Raymarine ST2000+ Tiller Pilot Question

[Opie91]

Hi,

I am thinking about buying a Raymarine ST2000 Plus tiller pilot. I have a older Raydata that has autopilot control capabilities. Does anyone know if these two units are compatible. They both do Seatalk (original).

Thanks for any help!!!

[Pete7]

Why not use it in the stand alone mode? we do and its fine.

Pete

[Opie91]

Stand alone is fine, but if it does not talk with the Raydata I think that the tiller pilot will be a Simrad TP32. I had a Simrad wheel pilot before and it was great.

[Ex-Calif]

I just bought a new ST1000+ and the literature says it does Seatalk and NMEA and the plugs provide for 5 connections. I had my old unit (ST1000) wired to a Garmin 276 for a while and it worked fine.

I didn't wire up the Seatalk link on this unit as for sailing I don't see the use of coupling to a gps and I don't currently have wind input.

[anotherT34C]

Does the ST1000 have a windvane mode? (with wind direction "seatalked").

[Ex-Calif]

Yes it does. I hop to add that someday if I get a windvane cheap somewhere...

GPS, wind and standalone modes with signals via Seatalk and NMEA

[anotherT34C]

How robust does it feel (the ST1000)? I currently use the wheel pilot, and the drive unit isn't robust at all.

As a back-up, I'm considering the difference between a second wheel drive unit ($500, and assuming the control unit, computer, and compass all never fail), and rigging a self-contained tiller pilot to the emergency tiller ($500-700 depending on the size).

However, if the ST1000/2000 is just as feeble as the wheel pilot, I might have to break down and go for a belowdeck model.

[Steve W]

I have a friend that rigged a tiller pilot to his wheel to back up his wheel pilot. He is very happy with the result, saying the tiller pilot has enough range to steer and maintain a course when motoring or sailing in less than 12 knot winds on his 34' Catalina. I think he attached the mount on one of the wheel spokes, about mid-diameter.

[Ex-Calif]

I find the ST1000+ slightly more robust than the ST1000 it replaced. It's hard to describe it in a comparative way so the best idea would be to locate a West Marine that has one (not all carry in stock so let your fingers do the walking) and get your hands on it.

My boat is probably 3,000kg loaded and the tiller pilot is quite happy steering. I have had it hunt or fall off in gusty conditions. This indicates the sails balancing and unbalancing. We have a big genny (150%) and when oversheeting compared to the main there can be a lot of tiller load. Balanced sails is the key.

Usually sheeting out the genny a bit and/or running the main traveller up wil fix things although by the time I am needing to do that it is really time to start shorting the genny a bit.

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by Opie91

Hi,

I am thinking about buying a Raymarine ST2000 Plus tiller pilot. I have a older Raydata that has autopilot control capabilities. Does anyone know if these two units are compatible. They both do Seatalk (original).

Thanks for any help!!!

the seatalk will be compatible - so it will work.

But one thing you may need to consider is whether the older control unit has the capability of utilising some of the functions that may be available in the new unit, but weren't developed when the old control unit was brought out - which may or may not be important to you.

I had similar queries with my ancient Autohelm autopilot and the new Raymarine control units - I sent Raymarine a message via their website - they were very helpful.

Another thing to check is what is the information that is passed. For example my aforementioned old Autohelm has NMEA out, but all it puts out is position & heading info - it doesn't send depth, speed or wind data even though they are on the same seatalk network. It is "selected" NMEA data if you like.