Autopilot recommendation

[holy mackerel]

I believe Ratheon and Raymarine split several years ago. Unless you need missiles, You want Raymarine. Their service dept. is in the US, but their sport pilot was from the U.K.

[stinger]

I sent a email to Raymarine this morning and in true form their response was quick. Names were X'ed out but available if need be.

Customer (XXX stingerXXX)01/28/2010 10:11 AM

I'm getting ready to purchase a SmartPilot X-5 Sport Pilot and in a fishing forum that I participate in a member mentioned that your company is going bankrupt.

My question is are you in fact going bankrupt and will Raymarine be going out of business. My fear is that once I buy your products there will be no customer support if I have problems with your products.

Thanks,

Discussion Thread

Response (XXXXXXXX)01/28/2010 11:50 AM

Raymarine is not going bankrupt, and although I can't guarantee anything (like any other company in this economy) our company is as strong as any company in the marine industry, and I don't foresee our company going out of business and we at Raymarine are looking for a great upcoming year!

[skipper19]

Unless you need missiles, You want Raymarine.

I remember back during desert storm, I had a Raytheon LORAN/sonar combo unit, I think a Echonav 730 model, I needed some help with. I called Raytheon and they immediately asked if the call was government or domestic related. I guess I should have said I was calling about a high speed guidance system for a rocket (my bayliner and force engine ) ....cause then they put me on hold forever since I said I was a domestic fisherman.....hold please, CLICK....hold ..hold.hold...end of game, blip.

Mark

[fishman08]

I was in florida this past week and i stopped in to a marina near tampa that was recommended as they set-up hundreds of auto pilots every year and the guy recommended the simrad 24 and the sitex sp 80. You know it's a small world as the head rep use to live in Point breeze. Just a quick note on raymarine the guy said he doesn't recommend them right now as they are unsure about their future, so looks like they weren't totally truthful with you stinger

[stinger]

Thanks for your field report Matt. I still haven't made a purchase yet but will need to by mid March. Boat will be coming out of storage and into the shop for a new steering system and autopilot.

[holy mackerel]

Navico made the AP12 before they bought Simrad. I had one on my '97 Lund, and still have it in my basement.

I purchased a new Simrad Ap12r two years ago and they are identical. The navico had an intermittent problem in the circuit board so I retired it for parts ( the control, compass and motor). I served well for ten years. Prior to that, I only got one year of trouble free operation from Sportpilot plus and a $350 annual bill to "fix it" the next two years. (Thanks Raymarine)

My vote is for Simrad.

As far as I know, there are only two available A/P made for mechanical steering. Does anyone know of others?