Raymarine SmartController

[amytom]

I have the Raymarine ST4000 autopilot and was considering getting the SmartController remote control device. My wife and I like to set the autopilot and walk up to the trampoline and kick back. I can keep a close eye on traffic from there (ICW) but I have to run back to the cockpit to adjust if needed.
Has anyone tried this yet? Any thoughts?

[philip van praag]

we have one and thats exactly what we do
also great to take to the nave table when its time to do the log as all the info is in one place.

its a great peace of kit

[amytom]

Thanks, now time to "allocate funds", hard to do this close to Christmas.

[CAELESTIS]

Get the model that displays everything on the seatalk system. I have one and love it.

While the boat was at the dock, I took the handheld and walked away while observing the signal strength. I went about 200' before I lost signal.

[philip van praag]

so if you fit the sender in the middle of the boat you can have a 400' boat

[highseas]

So if I fell overboard with remote on person,and quickly hit button to turn into wind,I could possibly swim back to boat?Does basic remote have same range?

[philip van praag]

that would take several button presses as you can only turn 10 degrees at a time

[FrankZ]

Originally Posted by philip van praag

that would take several button presses as you can only turn 10 degrees at a time

Or you could use the auto tack function and maybe make it heave to.

[highseas]

Better than nothing.If you were attached but dragging beside boat at speed ,provided you could hit button,would slow boat ,making solo reboarding more likely.The tea bag thought is not very appealing.It should have a 45 degree one push button also.

[rodney_k]

My system, ST7000+ and ST50 Instruments, will disengage the autopilot when the Smartcontroller loses signal. Don't know if that is standard and I didn't do anything to program that "feature" but that is what it does on signal loss.

[SilentOption]

Found this thread and wanted to ask more questions on Raymarine pilots.

I am planning to use Raymarines Mechanical Type 2 Linear Drive with the basic flux gate and rudder indicators.

I am going by Raymarines literature and according to that the Type 2 Drive means I am limited to the X-30 or X-SOL Smartpilots. The X-SOL says its for commercial apps or large sailboats. It is most appealing to me as it lists for about $900 less than the X-30.

There are a few different Control heads. 6000, 7000 and 8000 series and a smaller daylight viewable screen that's seems quite expensive.


Any opinions the two brainboxes or control heads?


Has anyone used (are using) Raymarines current Wheel pilot?