[c350ia] Raymarine Autopilot

[Art Torino]

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I had a similar problem when I first took possession of my 350 in July of
2004. While tying to sail it home, at one point the boat started doing
circles is the middle of Nantucket Sound in calm water. In my case the
problem was a software bug in the Raymarine wheel pilot. It was corrected,
or more likely overcome by adding the rudder position sensor option to the
autopilot. I did not originally order this option, but adding it worked and
has been working for four seasons now.

Art Torino

Netti Verde, #161

 _____ 

From: c350ia-admin@catalina350.net [mailto:c350ia-admin@catalina350.net] On
Behalf Of tjr3c@comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 11:43 AM
To: Mark W. Schlussel; c350ia@catalina350.net
Cc: mark1852@gmail.com
Subject: Re: [c350ia] Raymarine Autopilot

Mark,

I had a similar problem on my 2005 C350. I e-mailed Raymarine's technical
assistance and got into phone contact with them. They were very helpful and
gave me a few suggested tests to perform to help determine the source of the
problem. Bottom line, I did have to remove the computer but in my case, it
was located underneath the aft berth on the fiberglass wall that separates
the two after compartments. It was easy to get the wires out by pushing a
tab inward and pulling the wires out. I carefully labeled each wire with
tape so I would know where it goes when it was time to reinstall. Raymarine
replaced a few bad capacitors and sent the unit back. You really need three
hands to reinstall because you are working upside down and you will need a
hand with flashlight etc. It really wasn't that hard to do. I also
replaced the fluxgate compass which is located in the lower portion of the
aft portside cabinet.

Tim

C350 #332

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Mark W. Schlussel" <mark1852@optonline.net> 

Hello everyone. I have the Raymarine electronics package installed on my
2005 C350. The package includes the autopilot which is connected to the
balance of the package (Chartplotter, Radar, GPS, etc) through the computer
located behind the electronics panel at the Nav Station. Last season I
found that the autopilot refused to maintain a course-and worse-on certain
routes, would exhibit headings that could at times be more than 90 degrees
off. I recalibrated several times-all to no avail. I also checked the
fluxgate compass to see if the problem could be found there-but it appears
to work fine. I intend to send the computer back to Raymarine for them to
check it out as the likely source of th! e error . Has anyone removed their
computer and found an easy way to disconnect the wiring so that
re-installation will be relatively easy? I somehow assumed that the
connector blocks to the computer could be removed with the wiring
intact-apparently not. Any ideas??

Mark W. Schlussel

Legal Tender III

Great Neck, NY

mark1852@optonline.net