Sorry I can't find the previous post about the heading/autopilot problems I was having, but here's the update, anyway.
Raymarine told me to swing the fluxgate, so I did. It worked for an hour or so, then fell off again. The picture on the plotter showed me backing into the marina with my port stern and a radical heading on my ST6001 readout.
Next, they said to check the fluxgate for malfuntion. My local Raymarine dealer gave me one to try. Same problem, only now it wouldn't even give me a fixed variation during swinging!
HERE'S the REAL NEWS: I called Raymarine from the boat on my 5th circle around. After the usual press 1 for, press 2 for, I got a service guy after 3 rings. He understood the problem and told me what to send back. I tracked the shipment. The day after it got there a repair tech called, saying it was fixed and confirming my return address. That was last Tuesday. I got it today in CA from NH. I'll put it in tomorrow morning and give it a run.
So far, I'd say this is excellent customer service, once the problem was identified.
I'm not saying Raymarine is better or worse than any other manufacturer. This is just my experience with this company, with this problem, at this time. I am very satisfied.
Bob
Raymarine told me to swing the fluxgate, so I did. It worked for an hour or so, then fell off again. The picture on the plotter showed me backing into the marina with my port stern and a radical heading on my ST6001 readout.
Next, they said to check the fluxgate for malfuntion. My local Raymarine dealer gave me one to try. Same problem, only now it wouldn't even give me a fixed variation during swinging!
HERE'S the REAL NEWS: I called Raymarine from the boat on my 5th circle around. After the usual press 1 for, press 2 for, I got a service guy after 3 rings. He understood the problem and told me what to send back. I tracked the shipment. The day after it got there a repair tech called, saying it was fixed and confirming my return address. That was last Tuesday. I got it today in CA from NH. I'll put it in tomorrow morning and give it a run.
So far, I'd say this is excellent customer service, once the problem was identified.
I'm not saying Raymarine is better or worse than any other manufacturer. This is just my experience with this company, with this problem, at this time. I am very satisfied.
Bob