Auto pilot install?

[sharkwaters]

Hi Guys. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
I want to replace my Benmar Course Setter with a new model that has two station capabilities. My Blackman is an 87 Express and I steer from up top too much not to have the controll up there. The new AP's are expensive. I'm considering the Sitex SP70 or SP80. I still have the Hynautic pressurized hydraulic steering. Its a three hose system. The boat is a straight shaft inboard with a non-balanced K-11 hynautic ram. I think I can still use all this. I want to install the AP myself, all new lines ETC. Has anyone gone this route before? I plan to call Steve for his advice, but the shop is closed untill after the Holidays. IF I get this done, I will have the old system for sale if anyone wants good parts. The Course Setter works great, I need two stations

[Honeygirl]

Sharkwaters, I have the sitex sp70 in my 2003 outerbanks and to say the least I hate it. The unit was recommended by Blackman. It is not user friendly and the instructions are hard to understand. I am very mechanical and do all my own work on my boats. After reading the instructions on the AP I had Blackman do the insulation. The time it would have taken me was not worth it. I should of done my homework more on the AP's before I bought the SP-70. Since then I have used both the furuno and simrad AP's and although they are almost the same, I would of picked the furuno, only because 2/3 of my electronics are furuno. I found both to be user friendly and the instructions were easy to read.

[sharkwaters]

Hi Honeygirl.
Thanks for the honest info. There is a new (06) Blackman on B dock in Dana West Marina (DP) and he has the SP70. That is one reason I considered that unit, along with the price. I don't want to waste money on the wrong unit. Simrad has a new system, the AP16, but the coin is higher than I want to spend. I looked at Furuno and Raymarine. I may need to reconsider my options. How long did it take Steve to install your AP? Does the Sitex steer a straight course or are there other problems? Is your outerbanks a I/O or inboard? Do you have pressurized hydraulic steering? Any info you can share would be appreciated. Having two stations is the most important feature for me, but the unit has to perform.
Thanks for the help.
Bob

[Time Out]

Hay Bob

I have an inboard we installed the sp70 in 2003 like you say the other units are double the price. The thing you should make sure of is this unit multy station capable it was not in 2003. It works fine on my boat my system is the pressurized hydraulic same as yours we installed it ourseves finding the fittings took longer than the install. I think the Simrad is a better unit I just didnt want to pay the price.

I know of two other boats with the sp70. I have heard of problems with the control head we have not had any problems yet.It stears fine the install and control direction are weak we played with the settings for a few trips until we got it. If you decide to use it let me know I will tell you my settings. I think we paid 1100.00 for the unit and another 100 or so for fittings. we mounted the motor next to the pressur can on the transom the compas under the starboard V berth bunk and the computer head on the bridge under the dashboard. Hope this helps

Russ

[Honeygirl]

Sharkwaters. I don't know the exact install time since we had the boat at Blackman for some warranty work so they did the install at the same time. I have an I/O and I think that has a lot to do with my problems. The steering is a pressurized hydraulic system. I do find the outdrive has some play in it and the AP has to keep readjusting for the course I set. The problem is it over-steers and the boat starts to swing back and forth until I have to shut the unit down. I also found unless the water is flat calm the unit will not steer straight. I find you really have to readjust for the conditions you are in. I fish at the Catalina Island 99% of the time. If I sit over night and run my batteries low the the AP will not work until I have almost a full charge the unit takes too much power. It also causes a surge in my lights even under full power. The latest problem I am having is the control head keeps freezing up. I use my boat once a week so it takes a lot of abuse and water tends to get in the bilge in rough conditions which causes moisture to build up in the head.

[sharkwaters]

Hi Russ. Thanks for the reply. Our systems are a close match, if not as close to identicle as possible. The SP80 can be used as the primary and the SP70 as the secondary. Did you run new hose? The fittings for the Hynautic system is a little wierd going together. I had to fix one that had a slow weep. Do you know which steering ram you have? Mine is a K11 or K13, I think. The label is faded. I had to put a kit in it last season. I had some wierd steering issues and found the retaining Nylock nut was loose on the steering ram banjo fitting. I snugged it up and the steering improved.

Honeygirl. Sorry to hear of your problems with your AP. Having a Blackman zig zagging is not good, especially downswell. Thanks for the irea for the amp draw of the motor, that is an important consideration.

I guess I still have some thinking before I make up my mind.

Bob

[hijole]

I thought I was the only person with autopilot problems. I think I've repuilt everything 3 times. Each time I think I solved the problem. Then it's the same old thing.
It seems the only pilot that works is the old Benmar. That's the one Don tried to sell me 20 years ago.

[sharkwaters]

Hi Guys. I have been too busy to get back to this thread. Mike. I check my binnacle and I don't have the J7 plug, or at least one that is not used. The Ray Marine AP is not too expensive if I don;t buy the Gyro unit.
Now I have another issue/question.
I have a three hose pressurized Hynautic steering system. I rebuilt the ram two years ago, but now that I looked at the system as a whole and its overall importance. I realize that I'm on borrowed time. The Reservalve and ram are pretty corroded. I'm looking at replacing the ram, reservalve, hoses, and the AP. I'm not sure if the same cylinder and reservalve are still available. My helms are not the vented with reservoirs models. Has anyone else had to replace these parts? Is Steve still using the pressurized system?
I guess I need to call Steve tomorrow.
Thanks for the help, comments.
Bob

[DOGHOUSE26]

I believe Hynautic was bought out by Teleflex, I'm not sure if the rams are still available. I have a brand new Tank in the box(when mine went out I ordered one from Bucklew Marine Service, the guy in SD who works on them; he said 3weeks lead time. After I ordered one from him , I found one in Newport Beach and had it the next day. I believe I paid $270 for it. If you need one let me know or Bucklew might be able to rebuild yours; just be patient with him he does good work, he did my helm station no problems.

[hijole]

Jeff, there's not much to the tank as I remember. There are just a few O-rings, the main one that connects the chingadera (where the hoses connect) below the tank to the tank. I think the problem is that the dirt,greese and grime stays here.
Heres my 2 cents. I have greesed the fitting on the ram because it has a greese fitting. After rebuilding the ram several times I'm convinced we should not greese it or at least as much as I was. The greese would get sucked into the ram and then travel around with the oil through out the system and make everything slippery. I found greese at every corner, the helms, pump, hoses and sitting heavy in the tank. At first I didn't know what I was cleaning when I had the helms and pump apart. Maybe thats why my system would work OK for awhile. I think that would be the reason the chingadera kept sliding around. Since the last time I rebuilt everything it has lasted longer. I now get a small paper towel and rub hynautic fluid on the rod coming out of the ram, NO GREESE. We'll see if that was it.
Don't laugh, I've done everything wrong several times.