need a new auto pilot

starcrafttom · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 7:43 pm Post subject: need a new auto pilot

So I need some advice as to which auto pilot to get. this has been kicked around some but I want to ask again as most old post seem to come down to " ford vs chevy" I dont care who makes it brand wise as long as it works.

I also dont care much about customer service as I think they all suck equally and I not only hate talking to them but will avoid it until I have no other choice. I will say that raymarine CS was not as bad as I thought it was going to be but I have such a low expectation to start with of any CS that any one on the phone with a heart beat is a step up from what I expect.

I also care very little where its made. Its one world and every one has to work. I mean we all rave about our lap tops and phones and none are made here.

so to help state my needs here are the facts. I have a 27 foot c-dory with a honda 225 with two steering stations, a older raymarine c80 chart plotter and radar over lay. So I beleive that I would already have a heading sensor. so I need to pick a auto pilot and figure out a shopping list of parts.

The raymarine would be easy to hook up to the c80 and I already know the soft ware. I have had a rm auto pilot on my 22 dory and did not like it for fishing. Now it was a older ST6001 control head. No trolling patterns and it did not preform well when navagating to a way point or following a route. strayed to much even when set to the tightest settings. Is the new rm , the x10, better at following a course or getting to a way point? My old unit would "arrive" at a way point 100 yards from a way point and jump to the next one. useless for fishing. It did not have the fishing patterns which would be nice for the PNWest. the new remote for the rm looks to be as good as the control head. could I just use a remote and not control head??

Simrad_ never used one but I really like the idea of the contour follow. would be great for bottom trolling for black mouth and other fish. Will it work with the gps/depth info from the raymarine? How good is the remote? I would like a remote for the rear steering station instead of another control head. which would be cheaper?

garmin_ I like the idea of the shadow drive but not for the reasons mentioned here. as I under stand the shadow drive will allow me to steer to a new course and the auto pilot will stay on the new course right? well when I fish now I do the same thing with the old auto pilot by pressing the + or - button. with the shadow drive it would be a easier and more exact to follow the depth, tide rip etc.. just by turning the wheel to a new course and letting go. Now if I go this route do I need the heading sensor or will mine work? is the gryo rate compass worth the money? Again the remote looks good and is far cheaper then the rm unit. can I use it instead of the control heads?

I have looked at prices and cant figure out half of it. The garmin seems the cheapest but I cant find a complete kit that includes the pump? how is it complete if the pump is not included??

Not to be short with anyone but I know that some people will use the same gps they have for years no matter what the other guys come out with and will take it to the grave with them just so the wife does not sell it with the boat. I need what is going to work here fishing small areas at slow speeds 4 to .5 mph for salmon in crowded waters. Getting from place to place in the san juans and canada.

looking forward to your replys.

B~C · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:38 pm Post subject:

you should contact these folks......I would not be exagerating to say they know everything about marine electronics and won't jerk you around. They know what works and what doesn't and won't hesitate to sell you a system that may cost less but will work better for your application. A few minutes on the phone with Tim or Jan and they'll have set on the right course ( little auto pilot humor) +++ if you call them, the odds are Jan will be on the other end of the phone & she can outfish most of us

http://www.rodgersmarine.com/

BrentB · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:32 pm Post subject:

Ben at PANBO writes about the SIMRAD NSE

http://www.panbo.com/archives/2010/08/simrad_nse_autopilot_hands_on_1.html

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:58 pm Post subject:

I am going to second the recommendation for Rodger's!!! Very good people, very good service!!!

They have helped me several times, and their prices are reasonable. When I over torqued the GPS puck and cracked it (water intrusion was shutting the C80 down), they did the trouble shooting of the system for nada. I would not go any place else.

C-Dawg · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:45 am Post subject:

Do you have a kicker on your new boat, Tom? If so, have you thought about a TR-1 for the kicker, and a separate AP for the big motor?

As much fishing as you do, I'd think that TR-1 would be a great tool for your boat.

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:59 am Post subject:

The tr-1 for the kicker is my dream auto pilot but, at $5000 its not going to happen. So I will use one auto pilot and tie the motors together. you can not use the tr-1 for the main. I really need to keep the auto pilot below $1500 total and that seems to be a problem.

