Autopilot and AIS purchase and installation

[Popski]

Hi All

I have decided that my Beneteau Antares Fly would benefit from adding autopilot and AIS (Not to mention the skipper also benefiting too). So my question is having RayMarine A70D chart plotter which is getting a little old and RayMarine ST70 mfd which also needs updating I am considering fitting autopilot and AIS but unsure whether the RayMarine is better than perhaps Simrad. If I was to go for simrad would the additional hardware talk to the existing displays. Or am I better sticking with existing manufacturer. Any advice would be much appreciated

 

[Richard10002]

Apropos of nothing, I think Raymarine trade on their brand and your fears

I'm pretty sure that standards are such that everything should talk to everything - but I'd bet it's easier to talk about it than to make it happen.

 

[jrudge]

Ignoring compatibility for a moment which I have no experience of ( but I would imagine a Raymarine will take nicer to a Raymarine via for example the plotter comes up with messages " Engage Autopilot?" when activating a route and they may ( only may) not work ) when you come to sell people ( ok me!) prefer all one brand.

It tends to look better as the units physically match and to me looks nicer than a hitch potch of brands - which makes me feel i would need to rip it out and put it right.

This probably only emotional logic but i suspect others have the same view?

If you are upgrading you may want to change to plotter as well.

The main hassle and money comes if you have Radar as most of the older units are not compatible with the new - so instead of just changing the fly plotter for a nice new one on the basis you never helm from below - to make it all work you have to change the lower helm, the radar and then run a load of wires ( some I know are now WiFi) and the bill becomes daft ....

If the kit is already old Ebay will probably find you something of a similar generation would will save a large chunk of change.

 

[Popski]

Hi and thanks for the comments. I have decided to go for Simrad 12" MFD AIS and Autopilot as the existing CP is getting a bit old and nolonger supported by Raymarine. I will add a comments to YBW once fitted and up and running. We are planing a trip to Sicily
around 21 May weather permitting so that will be a good test.