Autopilots

An autopilot may be the best investment you make in your boat. You are adding a crewmember that will not eat, drink, sleep, or talk back. This crewmember can steer your boat better than you can under most conditions, and can do so with complete concentration for as long as you need him. Today's modern microprocessor-based autopilots are compact, highly efficient, and very affordable. Many of the new pilots are "smart" and literally learn from experience how best to handle your boat in various sea conditions. Operating an autopilot can be easy as steering a course, pressing the "Auto" button, and letting the pilot take over. In "Auto" mode, the present heading becomes the course to steer and can be adjusted with buttons, usually in 1° or 10° increments, or on some control heads with a rotary knob. Most autopilots also feature "Nav" mode where the GPS is interfaced with the autopilot and sends it heading instructions. In this mode, the autopilot can simply steer to a waypoint or be instructed to follow a series of waypoints to form complex routes. When using "Nav" mode, the autopilot will alert the user if arrival at the waypoint and prompt for permission to steer to the next waypoint. This is an important safety feature to prevent unexpected turns. Autopilots are one of the most complex installation challenges on your boat. Our Techinical sales experts will gladly work with you to develop a package that will satisfy your autopilot needs. Use the handy chart on page 89 to record the information we'll need to help you with your decision.