Stus-List Re: Wheel Drive Autopilot

[Joe Della Barba via CnC-List]

I decided next time mine breaks I am getting a brand new one. The very latest 
version apparently has vastly better sensors and steering algorithms, besides 
for being able to steer to GPS.


Joe Della Barba
Coquina C&C 35 MK I
Kent Island MD USA


Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
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Stus-List Re: Wheel Drive Autopilot

[Hans Reinhardt via CnC-List]

Peter,
> 
> I've got the old 4000 and many times it doesn't turn the wheel and just 
> clicks.  
> 

Have you checked the drive pin on the motor pinion gear? I have a 4000 on my 
1982 - 37 and the pins bend and/or shear fairly often. Clicking is my usual 
clue. 

Part of the problem seems to be that the Autohelm uses a metric size pin and 
I’ve only found SAE pins.  I have to modify them but haven’t found quite the 
right “recipe” yet. The real issue is that the Autohelm wheel unit just seems 
undersized for my 37. It is rated for slightly less displacement and in 
practice doesn’t enjoy apparent wind above 18kn or downwind very well except in 
the light air. In the long run I plan to replace Otto with a below decks 
hydraulic or electric unit. In the mean time ….  ;-)

Hans R
S/V Ete’ - 1982 C&C 37
Seattle, WA

Sent from my iPhone

> On 
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  Thanks - Stu

Stus-List Re: Wheel Drive Autopilot

[Joe Della Barba via CnC-List]

Raymarine will NOT fix the old black Autohelm units last I checked. It might be 
worth a call, but the last one I sent in back in the 1990s at first they 
refused to fix and then decided they found some old parts and would fix it that 
ONE TIME if I promised to never ever send it in again.

 

Joe Della Barba

Coquina C&C 35 MK I

Kent Island MD USA

 

 

 

From: ssjohnson via CnC-List  
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2021 9:53 PM
To: Stus-List 
Cc: ssjohnson 
Subject: Stus-List Re: Wheel Drive Autopilot

 

Another alternative is to send the drive unit to Raymarine.  $250 to fix any 
problem.  I've done it a few timespretty much need to doit every other 
year my LF38 is at/over the wheel pilot maximum displacement of 16,500 lbs

 

 

 

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

 

 

 Original message 

From: Peter Cowenhoven via CnC-List mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > 

Date: 6/25/21 8:07 PM (GMT-06:00) 

To: Stus-List mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > 

Cc: Peter Cowenhoven mailto:pscowenho...@yahoo.com> > 

Subject: Stus-List Re: Wheel Drive Autopilot 

 

Thanks so much Joe.  Didn't know there was a belt on the 4000.  Does it go 
around the whole wheel assembly?  It's hidden nicely.

 

I will probably do as you say and buy a new drive unit and see if that works.

 

 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
<https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature>
 

 

On Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 3:58 PM, Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List

mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote:

I have an old AH-4000. If it starts doing what you describe the belt may be 
slipping or the pin that holds the drive gear is going. I have rebuilt my drive 
many times and my current unit is a combination of 3 or 4 old ones I have 
scavenged over the years.

You can try and fix it or get a new drive for around $600 or so. It will work 
fine with the AH-4000 computer. The CPT is a much stronger unit, but keep in 
mind in both cases the weight of the boat is being used as a proxy for how hard 
the boat is to steer. These things are really only loosely related at best. An 
AH-4000 has plenty more power than needed to steer a freighter, it isn’t 
physically hard to steer a big ship. The issue would be the steering algorithms 
would be way off. 

If your boat is hard for YOU to steer, Otto will have a hard time too. After 
fixing or replacing your drive I would look to getting the boat to balance.

All that said, the AH-4000 is hopeless in a big following sea.

 

Joe

Coquina

C&C 35 MK I

 

 

From: Peter Cowenhoven via CnC-List mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > 
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2021 2:18 PM
To: Stus-List mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> >
Cc: Peter Cowenhoven mailto:pscowenho...@yahoo.com> >
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Stus-List Wheel Drive Autopilot

 

Does anyone have any experience with the CPT belt driven vs the old Autohelm 
4000?  Does the CPT have more turning force?

 

I've got the old 4000 and many times it doesn't turn the wheel and just clicks. 
 Certainly when there's a lot weather helm there's no chance.

 

I'm also wondering if a new 4000 drive unit would be able to hold the force of 
the wheel better.

