Autopilots
Marine Autopilots were originally the realm of Ships or very large Sailboats, but today Autopilots for Boats are integral to any properly equipped vessel. Boat Autopilots take your crew to distant fishing holes, an Autopilot can track a preset trolling course, hold your vessel on a pre-set compass course, or direct your craft through a multipart track via pre-determined waypoints. Boat Autopilots make the most of all available on-board Navigational Instruments and environmental sensors. The Best Modern Autopilots today using GPS information, should maintain a constant course regardless of wind or current effects.
Most Marine Autopilot systems consist of a number of elements:
- Pilot Control Console
- Heading Sensor - Rate Gyro or GPS Compass
- Central Processing Unit (or Course Computer on Raymarine units)
- Drive Unit - steers the boat
- Rudder Sensor - feedback unit
- Masthead Wind Sensor - on-board wind instruments (sailboats).
- Remote Control - increasingly popular
Simrad Autopilots - AC-42 Autopilot Computer (Discontinued)
Simrad OP10 Autopilot Controller (Discontinued)
B&G Triton Autopilot Controller (Discontinued)
Simrad SimNet SIMKIT-2 (Discontinued)
Simrad Autopilot AP24 (Discontinued)
TMQ Autopilot AP47 (Discontinued)
Navico Hydraulic Autopilot Pack with RC42 Compass (Discontinued)
Simrad AP44 High Capacity Autopilot Pack (Discontinued)