Value of an Autopilot

T

tpbrady

New member
After reading comments on the thread about hydraulic steering, I started wondering what value people are getting out of their autopilots. I've had one on Bidardka II for 2 years and can honestly say I wish I had put one on the first Bidarka on day one. The value I get out of it ranges from taking the work out of hull speed cruising, running a straight track on a long open water crossing, and improving the safety of traveling in low visibility. To some extent, I value the last one the most. The autopilot allows me to manage the sensors and monitor the track and maintain lookout without driving all over the place due to a lack of a visual reference. Without the autopilot you have to stay glued to the compass especially in windy conditions with rough seas pushing you around. It lowers the tension all around as you can see your track, look at the radar to confirm you location and warn of other vessels, and scan the water on both sides and ahead.

The only downside I have noticed is it is easier to go farther so the fuel bill has gone up.
 
Steering is fine for...oh about 10 minutes, then it is tiring in anything but perfect conditions, at least compared to the autopilot. In fact after 10 minutes or so of steering my attention wanders and find myself drifting off course. Probably have ADD but then the autopilot is justified as an disability accommodation.

Oh the other hand there is a time to turn them off. I did broach once running on autopilot and not playing the throttle properly. Fortunately, Sea Cruz popped up on the wave if just fell down and shook it off. A little throttle and I was right back on course. Of course it could have been much worse but it acted very much the cork. I was a little non-pulsed however.

I would not buy any boat without an autopilot unless it was kayak sized.
Or, can you get an autopilot for a kayak?

Ron.
 
Autopilot for me.....wouldn't leave home without one. Sure it costs a bit, but I like to think that it saves me money spent on fuel from going around in zigzag and circle patterns when I'm trying to go straight. In the fog, you know that you are maintaining course and you can concentrate on looking for logs in the water and anything else that might appear in front of you. (Logs don't show up real well on the radar... :roll: )
 
Yes, love the auto pilot. Along with all the other advantages mentioned I have 15 power stabilized binoculars that I really enjoy using. With the auto pilot & good seas they are seldom not in my hands.

Jay
 
Yep, two thumbs up for the autopilot. I prefer to use it on heading as opposed to waypoint, so I have a feel of what the drift is. We generally don't use it when we are running at speeds above displacement, but have it on frequently at slower speeds. For all the reasons mentioned above.

When I was young and learning to fly, I thought, "Why would I want an autopilot? I want to FLY this thing." Later, when flying high and fast, the autopilot took much of the drudgery out of long stretches. Same thing applies to boats. It lessens your workload and allows you to keep a better watch. Plus, I like to stand up once in a while; with the autopilot on, I can stand at the center window and still be inches from the helm.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
How do you people set the auto pilot sensitivity? In other words, more sensitivity keeps a straighter line and less sensitivity requires less frequent motor adjustment but more course variation.
 
REBEMUP":2at7aaym said:
I would not buy any boat without an autopilot unless it was kayak sized.
Or, can you get an autopilot for a kayak?

Ron.
Click to expand...


Ok Ron here is a Kayak with an auto pilot.
www.voltboats.com

Luv my auto pilot sure makes fishing alone so much easier. No more crazy Ivan's.
 
jkidd":1kxmsdoe said:
REBEMUP":1kxmsdoe said:
I would not buy any boat without an autopilot unless it was kayak sized.
Or, can you get an autopilot for a kayak?

Ron.
Click to expand...


Ok Ron here is a Kayak with an auto pilot.
www.voltboats.com

Luv my auto pilot sure makes fishing alone so much easier. No more crazy Ivan's.
Click to expand...

"The first hybrid human/electric-powered kayak"?? I guess they haven't seen the Hobies with eVolve (Torqueedo) which have been around a while?
 
Well, SleepyC does have an Auto pilot, but I do like to steer too, and stand up quit often when I am running. The AP has not been used nearly as much as it could have been, but I am learning to use it and to appreciate it's pluses, like straight line running and the "OK, go to there" function. I have done a few routes and used it on them, but my preference is straight from here to there uses. It is generally used at slow speeds, 6-7 knots or slower, but I have used it crossing the Strait on a flat day at planing cruise speeds. ONLY if I can see flat water way out. I'm not much into using it if things get choppy. Kind of like to have that control in my own hands then.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_070.thumb.jpg
 
I had considered purchasing and installing an Auto Pilot this year, but can only afford one new toy and her name is Bonnie.

