Association Forum - Raymarine 1000 vs 2000

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Raymarine 1000 vs 2000

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/15/2003 : 22:06:34

Hi Folks,
Sailnet is having a special on Raymarine Tillerpilots. The 1000 is 429 with free remote, the 2000 is 579 with free remote. Which one should I get? The difference is 150. I'll mostly sail lakes, but occasionally go to the Keys, or the Gulf.
thanks

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2003 : 22:29:01

Frank,

I'm very pleased with the ST-2000 Plus. I think the C-25 is right at the top of the recommended weight range for the ST-1000. Also, as I understand it, the ST-1000 uses a worm&nut to drive its ram, and the ST-2000 uses a ball bearing lead screw. If that's true, it would likely allow the ST-2000 to be faster, produce more thrust, use less current, and last longer. You might want to double check me on that.

When I installed the ST-2000, I mounted the brass bushing which they provided in the top of the stbd coaming, and added an optional extention to the ram so that the rudder would be centered at mid-travel on the ram. Ray Marine, or whoever, sells shielded multiconductor electrical cable just for making up the wiring harness for power, remote control, and GPS.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

RoofRoof
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
186 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2003 : 00:46:29

I have the 1000, and the few times I have actually used it, it has been great. I wouldn't want to spend more, as this works fine with my 79. One thing is, I have the original rudder. From what I understand, the balanced rudder moves easier for the same desired boat movement....so, if you have the balanced rudder....definitely the 1000 model is fine. Hey, you can always return it right? Or trade up? Sailnet is awesome, and the people are the best!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2003 : 01:19:21

I have the ST1000 plus and I have not had any operational problems with it and I'm quite pleased with it's performance. My autopilot gets quite the workout during the season since I primarily singlehand. I use it in varying wind and sea states and it performs as advertised.

As Leon pointed out, the ST1000 has a lead screw and nut drive and the ST2000 has a recirculating ball drive. Since I'm not a mechanical engineer, I can't speak to the performance differences of these two drives, but the rated electrical use is identical for both units.

The other differences between the units are helm lock-to-lock speed, drive thrust, and maximum boat weight. Of these differences, I think the lock-to-lock speed might be the most relevant. The ST2000 has a lock-to-lock speed of 4.5 seconds and the ST1000 is 8 seconds, although in practical use, my autopilot has never went lock-to-lock, usually it just moves about an inch either side of it's midpoint to maintain course. As for the drive thrust difference between the two units(125lbs vs 170lbs), this isn't an issue with me because I have a balanced rudder and I'm mindful of my boat's balance. This results in two-finger operation of my tiller, so on my boat, the 125lb thrust is overkill. As for the boat weight difference, Raymarine recommends a maximum boat weight of 6,600lbs for the ST1000 and 10,000lbs for the ST2000. Raymarine says to estimate your fully laden displacement, take your designed displacement and add 20 percent. So if we took the heaviest C25, a fin at 4550 lbs, and added 20 percent(910 lbs) we get 5,460 lbs. This is still 1,140 lbs under Raymarine's recommended boat weight for the ST1000.

Functionally, both autopilots have the same features(auto seastate, autotack, NMEA,...etc) and both of these autopilots are designed for coastal cruising and occasional offshore passages. Either one should fit your needs, it just depends on your personal preference and what makes you comfortable.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

luckystar
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
236 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2003 : 01:35:12

sure do love my ST4000 tiller pilot. More power than you'll ever need and I love the permanent mount. I sat up under my dodger and sailed all winter long driving my Otto! I got mine unused, uninstalled, backup unit on EBAY for $500. Someday I hope to get the older model Autohelm Wind so that I can interface these via seatalk and have the autopilot follow the wind. It already interfaces with my Autohelm Depth and Speed, not to mention I tend to use it as my compass as well. No matter what model you choose, I just can't say enough good things about the folks at Raymarine. the tech guy is sick of hearing from me, but he's been wonderful!

Patrick Burnett, Little Rock, AR
S/V Lucky Star #2707 1982 SK/SR<br>
<img src="http://www.proxycreative.com/clients/luckystar/luckystar_0602_sm.jpg" border=0><br>
http://www.proxycreative.com/luckystar.html

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2003 : 12:22:49

If you want a real special, Sailnet has the basic Simrad unit for $279 (http://www.sailnet.com/store/item.cfm?pid=15698). While this one doesn't have a compass readout or NMEA, a 54% cost premium seems excessive for what to me are essentially bells and whistles -- I can see heading from my bulkhead mounted compass (backed up by my GPS and handheld compass) and occasional, manual 1 or 2 degree adjustment of autopilot heading based on GPS info is very easy and part of my normal "keeping watch" routine. As I'm never far from the cockpit, I'm unclear of the value of an autopilot remote.

Both Raymarine and Nimrad units can be installed simply (without brackets or cantilevers, etc.) on the coaming using a 6" extension rod (although $3 more for Nimrad's).

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2003 : 20:07:04

Richard,

You are right. If you want an inexpensive, no frills autopilot, the Simrad TP10 is definitely an option.

I bought the ST1000 Plus over the TP10 because the price was just $20.00 more, and for that I got the remote, NMEA, and digital readout. But I have to agree with you about the frills on the autopilot.

The remote, like you said, is for the most part a novelty. I've only "played" with my remote on a few occasions and have not actually "used" it. I've tried to envision scenarios in which I could use it, but so far I've come up short. It does make a nice conversation piece. Guests aboard North Star are impressed that I have the ability to steer the boat and use the head at the same time! <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

The NMEA IN feature is also a nice thing to have and probably has more practical applications than the remote, but again, I've only played with this feature. On a couple of occasions I've hooked it up and did a "GO TO" to my channel markers and it steers me right to them. Nice little feature and kinda fun to play with, but so far I haven't found a practical use for it, YET! I'm still looking on this one.

The digital readout is nice, but not absolutely necessary. True, it can be used for a backup compass, but with a GPS and two regular compasses aboard, it's a little redundant for navigating.

For those considering an autopilot, the Simrad TP10 is an option worth considering.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2003 : 15:39:30

I have been using the ST1000 for several years and have had no problems. I designed my own steel phantom tiller which is bolted to the bottom of the tiller and allows the pilot to be mounted without extension directly to the starboard cockpit seat. Being right there the pilot stows easily in the stbd lazarette.

John V. Nin Bimash II
77 C25 sk/sr #153

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2003 : 20:00:47

If you have full length cockpit cushions you may want to mount the autopilot to either the seatback or the top of the coaming so that you can use both the cushions and autopilot at the same time.

Another consideration is mounting the tiller pilot on the side of the cockpit opposite the motor. Doing so will allow you to operate the outboard without having to work around the autopilot.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

Members Avatar

844 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2003 : 17:02:13

A reply noted: "If you have full length cockpit cushions you may want to mount the autopilot to either the seatback or the top of the coaming so that you can use both the cushions and autopilot at the same time."

On our C25, #1459, I mounted our Navico autopilot on the starboard seat because the instructions said don't extend the arm more than 6 inches. That would have required two extenders. I ended up installing an Autohelm-manufactured bracket underneath the tiller, so there was a horizontal straight shot from the unit to the pin.

My daughter came up with the idea about the full length cockpit cushions. Just move it forward and the forward edge just rests up against the back of the cabin, for a comfortable backrest. When the autopilot is finished its work for the day, just slide the cushion all the way aft.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.