RayMarine S1000 autopilot !!!!!!!

[a7ewizard]

After reading very good reviews of this autopilot on other forums, I ordered mine today for installation on my 24SS.

Can anyone offer any installation advice? I looked at the installation instructions and the video on-line. It seems pretty straight forward. One issue I foresee is the possible removal of the inner liner in the console for access and placement of the pump and control box.

Also, the manual calls for running a grounding wire to either a grounding plate or (2nd choice) to the NEG terminal of the battery. Would running this ground to the NEG of the buss bar accomplish the same thing??? Would doing this compromise the safety of other electrical components??? Any marine electricians out there???

Warren

[a7ewizard]

Success! I am very happy with the performance of this auto-pilot. I bought it on-line for about $870....money well spent IMO. Especially for those of us who often fish solo or with small children. 

I have this mated to a RayMarine A50d combo unit. I did notice a glitch. When the AP is engaged and you are changing courses or manuvering around a spot, the plotter display does not change orientation and the boat icon jumps its heading. This can be pretty confusing. Turning the AP off at the power switch, returns the plotter display back to normal. I am a novice with AP's so I can't explain this or if its typical. I will say I tracked to a waypoint for a distance of about 6 miles and the S1000 performance was dead on!

Some helpful hints:
- You will need larger capacity catch cups and more fluid than provided in the kit;
- Plan to buy #8 machine screws and lock nuts, 1 and 1.5 inch if you intend to thru-bolt the pump and computer;
- Bleed the pump as instructed. Slow at first and faster to finish, port to starboard to port to starboard, etc.;
- Have your 10 year old son handy for the bleeding and fastening stages  ;
- Buy .25 inch female wire connectors and #8 circle ends in 16-18 gauge wire to connect to the computer, panel switches, and buss bars. Extra wire for the RF ground (to neg buss);
- Make paper hole templates of the pump and computer, more than likely you will need to drill from the outside in because of clearance issues.
- Check the neck lanyard. The small nylon line pulled out and my remote went bouncing off the dock and into the water!);
- Figure out ahead of the install, how to connect the NMEA wires from your GPS to the S1000. The scotchlock connectors worked great!
- The alarm wires need to be stripped to fit in the scotchlocks. (the manual states otherwise but this works!)
- If clearance is tight, the hydraulic pump should be bled THEN the mounting holes drilled. The hydraulic lines may prevent you from mounting the pump where you originally intended!

24 Super Sport specific hints (probably applies to the 26SS and other Pro-Lines with the same console and inner liner):
- The hydraulic pump fits nicely next to the electrical panel. You can make 1 pilot hole from the inside, then use the template to drill the remaining 3 holes from the outside. The pump mounts on the incline, bend in hoses does not pose a problem.
- The computer is a very light component. The manual states to mount this on a vertical surface. I chose to mount this on the inner plastic console liner. Access is by removing the helm switch/gauges panel.
- My helm has 3 spare switches. The owner's manual incorrectly states these are all 5 amp (the back electrical schematic shows otherwise). Actually, they are indeed 5,10, and 15 amps. I decided to use this helm switch instead of the switch and 10 amp fuse supplied in the kit.

[mkalink]

I also have this unit on my 03 250 Sport. I love it, best $900 I ever spent.

[sandflea]

I have a 2003 23"SS and have thought about putting one in for my Gulf of Mexico fishing. 
1.  Where did you order it from?
2.  how long did it take you?
3.  how did you handle the liner?
4.  how about your oringinal ground question?

Thanks,
Tom

[a7ewizard]

I have a 2003 23"SS and have thought about putting one in for my Gulf of Mexico fishing. 
1.  Where did you order it from?
2.  how long did it take you?
3.  how did you handle the liner?
4.  how about your oringinal ground question?

Thanks,
Tom

1) I believe I ordered it from the GPSstore.com
2) I read into the wiring as I wasn't familiar with NMEA 183 conventions. So, when I got after it, I just reviewed my notes and it progressed well. It took me about 5 hours with a couple of breaks to go grab my son for the hydraulic bleeding and thru-bolting. The tight working constraints and limited access slowed things.
3) I left the liner alone. Again, I mounted the pump using the liners's access hatch; the computer by opening the gauge panel.
4) I ran the RFground to the NEG buss bar at the helm.

BTW, I had another trip down to my boat, using the AP over about 50 hours of boating. I am still awed by its performance for the price and ease of installation. The pump's noise is heard at slow troll speeds. This might be annoying to some but I can certainly live with this....it is kinda reassuring in a way.

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