Anyone using the Ray S1000 autopilot on boats larger than 25'?

RideSober · 09-20-2009, 07:46 PM

Hey guys, just looking for some recommendations on a good but reasonably priced autopilot for a 31' twin outboard center console. I had a Raymarine S1000 on my 25' Parker and loved it, but Raymarine says these are recommended for boats 25' and less.

Any input would be very welcome.

Thanks, Dave

Glen E · 09-20-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RideSober

Hey guys, just looking for some recommendations on a good but reasonably priced autopilot for a 31' twin outboard center console. I had a Raymarine S1000 on my 25' Parker and loved it, but Raymarine says these are recommended for boats 25' and less.

Any input would be very welcome.

Thanks, Dave

you need what ray recommends...the X-10 system - about 2800-3000 w/o labor for installation...you will not have any warranty using the s1000 on a 31 with twins.

kerno · 09-20-2009, 10:38 PM

I wondered what difference it could make and installed one on a Stamas 29 center console. It lasted about a year before the system failed completely with the pump in a smoking pile. The lack of a reasonable user interface (no display) means you press the remote and hope the unit is listening. I found it very frustrating and happily threw the $1,000 unit in the trash when I replaced it with a real autopilot.

The bottom line is that the pump and relays are not designed for the workload of running a larger boat in sloppy water. If you only boat in glassy water, it will probably work just fine.

RideSober · 09-21-2009, 07:47 AM

Thanks for the replies, my 25' Parker actually weighed more than my center console and I used the S1000 mostly for trolling. I liked the super easy installation of the S1000 and interface to my GPS for navigation, I just wish there was another AP with a slightly larger pump that interfaced the same way.

gotumon · 09-21-2009, 08:07 AM

The x 10 is about as easy to install as the s 1000 since there is no rudder feedback needed. Many folks have tried the s1000 in applications that were not reccomended and most will probably end up as kerno did since you overwork the unit on a bigger vessel.

hoejef · 09-22-2009, 03:26 AM

dont do it

signmansez · 09-24-2009, 09:40 AM

I run my Pursuit 2870 with an S1000. I am wary of running in rough seas and not overworking the pump. It has worked fine for the 3 years that I have had it.
Do a search here. Someone posted about installing a larger pump and said aafter some adjustment it worked fine.

jehines3 · 09-24-2009, 11:50 AM

I would think on a larger boat the pump is doing less work. My smaller boat would not track a straight line. Bigger boats track straighter and have hydraulic steering. I'm calling BS, the PID loop could be tuned far slower on a bigger boat and the pump is working less time.

I like how raymarine touts the remote to be used up to 32 feet from the head unit. How on a 25' boat can I get 32' from the head unit.

Glen E · 09-24-2009, 01:44 PM

it is far easier to keep a 21 foot single outboard running perfectly straight in a head sea with a 20 kt wind than a 15000 lb canyon boat anyday...get real...

kimannjo · 09-25-2009, 08:40 AM

if you fall overboard you can turn the boat back to you,, providing you didnt go 32 feet away from your helm yet.... I love my s1000..

gerg · 09-25-2009, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimannjo

if you fall overboard you can turn the boat back to you,, providing you didnt go 32 feet away from your helm yet.... I love my s1000..

Instead of the "crazy Ivan", that maneuver would be called the "Crazy Cuisinart".

Squidd Vicious · 09-26-2009, 06:53 AM

I was considering the s1000 but after reading through some of the older threads I am now seriously considering spending the extra coin and going with the Simrad AP14

Reel Draggin' Tackle · 09-26-2009, 07:36 AM

I once had a s1000 on a Grady White 23 foot Gulfstream with a single yamaha ox66 225.. It worked fine trolling at 3kts or better in the Bay for rock fish, although it was a bit fast. It worked best offshore trolling at 5 to 9kts. I burned it up two times running to the canyons and back (65nm avg). Replaced the pump just before selling the boat and warned the new owner that it was a trolling only autopilot.

Glen E · 09-26-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reel Draggin' Tackle

. Replaced the pump just before selling the boat and warned the new owner that it was a trolling only autopilot.

exactly...I don't think a few here understand what stresses an AP pump is under. Besides a bow thruster, I think it's the most stressed unit on many boats. From the back of the boat, it has to turn the engines hundreds of times back and forth to keep it straight. Once it turns the motor one way, it needs to then turn the other way to correct the course. The pump is a REVERSING pump, that reverses many times a minute. Asking them to push loads they are not made for burns them out. Ask owner's of Simrads - we sell two or three RPU-160 & 80 pumps a week.

That, and the s1000 does not give the pump good data as it has no heading sensor - it has to get the heading info from the gps which does not send it anywhere near fast enuf for the pump to correct. Watch a TR-1 at work at a slow 5-10 knots in a quartering sea...the engines are jumping around to an almost disconcerting level...but you go dead straight.

We won't stock a s1000 - it's just asking for trouble. We don't make money when we have to revisit an install and the owner is not happy. Better to sell them an X10-, AP24, or a GHP10.

philgorp · 09-26-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squidd Vicious

I was considering the s1000 but after reading through some of the older threads I am now seriously considering spending the extra coin and going with the Simrad AP14

good call, i've installed simrad robertson pilots for 19 yrs. get the ap24 with a rudder feedback and a rpu80
or get an accusteer hrp 75 pump. it will work even better.
raymarine makes a good pilot. their drives and pumps are top quality
the best way to increase the life of the pump is to use an actual rudder feedback

it seems everyone has to push the virtual rudder feed back
tr1 has the only functioning "vrf" system it relies on the rpm of the pump X the displacement of the pump X the ram disp.x stroke. it works but i don' like octopus pumps

philgorp · 09-26-2009, 06:01 PM

oh and use an ac 40 computer

philgorp · 09-27-2009, 07:11 PM

and,, the s1000 has no heading sensor . it relies on the gps for cog .
i have installed one on a sea cat once. it worked barely it is not one of the quality units.

RideSober · 09-27-2009, 08:37 PM

Thanks for all the input, I'll need to do so more investigating for an alternative.

FishnutNW · 10-31-2009, 10:03 AM

Yes, thank you.

Reel Stamas · 10-31-2009, 11:01 AM

I have a (now defunct) S1000 on my 22' Bay-boat so I could try to fish/steer from the tower when sightfishing Cobia & it's never worked for more than a season w/out 'brainbox' (not pump) issues... I've sent it back & had it repaired & it failed again pretty quickly... Now even though it failed w/in months of their repair & software upgrade, they are now telling me they have 'No Parts' & "don't send it back" as they won't even look at it. Needless to say I'm pissed after spending $1000 for a pilot & I got maybe 1-2short seasons of using it ~12x/yr during the 6 wk Cobia run... It's a POS...