WTB: Autohelm 3000 for Wheel Steering

[Guillermo]

I'm interested in buying an Autohelm 3000 for wheel steering in good working order.

I live in Pontevedra, Spain, but can send a courier service to pick up the item anywhere in Spain or close country.

If somebody has one for sale, please answer this post or send message to g.gefaell<at>gmail<dot>com

Cheers.

[Talbot]

I have extensive experience of the old analoque and newer digital 3000 wheel pilots.

They are no longer made, and spares are difficult to source.

Their capability is significantly less than the 4000. If you can source one, I would recommend that you look at the 4000 by preference.

[speedoo]

I'll second Talbot's advice. I think you will be much happier with a 4000 and I would set up a search on ebay. If you're lucky, you may find a complete unit in good condition, but you might end up having to cobble together a few parts.

[Guillermo]

Thanks to you both, but for mounting reasons I need the Autohelm 3000 or then Autohelm ST3000.

More precisely what I need is just a working main control unit. A hanheld control unit could also be a bonus. But I could buy the whole lot, if reasonably priced, to get spares.

Cheers.

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by Guillermo

what I need is just a working main control unit. A hanheld control unit could also be a bonus.

Not as simple as that - there were several different versions of the analogue control unit (the round barrel shape,) and they had different wiring to the motor. Furthermore, it is likely thatthe unit on the actual motor is also defective. Hence you need a complete working kit.

There is no handheld control unit for the analogue version. I dont think the digital one has one either.

[Guillermo]

Thanks Talbot.
Motor is working fine, but control unit has "lost the North" if you know what I mean (never gets the rhumb making the boat turn around). Control unit is of the barrel type. As you say, probably I'll need the whole thing.

How's up there in Stavanger? Been there a couple of times and have some friends.

Cheers.

[Talbot]

You are unlikely to get a decent 3000 anymore as the digital ones have not been produced since about 2003.

I expect your problem is the little control unit on the top of the motor, rather than a fluxgate issue, but either way it is VERY unlikely that you could get it fixed.

I would start getting dimensions checked again for the 4000

[Guillermo]

Talbot,
I'll try to get some images today of the arrangement wheel-motor and post them here. Going for some sailing now.

Cheers!

[Guillermo]

Talbot,
I have found a complete digital 3000 in good working order with little use, here in Spain.
I need to use the 3000 because the wheel is wall mounted and no way of opening a hole in the bulkhead for the motor of a 4000 or newer unit.
Thanks a lot for your help.

Cheers.

[Guillermo]

I have mounted and tested the AH 3000 and works fine for my intended use. The only problem is with the remote hand held control: the -10º botton doesn't work. Any ideas?

Cheers.

[dzhiurgis]

Hi Guillermo,
I had very similar problem - one of the button of remote didn't work. Ended up replacing whole cord and resoldering for 4 times the whole thing - it was pain to find correct pinout.
Cheers.

[lucseawalker]

Hi Guillermo,

I was exactly in the same situation as you are and for weeks I looked on ebay. A few weeks ago, I found a used complete ST3000 in UK and it seems to work fine now on my boat in the S.Pa.
It is really a shame that they quit producing the 3000 and 4000 ... works well on my 46ft tri. I guess the marine industry got the same bug as all industries now: always changing models to force customers to spend more money with them
Look also on ebay and you might get lucky as I was!

Originally Posted by Guillermo

I'm interested in buying an Autohelm 3000 for wheel steering in good working order.

I live in Pontevedra, Spain, but can send a courier service to pick up the item anywhere in Spain or close country.

If somebody has one for sale, please answer this post or send message to g.gefaell<at>gmail<dot>com

Cheers.

[Guillermo]

Thanks a lot dzhiurgis and lucseawalker. I have tested the buttons in the remote commanding box with a polimeter and they seem to be OK. Also the connection to the main unit seems to be OK. So I still don't know if the problem is in the remote unit and its cable or then inside the main unit. I'm finding myself in a similar situation as dzhiurgis'

Yes it's a pity they do not produce anymore the 3000. Marketing strategies to keep us on spending money in new fancier models, as lucseawalker says.

Happy New Year everybody!