Is it time to buy an autopilot?

Buying and installing a new autopilot is satisfying for all boaters. The add-on will save you headaches and you will be able to focus on other things like the weather or your surroundings. But how much can you really trust your autopilot, and is it really worth the hefty price tag?

What is an autopilot?
Autopilots (automatic pilots) are system that helps with the control, direction and trajectory of a vessel without continuous manual input from the operator. Autopilots are NOT designed to replace humans, and there will always be a condition where AP (Autopilot) cannot be used.

The Autopilot market ä is large, with a wide range of systems, from the simplest Tiller pilots to the extensive, complex systems used on; commercial ships and passenger ships, plus everything in between. The main question that must be asked is which autopilot is suitable for my boat?

To answer the following; this must take the ship's power, weight and size into account, so an AP of sufficient strength and ability can be chosen. If you are unsure, the best way to find a suitable AP is to talk to a certified NMEA installer or directly with the manufacturer.

There are two ; types of autopilots, above and below deck:

• Above-Desk systems are usually tiller or wheel autopilots, found on; smaller ships. They are simple and easy to use, often with a small motor, and cost less than an under-deck system.
• Under-deck systems are larger and more complex, such as usually found onå larger ships. The added complexity allows the autopilot to perform more operations and offer better control, especially in rougher conditions.

A simple 12V tiller pilot is perfectly capable of piloting a 30 foot cruising boat in calm waters but would not be able to pilot a 300 ton commercial vessel. The same applies to the other case, where it would be unkind to the dead to have an autopilot on; commercial levelå on your 30 foot boat (and it probably wouldn't work because it would draw too much power. The biggest AP systems use a lot of power! ).

Autopilots are designed to remember the ship's course and then keep the ship on course; this course by adjusting the rudder position/power. Normal sailing conditions are no problem for an autopilot, but when the winds and currents are strong, or the vessel starts to over- or under-steer, the quality of your selected autopilot to determine how well it handles this.

A typical below-deck autopilot consists of these components:

• A course computer, which ä ;r the "smartness" of the autopilot. The computer processes the data input into the autopilot system and determines how to adjust accordingly.
  Heading sensor or electronic compass:
• This allows the autopilot system to determine which direction the ship is heading; väg. A gyrocompass can be used for more precise steering as it can be used to monitor rate of turn (ROT).
• Drive unit – Either an electric motor or hydraulic pump that drives and moves the rudder
• A control unit, which is the user interface. This is where the autopilot can be engaged or disengaged, and course adjustments can be entered. All users of this unit must be familiar with how to disengage the autopilot in the event of an emergency.
• Rudder feedback sensors. Although these are not necessary, they help to steer more precisely by comparing the rudder angle with the ROT.

A modern system will often combine most of these into one unit, making installation easier. It is worth mentioning that this is not only the case for below-deck complex systems, as the simple Above-Deck Tiller Pilots also; may have devices that combine most of these into one.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an autopilot?

Fö Advantages

• Autopilots do not get tired or lose concentration, which makes them an excellent complement for long journeys.
< li>The system can act as an additional crew member, allowing a short or one-man crew to focus on; other tasks while the autopilot handles the steering (crew members should always be aware of their surroundings, remember that autopilots do not have eyes and ears).
• That using an autopilot can save money by making the trip more fuel-efficient because they steer precisely, getting you to your chosen destination faster. This system works best when a GPS also; is integrated.
• Some more advanced systems can be self-learning, where they retain the positions of the rudder and determine which adjustments must be made in order to avoid over or under steering.
• Autopilot systems can be used with other onboard electronics, opening up options such as using waypoints via your plotter/MFD.

Disadvantages

• As with all electronics, autopilot systems can fail at any time. For this reason, it is best practice to either have a standby autopilot or have a crew that can navigate without the autopilot.
• Should the system fail or need to be recalibrated when out at sea or in a foreign country, this can prove problematic if the fault cannot be diagnosed or explained by; a way the technician can fix.
• A common reason autopilots fail is water ingress. If water gets into the drive motor and causes corrosion, the autopilot can fail, or at best struggle to steer the boat causing incorrect data.
• Autopilots, especially those that has a higher effect, uses a large amount of electricity. In tough conditions where the autopilot has to work extremely hard to keep the ship on course, the system is subjected to more stress both mechanically and electrically. In extreme wind conditions, it is advisable to disconnect the autopilot.
• The "slower" autopilots with lower power may be too slow to make directional adjustments, which could put you in a dangerous situation. This is another reason why user and staff awareness is important; if the system suddenly needs to be disconnected.

How does this relate to our products?

Actisense NGW -1 bidirectional conversion gateway is ideal for connecting NMEA 0183 instruments with NMEA 2000 instruments. The gateway can convert NMEA 0183 waypoints to NMEA 2000 and vice versa. A common application for the NGW-1 that has been confirmed by Raymarine Engineers to work well is the use of our NGW-1 with Raymarine Evolution autopilots. However, the NGW-1 is not limited to just Raymarine units. For example, if you have a NMEA 2000 GPS and want to feed this data into your NMEA 0183 autopilot, the NGW-1 can convert your GPS PGNs into relevant NMEA 0183 sentences.