I checked and nothing is loose in the autopilot connections. It operates completely independently from the instruments. It is not connected to any of them. The SSB is wired directly to the battery, as ICOM suggests, so it does not pass through any panel. And everything is where it has always been regarding items stored on the boat. I do have a radial that passes about 2 feet from the compass, but I'm told that at 100 amps max and with two dynaplates, the odds of this causing the fluxgate compass to lose its mind from the transmission is unlikely. I took Lucia out for a motor ride again today to recheck and after engaging the autopilot (with the SSB off of course) I directed the autopilot to make a 25* turn to port. The boat did a 360* turn and to starboard. Yikes! The unit is an Alpha which has been fantastic. I would not trade it for any other. While it is conceivable that it is just a coincidence that the autopilot failed after the SSB transmission and that the two events are not connected, it seems quite unlikely as this has been one of the most dependable items on the boat. I had not used the autopilot for a few months but assumed that it was working fine as it always has. Ideas? I'm stumped.

Ron