Autopilot Navigation Systems
One can navigate without a GPS if they had to and haul up the anchor by hand. But it would be very difficult to rely on hand steering for every trip or passage.
Autopilot lets you do other things with your hands like taking time to update charts, make boat repairs, get a bite to eat or something to drink, trim the sails, throw a line overboard, read a book, watch the sun set (or rise). It frees you and lets you conserve your energy.
Electro-mechanical autopilots are generally affordable, lightweight, easy to use. The can install in the cockpit or below decks. Autopilot systems steer by a compass heading, so they are pretty good at holding a course.
When wind and seas come up autopilot systems do draw power. The Autopilot has to work harder and draws more amps, draining the batteries.
Downwind performance is another problem. When the wind is from astern, the boat tends to yaw. The autopilot may have trouble correcting soon enough to avoid problems.
Autopilots have these same basic components: A course computer, compass, feedback transducer, control head, and drive unit.
There are three types of autopilots:
-Tiller pilots are, predictably, designed for boats with
tillers. Can control most boats up to about 10,000 pounds displacement. For boats up to 20,000 pounds displacement often have an independent ram mounted on the tiller with a separate control head mounted in the cockpit.
-Wheel pilots are popular on wheel-steered boats up to about
15,000 pounds displacement. Most wheel pilots will operate well on boats with
wire-and-pulley, mechanical, or push-pull cable systems, but only the type with the open belt will work on a worm gear steering system with a reversed wheel shaft facing forward.
-Under-deck pilots are commonly used on bigger boats over 15,000 pounds displacement, or those with hydraulic steering.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain
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sail autopilot and power autopilot systems
handheld hydraulic Autopilot Systems from SI-TEX and Raymarine
Designed for most any boat and easily installed.
GPS Systems and Discount Marine Electronics
