Smart Pilot Raymarine X5 Wheel Pilot

[chef2sail]

Anyone installed this yet. How do you like its performance? Easy installation?
What do you like about it? What do you not like about it?

Thanks,

Dave

[sailingdog]

Nope, guess not, so you're a guinea pig. let us know how it goes.

[craigtoo]

Originally Posted by chef2sail

Anyone installed this yet. How do you like its performance? Easy installation?
What do you like about it? What do you not like about it?

Thanks,

Dave

Bumpity...bump bump.

Anyone?

[JohnRPollard]

Chef,

This is pretty funny. I was going to post an identical thread today asking the same question!

Does anyone know if Raymarine has even delivered the product yet? They announced it last February, if I recall correctly.

Eagerly awaiting first-hand reports....

[craigtoo]

West was supposed to receive them this month if IIRC.

[craigtoo]

Here's the response I got from Sailnet's Mallory back in September I think... just some product info. Very helpful.

I'll definitely buy it here when the finances recover from the holidays. The November Availability date was pushed back.. don't know how far though.

>>>>>FORWARDED TEXT>>>>>>>

Hi Craig

Thanks for the inquiry. I think the following info will help with your decision. I have noted the major differences in red. If it were me I would wait for the X5 to be released for the sole fact that a rudder sensor is no longer needed on the X5 pilot. Everything else is fairly comparable; both drives are powerful enough for you, displays are the same, and fluxgate compass. Again, the course computer is the same except for the addition of the rate gyro compass and the AST software which I expand on below.

ST4000 - Discontinued. The part you see on our site is the replacement drive unit only.

S1 - This replaces the ST4000. ($1094)
- Enough power to handle your tonnage (18,700 lbs max)
- Uses same drive as ST4000.
- Uses rudder feedback sensor to determine rudder position and therefore compensate (beneficial for sailing downwind).
- No rate gyo sensor. Available as an upgrade though.
- NMEA 0183 - GPS can talk to Pilot. Course to steer etc.
- ST6002 control Head. This is your std control head and will do everything you need. ST8002 has a larger display and some other features but I cant see any benefits to upgrading for a wheel pilot.

X5 - Replaces the S1. (available 11/19/08) (same price as S1)
- Enough power to handle your tonnage. (16.500 lbs max)
- Basically same drive unit as S1.
- Course computer now has rate gyro standard.
- Rudder feedback sensor eliminated. Course computer now has software (AST) to do what the rudder sensor used to do. This is huge since installing the rudder sensor is a huge pain.
- NMEA 2000 connection as well as NMEA 0183. This doesnt really add any particular benefit to you.

Please let me know what questions you have after comparing this data.

Thanks

Mallory

____________________________________________

Mallory Schoolfield
Marine.com, Sailnet.com, Speedwake.com
Sales
mallorys@marine.com
Phone. 1.800.597.1781
International. 843.724.5638
Fax. 928.962.1049

[jbondy]

The S1 didn't have a very long life on the market, did it? It wasn't that long ago that it replaced the ST4000. I just installed the S1 last summer. It's interesting that the S1 WheelPilot is not listed as a current product nor as a retired product on Raymarine's Product Support page.

[chef2sail]

Looks like I opened Pandoras Box,,How was the S1? I saw some of the struggles people had putting the rudder sesnor on. Almost seemed like if it took the time to do that you might has well have gotten a linier drive autopilot ( for 2000 more of course). The beauty of the wheel drive is that it was easy supposedly to install and was 1/3 the rpice and was appropriate for a boat my size and the conditions I will face using it.

Dave

[Maine Sail]

Jeeze I've installed about a half a dozen or so rudder position sensors and other than a little creativity never found them to be as big a pain as everyone else?

Here's one install done with Starboard and 1" stainless tubing and fittings:

[patrickrea]

They are available even in Canada. I almost bought the X-5 demo from the Toronto Boat show. The are available. CDN$1100 for the show demo (repacked and full warranty) or CDN$1250 for a new unit next week.