Autopilot drive motor replacement

[irwinsailor]

I will be buying a new autopilot and would like some information about the two types that I am looking at. I have a autohelm 6000 rotary drive now so I will be buying a raymarine. The place that I will be buying the replacemant from thinks I should replace it with a Raymarine type 2 linear drive. It will cost $500 more to do but they say that if I have a cable break the autopilot will still work because it is connected to the rudder shaft. The ease of replacing what I have with the raymarine type 2 rotary also has appeal and I was happy with the way the old unit worked. Is the linear worth the extra work?

[Rick]

The Autohelm 6000 (Autohelm is now sold by Raymarine) is a hydraulic drive unit. Only a fool would replace a hydraulic drive with a linear drive.

[irwinsailor]

I have a 1983 autohelm 6000 rotary drive. If can not be repaired so it needs to be replaced with something. I do not have a boat with hydralics for steering. So my question is what are the pro's and con's of rotary drive and linear drive systems?

[jemsea]

On the offhand chance you didn't see this it is a ST6000 for sale at $750.00 on the SSCA board.

http://www.ssca.org/sscabb/index.php...=10&topic=2338

Regards,

John

[irwinsailor]

Thanks, I'll see if they are the same model.