced. It might be too small. The price is about the same.
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:02 pm
by Rich Plumb
There are still some Sport Pilots out there, if you want to stay with what you are using. I found one on EBay....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Autohelm ... enameZWDVW
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Rich Plumb "Plumb Crazy"
26X, Covington WA
Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 5:42 am
by Dimitri-2000X-Tampa
Raymarine isn't selling new ones but they told me a couple months ago that they will still repair the old ones for a long time. My guess is that for 250-300 dollars, they will replace all the innards of your unit. And ther is a good chance your motor is still fine and its the control unit that is fried.
Btw, keep that A/P covered. When I bought my boat, it was 3 years old, the A/P was siezed and the control stalk (made with some sort of rubber) was completely disintegrated. I had raymarine rebuild it and I also had a custom helm cover made. Now it is more than 3 years later and it still looks and works like new.
Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:49 am
by Rich Plumb
Slightly off topic: Yes, the control stalk on my Sport Pilot Plus disintegrated too. Since I don't use those little UP - DOWN buttons, I took a piece of large heat shrink tubing and enclose the stalk. I can still use the knob on the end.
~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~~~
Rich Plumb "Plumb Crazy"
26X, Covington WA