RayMarine Autopilot Rudder Reference Malfunction

[alnav]

I have the SmartPilot RayMarine autopilot system. I'm suffering from what looks like intermittent failure of the M81105 Rotory Rudder Reference. The symptom is the rudder angle indicator on the autopilot control head (ST8002) showing all bars on the right side like the rudder was hard to starboard. The autopilot will not function in this state. The problem typically appears at system start but not always. If the problem comes up, it will frequently resolve after an amount of time. Today, the reference came back just at the end of a two-hour trip.
I've checked connections and such as best I can at both the reference unit and at the course computer thinking it was heat-related and there was a loose connection but that doesn't seem to be the case.
I thought I would ask the forum to see if anyone else had a similar problem or other advice before I bite the bullet and install a new rudder reference; that will be something of a PITA with a couple of hours standing on my head again.

 

[texoma searay]

We have the same system but I have not mastered it yet, as we just got the boat last month. The previous owner never used the E120 so we had to get a flash drive and card and do the update so the chart plotter would work. Now I will try to get the Smartpilot system to work. So if I have the same problem, maybe we can figure it out.

 

[alnav]

Luckily, the problem turned out to be from the most obvious candidate. I got a new transducer from Jim at BOE and installed it. Pretty easy except for splicing the existing wiring from the aft bilge to the helm so I would not have to re-run it but only because there was not much slack to work with and it was in a confined area. If anyone ever does this, they need to understand the positioning of the new transducer using it's alignment marks, the sensor has to be within 7 degrees of center then the electronics can correct for the rest. Otherwise pretty straightforward and the system has worked well since the change-out.

 

[gyrospiro]

do you have a picture of the mount for the rudder transducer, I trying to figure out how to mount on my boat?

 

[alnav]

do you have a picture of the mount for the rudder transducer, i trying to figure out how to mount on my boat?

Here are a few pictures of my transducer installation. The ideal place seems to be atop a stringer parallel to and at the same level of the rudder arm but close enough to the arm for the transducer linkage to reach the rudder arm. There is a 1/2" or so starboard plate that was put under my transducer.