Autopilot replacement

[stefan_r]

I have an old (13years) but serviceable autopilot made by some Italian jokers who were called Nautiradar and are now called Navicontrol.

Like I say it works but I would like to connect it to my charting system and other bits and bobs....if I want to keep the elements such as steering hydraulics and as much of the wiring as possible how do I work out what I can keep and what I have to throw away from the old system if I want to upgrade to a Raytheon or Foruno system....

Ideal solution is to just change to central control black box bit for something a tad more modern....is it that easy???

The Italians have been absolutely no help whatsoever (another reason for swapping over) - with some common sense I can work out what cable does what (hydraulic command, remote station, gyro input etc)...what more do I need to do??

Cheers
Stefan

mailto: stefan@athito.com

 

[jfm]

Re: NMEA

Hope I'm not missing something here but why can't you keep your current auto pilot and just connect your plotter to it using a NMEA link cable? Then your plotter should drive the autopilot so that it steers the boat along the active route in your plotter.

But if your autopilot will not accept NMEA instructions from your plotter then it's a different K of F and you'll have to do some homemade electronics.

Good luck

JFM

 

[stefan_r]

Re: NMEA

aha!! yes but no - no discernable NMEA out....and the Italians cannot (will not) help on this either.

If I can find the NMEA out (or if it actually has one??!!) then I will be happy but the black box with all the wires is unmarked.

Don't know if the 'remote station' it has would be using NMEA statements...also don't know if it will accept NMEA from another source....bit crap all round really.

Homemade sounds good but dunno if it an option with no instruction manual or support from manufacturers.

Cheers
Stefan

mailto: stefan@athito.com

 

[miket]

I tried to have this done on a 1991 Autohelm ST6000, and was told that it was just before the NMEA technology, so would have to scrap the old central processing unit and buy new one at (roughly) £1500.

I decided I wasn't that desperate to have the Plotter drive me.

Bought a new boat instead?!!!

 

[stefan_r]

AHA!! that sounds more like what I am going to have to do.....ditto - for £1,500 I'll drive the boat myself and errr look at the plotter!

Cheers
Stefan

mailto: stefan@athito.com