Raymarine S1000 Wireless Autopilot

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IdleUp

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Thinking about an autopilot for my Ranger 25 - seems a lot of guys are using the Raymarine S1000 Wireless Autopilot System. It's designed for boats up to 25 ft and street price is around $900. Installation is easy as mounting three lines to the helm pump and mounting the computer. It feeds off the NMEA 0183 and comes with a wireless remote.

http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail. ... ODUCT=3011

Any thoughts or other units are appreciated!

Thanks
 
There has been discussion on this unit here already. Use the search function to find them. I have one on my 25. Works great, but it is noisy. If you can mount it away from the cabin it would help mitigate the noise. You would have to buy additional lengths of hose, but may be worth it. Although the noise lets you know it is working. Drives my wife crazy. Both times she was on the boat this year.
 
Hi Idelup
I've been looking at this for a while for the R21 we just purchased. I've talked to a few people and really looked at all the options available from Raymarine. The s1000 is a GPS based system. It will require a GPS plotter to function which is not a problem for your boat. What the Raymarine installer here has told me is that because it is GPS based it will lose it's accuracy the slower the boat travels through the water. Higher speeds it's fine. His suggestion was the S1G with a fluxgate compass. Much more accurate, but more expensive. His feeling is both systems have their merits, but the S1G is the better way to go. We are going this route with R21, but that requires a steering change to hydraulic.

Gregg
http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail. ... ODUCT=1577
 
Thanks for the reply - I've been reading up and it seems the S1000 does pretty good at speeds over 4 mph. I like the price and I really like the remote since it gives me the opportunity to work from the cockpit and bow of the boat.
 
I thought I seen some T's on the back of the stock helm steering pump on my R-25 - does anyone know if they are T's and could be used with the S1000 or put there for another purpose?

Thanks
 
I have one on my CD22 and used it a lot on the 2008 Lake Powell trip. It worked without any problems even at slow speeds. On the last day I went from Oak Canyon (mile 51) back to Wahweap. The entire distance I used the S1000 and went at the "just in gear" speed. This was about 4 knots. (5mph). I use a dedicated GPS puck(gps with no display) for the input. I paid about $50 for the the gps and $850 for the S1000. The dealer told me that the last firmware update improved the slow speed response. It comes with all the T fittings that are needed for the install.

Roger
 
Just got back from a quick cruise to test out the new S1000 install. We installed the S1000 with the input coming via Nobeltec VNS Max (laptop). We connected the GPS unit (Nobeltec antenna type) to a USB hub along with the S1000 and feed that to the computer. The S1000 worked great.

We are coming from a 32' Sundowner Tug that had an autopilot (not sure of the model, but a higher end unit). The S1000 worked basically the same way and with the remote -- it is much better.

I installed the S1000 pump and computer under the helm seat (behind a refridge that I installed) and we could not hear the pump at all. The only way I could feel it was on the engine controls - very slight vibration. I expected noise from the unit, but even at very slow speeds and with the door closed -- no noise at all.

So far so good.
 
We went with the ST6002 / S1G in Island Ranger - same as we had in Two Lucky Fish - (our C-Dory 22). It was more expensive, but I wanted the flux gate compass. Too many times running in places where the current is strong and the GPS course doesn't match the ships heading.

You cannot heard in when it is running - the pump is in the port side cockpit locker. I can't comment on install - the Factory did mine.

There is a BIG difference in performance with the auto pilot running in an outboard driven boat, and an inboard/rudder boat. I hope you can hear from someone with the S1000 in a Ranger 25 to hear how it works.

You can add a remote to the 6002- but I didn't. I do not feel comfortable steering quickly enough around deadheads, and since the autopilot doesn't control throttle, I want to get the the helm when needed for adjustments.

Mac
 
Ranger used to offer this unit but stopped installing them after several complaints about the boat "Hunting" especially when the sensitivities were turned up too high. Ranger recommends the ST6001 gyroscopically stabilized unit with the rudder feedback link. A remote control is available for this unit also. You will definately spend more $ than you would with the ST1000 but I guarantee that you'll be happier with the operation. You certainly don't want to be displeased with how your electronics operate after what you have spent for your beautiful new boat.

