Tiller pilots

[Potcake boy]

Hi folks, I was compelled to make this post after a bit of irritating news I received today. Sorry it's of a negative context but life ain't always purtie.
When I purchased my CP19 it was equipped with a Simrad TP10 tiller pilot, for which I was grateful, as I find it to be a must for me. Although my choice has always been the good ole Autohelm (now marketed by RayMarine), it saved me another $400.00 in gettin goin money. But I did invest $60.00 + to remount it.
Three hours into my first proud outing, in adverse conditions there was an awful sound from tillermon and would no longer hold course. For the rest of the three day journey it was a high tech tiller tamer.
Upon returning home and after trying all the initial things like electrical connection, calibration etc. I made a call to the Simrad distributor on the West Coast. Very nice people, but the call encouraged me to open and inspect the thing myself before shipping away on what I was sure would be a long and expensive journey. Opening the unit the problem was obvious, two magnets in the drive pulley had come loose and protruded thereby breaking off the sensors on a small PC board. For me repairing a PC board was not an option so I called the tech help again at Simrad who were gracious enough to provide me the part number and phone number of the company to order the part from. One mystery remained, and no answer surfaced as to the function of the metal pin I found lying in the lower half all by it's lonesome. I can only dismiss that as an extra part that somehow fell into the unit at the factory - not a real comforting thought.
Now the rub - called the number to order and was advised 2-3 weeks. Ouch I had plans for some sailing that will have to be delayed. Today, a little over three weeks later and having heard nothing, I called about my order status. Double ouch - back order with no definite fulfillment date - advised 2-4 weeks till they receive.
I'm not throwing stones at the folks I dealt with, they were all cordial and helpful. I do find it negligent that a company that wants to sell expensive electronics to boaters does not provide better support should they need service. Why can't a $16.00 (retail) part be stocked on at least a minimum level? I concede that this isn't life and death medical equipment (a close second) but it is important to many people's plans for their sailing trips which they may have scheduled for their only summer week long vacation.
My situation may be an isolated event, but looking at the failure, it wouldn't have happened except for assembly quality - the magnets were supposed to be glued in place, but the problem has become even worse for the lack of parts close at hand for repair.
If at the end of another 4 weeks the part is still BO, I'll be forced to consider the $400.00 expense of another tillermon, and it won't be a Simrad.
Just a heads up for anyone considering adding an auto pilot.

If at first you don't succeed, try another tack,
Ron

[Glenn Basore]

Potcake boy,

Thanks for the well written post.

Many of us have experienced similar situtations through life, it seems manufactures   have become complacent in their quality control" dept..

I remember when products first started coming in from Japan, everyone just looked at it as crap, not so these days, instead, it seems that the US companies are falling behind in their Quality Control with a mind set that it is disposable or not intended to last.

Some times its just best to spend your hard earned dollar to get a better unit.

Glenn b.