I like to steer the boat anyways.

1212 Triumph Bonneville T100
022310_triumph_bonneville_t100_black.jpg
 
Our new to use 25 came with a TR-1 Gladiator Gold autopilot; I would have to say I could not live without it. Don’t what I was missing, it is the bomb! This autopilot will work at trolling speed, follows the GoTo thing on the GPS and does way more than I could ever hope for. It is the most valuable attribute on the boat next to the Wallas, soon to add Wallas 30TD diesel furnace.

BTW
Love the Bonneville
 
breausaw":3sdc4sc6 said:
Our new to use 25 came with a TR-1 Gladiator Gold autopilot; I would have to say I could not live without it. Don’t what I was missing, it is the bomb! This autopilot will work at trolling speed, follows the GoTo thing on the GPS and does way more than I could ever hope for. It is the most valuable attribute on the boat next to the Wallas, soon to add Wallas 30TD diesel furnace.

BTW
Love the Bonneville
Click to expand...

I agree with you and those as stated here. Autopilot is particularly valuable in fog, because, as Les Lampman recommended to me, it frees the pilot to closely watch the radar screen and view ahead. It also is great for long and relatively tedious runs across extended stretches of water. It can be used at slow speeds in excess of 3 MPH. On the downside, it can be over used. I find it not advisable to use it when our cruising grounds are heavily trafficked with large power cruisers. One thing I don't think is necessarily safe, is using autopilot at high speeds in heavily trafficked areas with large boat wakes (or other wave types) that could cause a potential broach. Let's say for example that while you are moving along at high speeds, a wave approaches the bow on the port side at an angle relative to your line of travel. The wave hits the bow, causing it to sharply veer to the side, and it causes an acceleration as the boat turns sideways. Not good as you all know. If you had your hands on the wheel, and throttle, you could smooth out the affect and reduce your speed. If you are on autopilot, and your focus is elsewhere, it can lead to a dangerous situation, and at the very least, it will give your passengers a bit of a scare.

Thanks,

Rich
 
AutoPilot - Great tool!

The Mate is afraid of taking control of the CD25, but with the autopilot I can duck into the head while she maintains a lookout, at slow speeds, and I tend to 'old man business'.

Long haul navigation - a must to remain alert and also to remain 'on station' when on patrols.
 
Sea Angel":pbihwhz0 said:
AutoPilot - Great tool!

The Mate is afraid of taking control of the CD25, but with the autopilot I can duck into the head while she maintains a lookout, at slow speeds, and I tend to 'old man business'.

Long haul navigation - a must to remain alert and also to remain 'on station' when on patrols.
Click to expand...

Hey Art, at least you ought to teach her to come back and pick you up if you fall in the water! :disgust

Sally didn't want to do it either until one day when I threw a cushion in the water (at low speed with no traffic in sight) and told her, that's me in the water back there, what are you going to do about it! Fortunately for me she didn't say "I'm gonna check your will". :lol:

And I had an autopilot on Captain's Cat but don't on Thataway, I miss it.

Charlie
 
Two Fine subject.
1) auto pilot. Love them and miss them. dont have one on the 27 but would love to get one again. Great in all conditions. I disagree with not using them in rough water. Seems to me people are assuming that if you are using the auto pilot that you are not paying attention. I think that letting the auto pilot drive gives me more time to pay attention to far more things. I really like the one on my 22 in mixed seas. It drive and I handled the throttles. You have to set the reaction rate much higher but that only takes a second. Get to know your system and you will find far more uses for it.

2) teaching women to drive boats. I just dont get the refusal by some women to drive boats. Are you telling me that you are not capable? Are you telling me that you are not interested in your own safety? Are you telling me that its a "Mans job"?? really ?? If you cant pick up your husband, kids, love one after they fall out that tells me you cant make it back to the dock to collect the check either. There is no excuse for anybody that is one a boat more then once a year to not know how to drive one.

My Mom and dad have a plane. They travel a lot in there plane. My mother knows how to fly and has her license. She runs into women all the time that fly with there husband but have no idea how to cal for help, fly , land or even where the dam radio is in case there husband, boyfreind or who every dies in the seat. It happens every year. I just cant see why you would not learn the basics of flying or boat handling to preserve your own life. Remember all planes land, its just a matter of how hard.
 
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