Charlie
 
I have the S1000 on the RF-246 and it works fine straight out of the box but I also have a fluxgate compass so maybe that helps.
It is mounted inside the transom seat and is just audible from the helm if the doors are open. Good to know it is working !!
I believe the manual says that you have to be doing more than 3/4 Kts before engaging the autopilot but once it is tracking it seems to work even below that.

I never use the wireless remote for the reasons that Mac stated. It would be a pity to be headed for a log and find the battery was flat and also there are many occasions where a throttle adjustment also helps avoid problems.

Nice unit for the money and it does all that I need which is to ease workload on a long straight section with no obstacles. I do not use it at high speed.

Merv
 
Hey Grumpy thanks for the reply - if I understand correctly, you can mount the pump any where in the system - Yours is the first I heard that was mounted aft since most mount them at the helm.

Regarding the remote control - that's the main reason I'm buying the unit so i can be anywhere outside the cabin while under way - of course I understand you have to be observant.

Thanks
 
Idleup I'm not Grumpy (most of the time) but you are limited with the S-1000 by the length of the hoses unless you have custom longer hoses made which might negate the savings somewhat over the unit Charlie recommends. The S-1000 hoses are about 3 feet long. While the S-1000 works fine on my 22 perhaps it isn't a good idea for the Ranger. As far as the remote I use it all the time in open water. Boating by myself it is great for slow trolling and about a week ago I prepared breakfast while slow cruising on remote. I definately wouldn't use it in a congested area or at high speed you can get in trouble pretty quick.
 
Well I AM Grumpy and I have the shirt and socks from my Grandchildren to prove it 8)

I guess we have a lot more logs in the water up here.

Merv
 
Yep - I forgot about that part. I really like having the rudder indicator on my C-120 display that comes from the rudder feedback unit on the autopilot.

In the Ranger 25, I still don't see the benefit of a remote. Unlike an autopilot that turns an outboard motor (with its' very quick turning response), I can't really "steer" around things with the inboard/rudder autopilot and then return to my plotted course. One nice feature - with the present C-120 software, you can handle some of the autopilot controls right from the C-120 display.

Mac
 
but you are limited with the S-1000 by the length of the hoses unless you have custom longer hoses made which might negate the savings somewhat over the unit Charlie recommends.
Click to expand...

FYI: I purchased my hoses brand new on e-bay for $78 (for 2 hoses) for 12 foot hoses. They sell them in all sizes on e-bay with the 20+ foot just over $100.
 
Not sure what you mean - I thought if you hit the "turn" button quickly it gives you a few degrees and if you hold it down it goes 10-12 degrees is that not true - Also if you're using a route on the GPS, won't it just go back to the original track?

Thanks
 
IdleUp":36erzdim said:
Not sure what you mean - I thought if you hit the "turn" button quickly it gives you a few degrees and if you hold it down it goes 10-12 degrees is that not true - Also if you're using a route on the GPS, won't it just go back to the original track?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Thats the way mine works actually if you hold it down you can make a complete 360 degree turn and it will resume a track to the route you have set. To disengage it all you do is hit the standby button on the remote.
 
What we're talking about between the S1000 and the S1 is stability and response, which defines performance at both low speeds and in rough water. The S1 offers better rough water performance than the S1000, and the S1G has rate gyros which offer even better performance than the S1.

The S1 is $250 more than a S1000, and well worth it. The S1G is $600 more than a S1 and I didn't pay it, and have to start hand steering sooner. The hydraulic installation is the same, forward or aft.

The S1000 uses the heading output of a GPS. This number is derived by differencing successive GPS positions, and as soon as you start subtracting large numbers to get small differences, you get noise and poor performance. So when the position is changing slowly or your heading is changing rapidly, the S1000 quits working. The S1 gets heading directly from a (fluxgate) compass, and has better performance. The S1G has rate gyros which increase response and stability, and sometimes I wish I had those gyros. The S1 series also has a rudder/motor pointing sensor, offering more stability/response.

Boris
 
Well I might be wrong, but for me I feel the S1000 is worthy enough for my use. If it wonders around a bit more than some of the other pilots I'll just accept it as the price of the unit.

Quick question - as I mentioned, the remote is very important to me, does the other two units you mentioned ( S1 / SG1) come with a remote - if not, can you buy one for them and how much?
 
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