 

I see the 4000 or the new EV 1000 is rated st 16,500 and I'm at about 13,500 
while the CPT is rated to 40,000.

 

Thanks in advance for any intel or thoughts on this.

 

Best,

 

Peter

 

84 Landfall 35

Westbrook, CT

 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
<https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature>
 

Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
send contribution --  https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  
<https://www.paypal.me/stumurray> Thanks - Stu 

Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  Thanks - Stu

Stus-List Re: Wheel Drive Autopilot

[ALAN BERGEN via CnC-List]

You get access to the belt by separating the two halves of the assembly
that is attached to the wheel.

Alan Bergen
35 Mk III Thirsty
Rose City YC
Portland, OR



On Fri, Jun 25, 2021 at 6:08 PM Peter Cowenhoven via CnC-List <
cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote:

> Thanks so much Joe.  Didn't know there was a belt on the 4000.  Does it go
> around the whole wheel assembly?  It's hidden nicely.
>
> I will probably do as you say and buy a new drive unit and see if that
> works.
>
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
> 
>
> On Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 3:58 PM, Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List
>  wrote:
>
> I have an old AH-4000. If it starts doing what you describe the belt may
> be slipping or the pin that holds the drive gear is going. I have rebuilt
> my drive many times and my current unit is a combination of 3 or 4 old ones
> I have scavenged over the years.
>
> You can try and fix it or get a new drive for around $600 or so. It will
> work fine with the AH-4000 computer. The CPT is a much stronger unit, but
> keep in mind in both cases the weight of the boat is being used as a proxy
> for how hard the boat is to steer. These things are really only loosely
> related at best. An AH-4000 has plenty more power than needed to steer a
> freighter, it isn’t physically hard to steer a big ship. The issue would be
> the steering algorithms would be way off.
>
> If your boat is hard for YOU to steer, Otto will have a hard time too.
> After fixing or replacing your drive I would look to getting the boat to
> balance.
>
> All that said, the AH-4000 is hopeless in a big following sea.
>
>
>
> Joe
>
> Coquina
>
> C&C 35 MK I
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Peter Cowenhoven via CnC-List 
> *Sent:* Thursday, June 24, 2021 2:18 PM
> *To:* Stus-List 
> *Cc:* Peter Cowenhoven 
> *Subject:* [EXTERNAL] Stus-List Wheel Drive Autopilot
>
>
>
> Does anyone have any experience with the CPT belt driven vs the old
> Autohelm 4000?  Does the CPT have more turning force?
>
>
>
> I've got the old 4000 and many times it doesn't turn the wheel and just
> clicks.  Certainly when there's a lot weather helm there's no chance.
>
>
>
> I'm also wondering if a new 4000 drive unit would be able to hold the
> force of the wheel better.
>
>
>
> I see the 4000 or the new EV 1000 is rated st 16,500 and I'm at about
> 13,500 while the CPT is rated to 40,000.
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance for any intel or thoughts on this.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
>
>
> Peter
>
>
>
> 84 Landfall 35
>
> Westbrook, CT
>
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
> 
> Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with
> the costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use
> PayPal to send contribution --  https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
> 
> Thanks - Stu
>
> Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with
> the costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use
> PayPal to send contribution --
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.paypal.me/stumurray__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!_OLkIQkgR48xPT56XE72c9UxavRne3qKxYol6B4_Dk25_4iotzzfI31WdJTDtcTG1-s$
>  Thanks - Stu
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  Thanks - Stu

Stus-List Re: Wheel Drive Autopilot

[ssjohnson via CnC-List]

Another alternative is to send the drive unit to Raymarine.  $250 to fix any 
problem.  I've done it a few timespretty much need to doit every other 
year my LF38 is at/over the wheel pilot maximum displacement of 16,500 
lbsSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
 Original message From: Peter Cowenhoven via CnC-List 
 Date: 6/25/21  8:07 PM  (GMT-06:00) To: Stus-List 
 Cc: Peter Cowenhoven  Subject: 
Stus-List Re: Wheel Drive Autopilot Thanks so much Joe.  Didn't know there was 
a belt on the 4000.  Does it go around the whole wheel assembly?  It's hidden 
nicely.I will probably do as you say and buy a new drive unit and see if that 
works.Sent from Yahoo Mail on AndroidOn Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 3:58 PM, Della 
Barba, Joe via CnC-List wrote:   

