<br><br><br>Click to enlarge<br> <br><br>Navman G-Pilot - advice wanted

[Koeketiene]

<br><br><br>Click to enlarge<br> <br><br>Navman G-Pilot - advice wanted

Hi gang,

Anyone got any experience with this bit of kit?

As we will be venturing further off-shore this year, I'm looking to replace my next to useless Simrad WP30 with a decent autopilot in the near future.

So far most of my gear (radar, plotter & GPS) is Furuno - quite like Furuno. However, their autopilot seems more suited for fishing and motor boats. So I'm now looking around for a decent saling autopilot.
Had narrowed it down to Raymarine ST6001, but it would seem that the Navman G-Pilot would pretty much do the same thing at a fraction of the price.

Is this too good to be true? Is it a case of 'buy cheap, buy twice'? Or does it really do what it says on the box?

Thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[pvb]

G-Pilot pricing...

Not 100% sure about this, but I think the £1100-ish price for the G-Pilot excludes any kind of drive mechanism. By the time you've added a hydraulic pump and ram system, you're probably getting close to the price of a similar spec Raymarine ST6001 system.

FWIW, my 14 year old ST6000 is probably the most reliable bit of boating kit I've experienced, and I wouldn't be without it.

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[sailorman]

Re: <br><br><br>Click to enlarge<br> <br><br>Navman G-Pilot - advice wanted

Hi William
i have a raytheon 6000, 5 yrs & no probs.
fantastic bit-o-kit, get yer wallet oot.
roger

<hr width=100% size=1>Nil iligitmo carborundum

 

[andyball]

Re: G-Pilot pricing...

recent adverts have the £1100'ish including a hydraulic pump & the std spec. has a "rate gyro" which you have to get the more upmarket raymarine pack for.

If you have hydraulic steering, the price looks very attractive compared to supposedly same std of other kit, but there's very little feedback out there about it.

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[Koeketiene]

Re:Navm

Hi Roger

Wallet's been out for the last year now.
Hardly remember what money looks like.

One year and £15,000 later, what have I got to show for it?
- a massive overdraft
- one stroke
- pile of junk in the garage
- a hulk which will hopefully turn in a refitted seaworthy yacht soon (last time I saw her I nearly cried. Bit like watching open heart surgery on a loved one)

Still, it's only money and you only live once. Once I'm back on the water it'll be no more than an unpleasant memory.

Cheers

William

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[ashley]

Re:Navm

I've been looking at the G-pilot too and it comes with the hydraulic pump, compass and rate gyro. Considering the competitors hydraulic pumps cost many hundreds this seems to be a very well priced system.
There are only a few players in this market so they can keep their prices artificially high. Apart from the pump, the rest is solid state electronics and should not cost what it does cost!

For any auto-pilot I need to replace my ageing wire steering system.
I've costed up a wheel pump and ram from Aquafax at around £800 and the G-pilot could plug straight in.

I'd love any feedback from anyone on this system

<hr width=100% size=1>A truly wise man never plays leapfrog with a Unicorn