B~C · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:19 am Post subject:

problem solved, just go down to the nearest street corner and grab one of those "will work for food" folks to run the helm. You would have complete remote control of the throttle and helm plus some different and unusual smells Smile

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:04 pm Post subject:

Some thoughts-

Do not assume that you have a heading sensor on your C80- Raymarine's software allows the use of the GPS heading for overlay. Not as precise as a heading sensor because it doesn't "know" which way the boat is headed, only which way it is moving.

The drive pump is not included in most "kits" because it has to be sized to the size of the ram. You buy the pilot with control head and brain box, then pick the pump to fit your ram. Get the part number off your ram to find out it's volume, and then pick the pump to match.

When looking at compass units, rate stabilized is more precise, especially as one heads further north. A pilot system that works well in the Gulf of Mexico, or SoCal will be less precise off the Columbia River or in Puget Sound.

The "below $1500" will be difficult, and will limit what pilot you can get.

The Simrad unit is probably going to start in the $3000 range without install, although I have not priced one lately. It does have the ability to be set up without a rudder reference unit, which makes install easier. FOr years Simrad's (Robertson) pilots have been the benchmark everyone else would try to match.

At the $1500 price point you have the Raymarine S1000 wireless model- not a very good autopilot as far as precision. Not available with a rate stabilized compass. Does not have rudder reference unit.

Look at the Comnav 1420 pilot. A good solid point-and-shoot pilot, with the ability to have two control pads and a rate stabilized compass option. The Sitex autopilots are versions of the 1420 with a digital display. Street price with pump set should be under $1500. Available with Octopus or Teleflex pumps. The control head can be set up as either dash mount or leave it loose for wired remote around the boat. This unit needs a rudder reference unit to know what direction the engine is pointed. It comes with the kit, and installs along the steering ram and attaches to the drag link.

Furuno's Navpilot series are very good units, although they will approach the $3000 mark quickly, and require rudder reference units.

Garmin's pilot was developed when they purchased the company that makes the TR-1. It's a decent pilot, doesn't require a rudder reference unit, and has the shadow drive feature. Expect street prices of close to $2500 with pumpset. I don't beleive they use a rate stabilized compass and I don't see an option for one.

Hope this is helpful. My 2 cents worth is that the Comnav 1420 is a great value for the dollar.

hardee · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:49 pm Post subject:

Ken said about Rogers Marine.......

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:11 am Post subject:

I don't know what Matt needs an autopilot to do, but our Raymarine S1000 does everything we want from an autopilot. I would say it is the greatest thing since sliced bread for us. Brokenleg Dave has it for $995 here. It will keep your boat on a straight track in the roughest water, will go to a waypoint, and will follow a route. Being a Raymarine unit, it works quite seamlessly with our C-80. It has some fishing patterns built in (never used the fishing patterns, so can't comment on that, but they are zig zag, circle, clover leaf and maybe something else). The best part is that it is a complete kit that comes with everything required to install it yourself, including tools and hydraulic fluid. In my case, installing it "myself" meant that Peter Jamero came over to our house and installed the pump and brain while I handed him things, and then Tim Flannagan figured out the correct wiring to the C-80 at Friday Harbor (thanks, Peter and Tim!). I'm sure some folks have a need for something more than an S1000, but it definitely represents a great value.

starcrafttom · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:24 am Post subject:

pat, how does the pump handle the 135? and how loud is it? I was thinking of going this way. If I can just have a remote instead of two control units that might work fine. how well does it hold a course? what I mean is how close to course will it stay? how many degree's

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:09 am Post subject:

The pump handles the BF150 just fine. I really don't have any way to measure degrees, but it holds a course extremely well for our purposes. You can hear the pump, which is mounted behind the helm, but it doesn't bother us, in fact when we hear it working, it is reassuring that it is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. We really like it, especially in rough water and we no longer have to fight the wheel to keep a straight course.

jkidd · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:12 am Post subject:

Tom
The one thing about the s1000 that might be a concerns is that it will shut down around 2 mph. So you might have trouble trolling slow. On my last boat I used a ST2000 sailboat autopilot to steer the kicker it worked pretty good 600 to 700 dollars I could troll at 1 mph. I Just ordered the Garmin from Matt on Napoleon for about 2640.00 with the remote. I thought about this for 3 1/2 years I was thinking about the S1000 for the main and the ST2000 for the kicker. That would be around 1700.00. So for 900.00 more I get the one I really want. I would rather just buy once and be happy than compromise and be pissed.

centerisland · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 5:58 am Post subject:

jkidd · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:04 am Post subject: