JeffB
regular
Reged: 26/09/2007
Posts: 16
Loc: Up North
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Recently bought an Invicta 26 with an old Autohelm 1000, by the looks of it I would guess it's from the eighties, my question is this, are they any good? it works so far but I've only used it for a few minutes at a time. I've heard a few horror stories about old auto tillars...any thoughts? 
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VicS
regular
Reged: 13/07/2002
Posts: 9247
Loc: Home: Kent. Boat: Chichester
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Ive still got one. It works well, it does have its limitations but on boat like an Invicta it should be fine. I assume an Invicta is as well mannered as a Co26 and when I used on one of those it hardy had to do any work.
The modern ones are technically much more sophisticated but I bet not as well made.
The version with a rotating knob dates from the mid to late seventies the first version with push buttons (1000 Micro) probably from the early eighties.
Don't bin it try it and use it but if it packs up don't shed too many tears buy a modern one to replace it.
The instruction books are all available from HERE
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Old Chemists never die, they just fail to react
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westhinder
regular
Reged: 15/02/2003
Posts: 126
Loc: Belgium
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I have an Autohelm 2000 that dates from 1988-1990 and it has worked flawlessly so far (touch wood). It has had no special treatment. I regularly sail alone and I would not be without it. I do not know if it differs substantially from the Autohelm 1000 other than in power.
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Johan
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BobnLesley
regular
Reged: 01/12/2005
Posts: 622
Loc: Aground in Wensleydale for 200...
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We were still using one until this last summer, we're still carrying it as a 'spare'. If you;ve any problems with it then this firm might still carry spares: Electronics Marine Ltd (Hull) – John 08708 739769 or john@emarine.net
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Whilst you can have anything you want in this life, you can't have everything that you want; so choose carefully.
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oldharry
regular
Reged: 30/05/2001
Posts: 3796
Loc: North from the Nab about 10 mi...
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If its the original one with the compass on top, then its more likely an AH 800, which was a perfectly viable no frills autohelm. The drawback was that it could not compensate for changes of trim or windspeed, and so could not be completely relied on to steer a course. This simply meant that the watchkeeper had to monitor and adjust the thing every so often. Also in frisky conditions the course would be somewhat erratic.
The horror stories continue with modern autopilots - as soon as water gets in and affects the electronics they go haywire!
I still have my old AH800 as a back up.
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If you cant fix it, get a bigger hammer...
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VicS
regular
Reged: 13/07/2002
Posts: 9247
Loc: Home: Kent. Boat: Chichester
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Quote:
If its the original one with the compass on top, then its more likely an AH 800, which was a perfectly viable no frills autohelm.
Jeff B said it's an Autohelm 1000. It is therefore more likely to be an Autohelm 1000, IMHO although if JeffB has misread the label you could be right.
The AH 1000 was produced for some time before the AH 800 was introduced as a simplified version without the option to use a wind vane. Mine is an AH1000 and when I bought it on 27/3/1981 I don't think the AH 800 had been introduced or I would have probably bought that.
The "micro" versions with round push buttons, at the mounting end of the case, rather than the round knob with compass rose followed later.
These were in turn followed by the ST 1000 and a new version of the 800, with rectangular buttons at the push-rod end of the case
The earliest versions are now dubbed AH800 analogue and AH1000 analogue although that is not what they were called at the time.
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Old Chemists never die, they just fail to react
Edited by VicS (04/06/2008 09:12)
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philip_stevens
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 2435
Loc: near Saint Ives, Cornwall
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I had one (AH1000) on one of our previous boats. It was very good, even for an old type. It took us across the Channel a couple of times.
An owner with a steel boat tried it out on his boat, and as it worked better (because of the remote fluxgate compass) than the ST2000 he had, he did a straight swop with mine.
One point about the AH1000 is that you can mount the sensor under the sprayhood, and "drive" the boat from comfort.
If you have to mount it facing the wrong way, or on port or starboard side, just lift off the knob and re-orientate it in the correct compass alignment.
It will take a windvane that plugs into the bottom of the unit (I had one), but these are as rare as rocking horse poo.
Keep it, even as a spare.
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regards,
Philip
Westerly Owners Association website
http://www.sub-spaced.com
Visit MarinaSkip now
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VicS
regular
Reged: 13/07/2002
Posts: 9247
Loc: Home: Kent. Boat: Chichester
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Quote:
I had one (AH1000
I think you are describing the model that is now dubbed "micro" It was the first digital version. The remote controller (not sensor) was an optional accessory. The "sense" could be altered for port side mounting by means of a switch on the underside.
The original analogue version did not have the option of a remote controller and it could not be mounted on the port side although port mounting versions were available to special order.
There was an analogue AH2000 that had a separate compass unit , a barrel shaped unit with a compass rose knob on the top, similar to that on the analogue 1000, and a couple of controls on the underside. The compass unit could be mounted anywhere but its sense could also be changed so that the tiller unit could be port-side mounted. Instructions for that model do not seem to be available. I do not think a hand held control unit was available. It was, however, superseded by a digital version with separate control unit and a hand held controller.
The ST2000 that followed was an "all in one unit similar" to the ST1000.
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Old Chemists never die, they just fail to react
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dipper
regular
Reged: 30/05/2001
Posts: 1195
Loc: Dorset
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I have a very old one with the rotating compass on top. I can't remember if it is the 800 or 1000. It works fine for me. The internal string had broken when I acquired it with the boat but I managed to replace it with some whipping twine. It broke again last year (after about 12 years use) so it has been mended again the same way. I've used it in winds up to Force 7 on a 26ft boat with no problems.
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And God said 'Let there be light'. And there was light. And God saw the light and said 'Good. Now I can see what I am doing'.
www.cobra-seawolf.com
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philip_stevens
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 2435
Loc: near Saint Ives, Cornwall
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Quote:
There was an analogue AH2000 that had a separate compass unit , a barrel shaped unit with a compass rose knob on the top, similar to that on the analogue 1000, and a couple of controls on the underside. The compass unit could be mounted anywhere but its sense could also be changed so that the tiller unit could be port-side mounted.
The 1000 is the one I was referring to Vic.
The steel boat owner found it worked as he was able to mount the "barrel" where it had less steel effect. I had the benefit of getting an ST2000 in exchange.
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regards,
Philip
Westerly Owners Association website
http://www.sub-spaced.com
Visit MarinaSkip now
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