Autohelm 5000 upgrade

[Thorbjorn-Ram]

Hi,

This is my first post here, so sorry if something is wrong in the message.
On our Hallberg-Rassy 352 we have an old, original Autohelm 5000 autopilot system. I do not think it works very well, and the controls are not exactly great.
So my question is:

Can you keep the linear drive (it works) and upgrade the controller, computer and compass?
Preferably, I would like to upgrade to early 2000s Raymarine (or a newer Autohelm system). Is this, or anything like it possible? Can you maybe point me towards a place to read about this stuff, or maybe you've done it yourself?

Thank you very much for your help

[Tupaia]

Is it black with red buttons or grey?
What doesn't work very well?

[Thorbjorn-Ram]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

Is it black with red buttons or grey?
What doesn't work very well?

Thanks for your reply
The linear drive is black with "Autohelm 5000" written on it. The control box is black with turning dials, red buttons and 2 diodes: red and green.
We don't find the controls very intuitive, so it is hard to set up. We would also like something, that is a little bit more 'trustworthy'. We don't really trust the thing, so we'd rather sail ourselves.

[Franziska]

We have a black Autohelm actuator and it works with the Grey Raymarine 5000+ control head.
Might work with a Pelagic control unit as well.

Be careful Raymarine 6000 control heads need an extra course computer. In the 5000 and lower that is inside the control unit.

[Tupaia]

Ahh the really old one.
In theory the linear drive has not changed much apart from the connections (type), power and clutch cables, so with a little cutting a splicing should work with later units.

[chris mac]

I was having trouble with my autopilot. Ratheon st7000. I called raymarine and got connected to a tech. They were very helpful. with discriptions and some product #'s he helped me figure out what was working and what wasn't. He also provided product #'s of replacement parts to work with my drive.
I highly recommend talking with them to see what is possible.
Good luck

[stormalong]

What year is the autopilot? Circa 1985 the design of the linear drive changed. They are both black. The "newer" one uses a recirculating ball drive mechanism the is much better that the old ones. There are no parts available for the old drives. You can use the old drive with a new course computer but if/when it breaks it will probably not be repairable.

I can tell at a glance which one you have. Can you post a picture?

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by stormalong

What year is the autopilot? Circa 1985 the design of the linear drive changed. They are both black. The "newer" one uses a recirculating ball drive mechanism the is much better that the old ones. There are no parts available for the old drives. You can use the old drive with a new course computer but if/when it breaks it will probably not be repairable.

I can tell at a glance which one you have. Can you post a picture?

As far as I know Pelagic autopilot has compatible actuators and control heads...

[Thorbjorn-Ram]

Originally Posted by Franziska

We have a black Autohelm actuator and it works with the Grey Raymarine 5000+ control head.
Might work with a Pelagic control unit as well.

Be careful Raymarine 6000 control heads need an extra course computer. In the 5000 and lower that is inside the control unit.

Okay, thank you very much. Did you have a large head unit before your bought the 5000+? We have one as the image attached below, and after reading in the Autohelm 5000 manual, it seems that has both a gimbal, compass and course computer inside. Is the 5000+ all you need if you upgrade - no external compass, no external gimbal?

[Thorbjorn-Ram]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

Ahh the really old one.
In theory the linear drive has not changed much apart from the connections (type), power and clutch cables, so with a little cutting a splicing should work with later units.

Okay, thanks

[Thorbjorn-Ram]

Originally Posted by stormalong

What year is the autopilot? Circa 1985 the design of the linear drive changed. They are both black. The "newer" one uses a recirculating ball drive mechanism the is much better that the old ones. There are no parts available for the old drives. You can use the old drive with a new course computer but if/when it breaks it will probably not be repairable.

I can tell at a glance which one you have. Can you post a picture?

Thank you so much for your reply. Sorry I didn't see your message sooner. I will get back to you with a picture, when I am at the boat in the weekend, if that's ok

[Thorbjorn-Ram]

Originally Posted by chris mac

I was having trouble with my autopilot. Ratheon st7000. I called raymarine and got connected to a tech. They were very helpful. with discriptions and some product #'s he helped me figure out what was working and what wasn't. He also provided product #'s of replacement parts to work with my drive.
I highly recommend talking with them to see what is possible.
Good luck

Thanks, Chris! I tried to make a profile on the Raymarine Legacy forum, but it wouldn't let me! Then I tried to write to them, but you needed a parts no. and a serial. no. and I didn't have that. But I'll try to call them, when I find out a little bit more

[Franziska]

Hi, just saw your reply.
We have an external compass but no external course computer, that is integrated into the control head we currently have.

The original control head was round and had a big vertical dial to adjust course.

Both our actuators work with the current control head.

We used better waterproof 2 pole connectors in our installation. They work fine.
We do avoid full hard positions though as much as we can.

[Thorbjorn-Ram]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hi, just saw your reply.
We have an external compass but no external course computer, that is integrated into the control head we currently have.

The original control head was round and had a big vertical dial to adjust course.

Both our actuators work with the current control head.

We used better waterproof 2 pole connectors in our installation. They work fine.
We do avoid full hard positions though as much as we can. Attachment 258897Attachment 258898Attachment 258899

Okay, thank you. It all seems very easy!
I will look further into the possibility of upgrading the control head and compass. I must say, that the ST5000+ is very advanced (at in comparison to what I am used to), it has some great features, and I really like, that it displays your compass heading.

[Thorbjorn-Ram]

Originally Posted by stormalong

What year is the autopilot? Circa 1985 the design of the linear drive changed. They are both black. The "newer" one uses a recirculating ball drive mechanism the is much better that the old ones. There are no parts available for the old drives. You can use the old drive with a new course computer but if/when it breaks it will probably not be repairable.

I can tell at a glance which one you have. Can you post a picture?

Hello, I have finally been to the boat, so if you are still there, then here's the pictures. Thanks