clutch engaged (I could here it) but course computer gave up with a "Drive stopped" error or sometimes "drive current exceeded" or something like it. Motor runs fine in both directions with power applied directly. Jefa motor. Never current higher than 1.5A measured. I sent the course computer (X30) to Raymarine and got a "no problem found". Had a LONG conversation with the technician who assured me I must have had it hooked up wrong, or the drive was faulty. I assured him that it had worked fine from Toronto to Norfolk just the way it was, furthermore I had already purchased a replacement from eBay which had driven the boat from Roanoke Island to Georgetown SC without problems. He still insisted it was fine and had me listen over the phone as it drove his test rig to and fro. I made him replace the board, and also send me the faulty board that he insisted was good.

So - I think they can have intermittent problems which Raymarine may be unaware of. I did learn a little from the technician. The course computer drives the motor at at least two speeds, and maybe more with pulse width modulation. He claimed that a current measurement is unreliable. You must measure the voltage at the course computer motor terminals, and should see about 12V on a DVM (this was a 24V system so maybe 6V for a 12V system). You will see this for an instant before the C.C. faults. If you see that and the drive does not move, then maybe it is the drive motor. If you don't see that, then the course computer.

From this and my previous autopilot failures, I have 2 spare course computers, two spare rudder angle sensors, and two spare flux gate compasses. The course computers are X30, could lend you a rudder sensor if you asked right away - in Anacortes at the boat till Tuesday afternoon, then going home.