 
 




I have an old AH-4000. If it starts doing what you describe the belt may be 
slipping or the pin that holds the drive gear is going. I have rebuilt my drive 
many times and my current unit is a combination of 3 or 4 old ones I have 
scavenged
 over the years. 
You can try and fix it or get a new drive for around $600 or so. It will work 
fine with the AH-4000 computer. The CPT is a much stronger unit, but keep in 
mind in both cases the weight of the boat is being used as a proxy for how hard 
the
 boat is to steer. These things are really only loosely related at best. An 
AH-4000 has plenty more power than needed to steer a freighter, it isn’t 
physically hard to steer a big ship. The issue would be the steering algorithms 
would be way off.
 
If your boat is hard for YOU to steer, Otto will have a hard time too. After 
fixing or replacing your drive I would look to getting the boat to balance. 
All that said, the AH-4000 is hopeless in a big following sea. 
   
Joe 
Coquina 
C&C 35 MK I 
   
   

From: Peter Cowenhoven via CnC-List 

Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2021 2:18 PM
To: Stus-List 
Cc: Peter Cowenhoven 
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Stus-List Wheel Drive Autopilot 

   
Does anyone have any experience with the CPT belt driven vs the old Autohelm 
4000?  Does the CPT have more turning force? 

   


I've got the old 4000 and many times it doesn't turn the wheel and just clicks. 
 Certainly when there's a lot weather helm there's no chance. 


   


I'm also wondering if a new 4000 drive unit would be able to hold the force of 
the wheel better. 


   


I see the 4000 or the new EV 1000 is rated st 16,500 and I'm at about 13,500 
while the CPT is rated to 40,000. 


   


Thanks in advance for any intel or thoughts on this. 

   


Best, 


   


Peter 


   


84 Landfall 35 


Westbrook, CT 


   

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 






Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  Thanks - Stu  Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  Thanks - Stu

Stus-List Re: Wheel Drive Autopilot

[Peter Cowenhoven via CnC-List]

Thanks so much Joe.  Didn't know there was a belt on the 4000.  Does it go 
around the whole wheel assembly?  It's hidden nicely.
I will probably do as you say and buy a new drive unit and see if that works.


Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
 
  On Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 3:58 PM, Della Barba, Joe via 
CnC-List wrote:
I have an old AH-4000. If it starts doing what you describe the belt may be 
slipping or the pin that holds the drive gear is going. I have rebuilt my drive 
many times and my current unit is a combination of 3 or 4 old ones I have 
scavenged over the years.
 
You can try and fix it or get a new drive for around $600 or so. It will work 
fine with the AH-4000 computer. The CPT is a much stronger unit, but keep in 
mind in both cases the weight of the boat is being used as a proxy for how hard 
the boat is to steer. These things are really only loosely related at best. An 
AH-4000 has plenty more power than needed to steer a freighter, it isn’t 
physically hard to steer a big ship. The issue would be the steering algorithms 
would be way off.
 
If your boat is hard for YOU to steer, Otto will have a hard time too. After 
fixing or replacing your drive I would look to getting the boat to balance.
 
All that said, the AH-4000 is hopeless in a big following sea.
 
  
 
Joe
 
Coquina
 
C&C 35 MK I
 
  
 
  
 
From: Peter Cowenhoven via CnC-List 
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2021 2:18 PM
To: Stus-List 
Cc: Peter Cowenhoven 
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Stus-List Wheel Drive Autopilot
 
  
 
Does anyone have any experience with the CPT belt driven vs the old Autohelm 
4000?  Does the CPT have more turning force?
 
  
 
I've got the old 4000 and many times it doesn't turn the wheel and just clicks. 
 Certainly when there's a lot weather helm there's no chance.
 
  
 
I'm also wondering if a new 4000 drive unit would be able to hold the force of 
the wheel better.
 
  
 
I see the 4000 or the new EV 1000 is rated st 16,500 and I'm at about 13,500 
while the CPT is rated to 40,000.
 
  
 
Thanks in advance for any intel or thoughts on this.
 
  
 
Best,
 
  
 
Peter
 
  
 
84 Landfall 35
 
Westbrook, CT
 
  
 
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
 Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
send contribution --  https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  Thanks - Stu  
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the 
costs involved.  If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to 
send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray  Thanks - Stu