recommendations on autopilot?

berryst · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 6:18 pm Post subject: recommendations on autopilot?

Any ideas on an autopilot for a 90hp 22footer? I of course want the cheapest dependable new or used.
Chris

starcrafttom · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject:

What electronic are you using? and what are you going to use the auto pilot for?

If you fish you want a auto pilot that will allow you to troll and has features that make trolling easier. if you are just going to cruise you can get by with a lot less features even thu most new auto pilots have a lot going for you.

I had a raymarine auto pilot on my 22 and it was great fro cruising with the main and ok for fishing, better then no auto pilot. The new raymarine is a lot better then mine from a few years ago, more features and from what I hear a lot more accurate and quicker.

The Garmin units are great and are build on the old tr-1 platform. I would go with this unit for cruising and some fishing, but if you are mainly going to fish then the tr-1 for your kicker is the way to go.

this subject has been turned over and over before so if you do a search you will find a lot to read right here on the c-brats. It come down to what is your use for the unit? just cruising? how far? do you like to let the auto drive from way point to way point or do you just like to point the boat and hit the button and let it go? are you out to fish and just how serious are you about fishing?

Spend the time reading and deciding what your needs are. I don't have a auto pilot on the 27 and really miss it.

Captains Cat · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 10:16 pm Post subject:

Looking back over your posts, you don't have any electronics at all. You need to do that first. Chart plotter/GPS. We've installed a Raymarine S-1000 very easy. Decide then repost.

Charlie

REBEMUP · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 10:23 pm Post subject:

Sea-Cruz came with the Raymarine S-1000. It works very well and takes a lot of the work out of the helm. Love the remote control.

Ron

Captains Cat · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 10:28 pm Post subject:

Not For Hire · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 10:11 am Post subject:

What kind of steering do you have, hydraulic or mechanical. Not so many choices for mechanical

Regards,

berryst · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 2:11 pm Post subject:

Thank you all for weighing in.

I fish, hence I have the angle 22. The steering is not hydraulic

My electronics are dismal and are to be replaced by this spring. I will probably get the garmin 740s with radar. It seems very easy to use. I have an old gamin gps and an out dated hummingbird sounder/fishfinder that came with the boat and is useless. I have a Simrad chartplotter off of the old boat. It its very accurate but hard to read in sunlight and tricky to use or plot with and the screen is small. The good news is that the radio is still so new that I haven't put it in the boat, that is todays project.

I am out fitting for the circumnavigation of vancouver island. Hence, an auto pilot seems like a good idea. (850 Miles)

The auto pilot seems like a luxury but many before me seem to think its a must. I have read the threads and was hoping by this year there would be a break out plotter that is popular

Chris

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 2:47 pm Post subject:

For mechanical steering you could look at Comnav's 1402, or Simrads AP12R or AP14R. You may need to change the steering cable to match up with the the new helm that has the pilot built into it.

journey on · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:16 pm Post subject:

Looking at the price of a mechanical steering autopilot, it might make sense to install hydraulic steering and the S1000. That way you'd have both hydraulic steering and an autopilot for the same price.

Just a thought.

BTY, here's a post (on a different site,) as to some problems one can encounter on an autopilot installation:
S-1000 autopilot If you read down, there are a couple of tips on installing the electronics.

Boris

Tug · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 10:00 am Post subject:

[quote="journey on"]Looking at the price of a mechanical steering autopilot, it might make sense to install hydraulic steering and the S1000. That way you'd have both hydraulic steering and an autopilot for the same price.

Boris, i would like to know how one could do that but i looked at installing a S1000 and when i looked at the back of my helm i determined that there was no room to put another thing.

berryst, please post pictures of your installation , i would interested to see where you put everything. Tug

berryst · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:55 pm Post subject:

now your scaring me....its all gonna fit somehow. I will try pics but trying to download them is not my strong suit
Chris

[quote="Tug"]

berryst · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:56 pm Post subject:

now your scaring me....its all gonna fit somehow. I will try pics but trying to download them is not my strong suit
Chris

[quote="Tug"]

Tug · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:01 pm Post subject:

There's a Teleflex BayStar Marine Hydraulic Steering Kit # HK4200A on E-Bay for $ 464.99...not sure if it's compatable with the S1000 auto Pilot. Tug