Understanding autopilot packages/options

[Ed Sned]

NKE is good, albeit the user interface is pretty clunky. The Figaro 3's all use it, as do many of the Class40s, and many of the older Imocas. The newer large-foil boats are mostly using Madintec now though.
It's a bit fickle to set up - or can be. However, once it's up, and all the components can be seen on the topline, then it's pretty robust. There are a lot of settings though, and you end up with a laminated matrix for the different conditions - hence a change in course or conditions requires 10 mins retrimming and checking all the sails, followed by 10 mins "trimming" the autopilot. It's not for everyone, I appreciate.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I want an autopilot where I pick where I want to go on the chart, it checks the depth and obstructions along the route, and if it's all OK, it lets me press the goto button, then I can go and sort out the refreshments and chill on the foredeck. ... and I'll take the steer to the wind option if the sails are out.

It is very tedious standing at the helm all the time, but can be fun occasionally if the wind or the waves are up.

I am also in the process of swapping out everything on the boat ... previous boat had a very old ST60 system with a motor driving a belt on a drum attached to the wheel. It worked fine for 11 years but didn't have the grunt to steer when the waves got up.

The current boat has a 2008 ST60+ with a course computer etc. driving a mamba drive below deck - it seems to have no probs but is outdated.

I'm replacing it with a Raymarine Evolution EV-400 Sail as the boat is on the borderline between the 200 and 400 - so I opted for the larger of the two - the harder it works, the hotter it gets, so I wanted something that had enough headroom to drive the mamba hard in challenging conditions.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I want an autopilot where I pick where I want to go on the chart, it checks the depth and obstructions along the route, and if it's all OK, it lets me press the goto button, …

I think Navonics & CMap have been doing this on B&G since at least 2019.

I think each chart brand has its own name for the feature. e.g. Auto Guidance+ Routing | Charts & maps | Garmin Technology

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I think Navonics & CMap have been doing this on B&G since at least 2019.

I think each chart brand has its own name for the feature. e.g. Auto Guidance+ Routing | Charts & maps | Garmin Technology

My first plotter, a Standard Horizon CP300, which I had since 2012 had this feature, including "automatic check" which would check for hazards along the route - a feature which I used all the time in conjunction with an old Autohelm 3000 motor and a Raymarine ST60 autopilot.

Back in the days of NMEA1803, many charter companies never bothered to link the plotter and autopilot which prevented the necessary cross-track error messages being received by the autopilot, I was told it was too risky for the average charter customer to use, but since plotters now check the routes, and NMEA2000 is usually connected, it is always there, but still a lot of boat owners don't realise that a second step is required to get the autopilot to steer to the route, so just press goto on the plotter and wonder why the autopilot does nothing.

Picking up my new system components today so I'll be reading manuals all weekend to see what it can do ... feel a bit like a kid in a sweetie shop.

PS: The auto-routing function is the next step I guess, as it creates waypoints and routes automatically - better be certain draught and air-draught are stored correctly in the plotter though - my Navionics App regularly forgets my boat settings unfortunately.

 

[PaulRainbow]

My first plotter, a Standard Horizon CP300, which I had since 2012 had this feature, including "automatic check" which would check for hazards along the route - a feature which I used all the time in conjunction with an old Autohelm 3000 motor and a Raymarine ST60 autopilot.

Back in the days of NMEA1803, many charter companies never bothered to link the plotter and autopilot which prevented the necessary cross-track error messages being received by the autopilot, I was told it was too risky for the average charter customer to use, but since plotters now check the routes, and NMEA2000 is usually connected, it is always there, but still a lot of boat owners don't realise that a second step is required to get the autopilot to steer to the route, so just press goto on the plotter and wonder why the autopilot does nothing.

Picking up my new system components today so I'll be reading manuals all weekend to see what it can do ... feel a bit like a kid in a sweetie shop.

PS: The auto-routing function is the next step I guess, as it creates waypoints and routes automatically - better be certain draught and air-draught are stored correctly in the plotter though - my Navionics App regularly forgets my boat settings unfortunately.

Auto routing needs careful check, obviously. One "flaw" in the systems that i have seen is that they don't make any allowances for the depth in relation to the time you make the trip. How could it, you could be leaving when you make the route, or you could be planning for a future date. So, it assumes the LAT, which could take you around an area of water that's too shallow at low water, but perfectly OK for when you plan to go.

Might not be an issue, depending on where you sail, but more often than not, it adds miles to my trips on the the East coast UK.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

My first plotter, a Standard Horizon CP300, which I had since 2012 had this feature, including "automatic check" which would check for hazards along the route - a feature which I used all the time in conjunction with an old Autohelm 3000 motor and a Raymarine ST60 autopilot.

Back in the days of NMEA1803, many charter companies never bothered to link the plotter and autopilot which prevented the necessary cross-track error messages being received by the autopilot, I was told it was too risky for the average charter customer to use, but since plotters now check the routes, and NMEA2000 is usually connected, it is always there, but still a lot of boat owners don't realise that a second step is required to get the autopilot to steer to the route, so just press goto on the plotter and wonder why the autopilot does nothing.

Picking up my new system components today so I'll be reading manuals all weekend to see what it can do ... feel a bit like a kid in a sweetie shop.

PS: The auto-routing function is the next step I guess, as it creates waypoints and routes automatically - better be certain draught and air-draught are stored correctly in the plotter though - my Navionics App regularly forgets my boat settings unfortunately.

Last time I used my plotter go to feature with autohelm, it sailed the rhumb line, with a significant offset between ships head and ground track. This was approaching the Snd of Luing, with strong tides.

Axiom+ 12, Lighthouse charts, ACU400x PS70 controller, modified Neco motor.

Still learning how to use it and sailing a constant heading on auto pilot might be a better option.

I am very pleased with my set up. I only use Navionics on my iPad as a back up.