Autopilots – Yachting https://www.yachtingmagazine.com Yachting Magazine’s experts discuss yacht reviews, yachts for sale, chartering destinations, photos, videos, and everything else you would want to know about yachts. Wed, 28 Feb 2024 16:04:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/uploads/2021/09/favicon-ytg-1.png Autopilots – Yachting https://www.yachtingmagazine.com 32 32 Single-Engine Joystick Control https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/electronics/murcury-introduces-single-engine-joystick/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=62366 Mercury Marine’s new system is compatible with V-8, V-10 and V-12 Verado outboards up to 600 horsepower.

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Mercury Steering Joystick
Mercury now has a joystick system for single-outboard-powered boats. The system works for engines ranging from 250 hp to 600 hp. Courtesy Mercury Marine

Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corp., has introduced Mercury Joystick Steering for Single-Engine Vessels. The system is compatible with V-8, V-10 and V-12 Mercury Verado outboard engines from 250 to 600 horsepower.

This is far from the first Joystick Steering system that the company has brought to recreational boaters. The systems are now available for vessels powered by sterndrives, inboards, Zeus pod drives, multi-outboard installations, multi-outboards with an integrated bow thruster, and single-engine pontoons with deployable thrusters.

“This new joystick steering system is unique in that it is specifically designed for single-engine vessels. It features a simple, single-touchpoint user interface for throttle, shift and steering, facilitating ergonomic one-handed operation,” Tyler Mehrl, senior category manager, joystick, steering, and throttle and shift controls, stated in a press release.

Joystick steering has become increasingly common aboard powerboats and superyachts alike, with systems from various manufacturers available for several decades now. In some cases, boatbuilders no longer even bother to install a traditional ship’s wheel at a boat’s helm, instead having the skipper rely exclusively on joystick control for steering. The crew aboard commercial ships, too, now frequently rely on joystick controls to maneuver through the world’s oceans and ports.

New boaters, in particular, tend to find joystick operation easier to master. Using these systems can be quicker and easier than traditional setups at the helm, and the systems are often compatible with other systems on board, helping to ease additional tasks as well.

Mercury’s new Joystick Steering for Single-Engine Vessels, for instance, eliminates the need for boaters to use both hands to throttle, shift and steer during low-speed maneuvers such as docking. The joystick’s design is sleek, without any physical buttons. It allows for proportional forward and reverse movement, and the twist function provides intuitive steering.

When Joystick Steering for Single-Engine Vessels is integrated with a compatible multifunction display incorporating GPS and Mercury SmartCraft Connect, it also offers autopilot features.

“There are two autopilot features: heading and route,” Mehrl added. “You easily can set up a route on the MFD by dropping waypoints. When the heading function is activated, you can make 1- or 10-degree adjustments to your heading on the MFD, or 10-degree adjustments by twisting the joystick, so you can use it to really fine-tune your direction of travel.”

When will Mercury Joystick Steering for Single-Engine Vessels be available? The system will be available starting April 15.

Take the next step: go to mercurymarine.com

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Free Autopilot Upgrade https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/free-autopilot-upgrade/ Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:20:04 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=49730 Simrad is making new features available for AP70 and AP80 autopilots.

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Simrad AP80

RTM 2.0 provides expanded features including Quick Command and Quick Dodge enhanced manual steering. Steve Moore

Simrad has released a software upgrade for its AP70 and AP80 autopilots. Users can access the RTM 2.0 software as a free download from http://pro.simrad-yachting.com/en.

RTM 2.0 upgrades the overall system operation and provides expanded features including Quick Command and Quick Dodge enhanced manual steering. There’s also a Cross Track Distance offset feature that lets you run parallel to a track line without changing modes, and a toe-angle support that is designed to improve slow-speed performance.

“The Simrad AP70 and AP80 are the most advanced autopilots available, and our new RTM 2.0 upgrade provides additional capabilities and functionality for our customers at no additional cost,” Navico CEO Leif Ottosson stated in a press release.

With the RTM 2.0 software upgrade and the addition of an SG05 Pro autopilot interface, Simrad says, the AP70 and AP80 are the only International Maritime Organization-compliant autopilots for Volvo Penta IPS drives.

The upgrade is available in English as well as German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Croatian, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Portuguese, Slovakian, simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese.

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A New Fishing Feature for Tenders https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/new-fishing-feature-tenders/ Fri, 18 Jul 2014 20:54:18 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=55198 Lowrance Outboard Pilot lets anglers steer by fingertip through integrated control.

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Lowrance Outboard Pilot

This is how the Lowrance Outboard Pilot software looks on a Gen2 Touch multifunction display. Courtesy Lowrance

Lowrance’s new Outboard Pilot can turn a superyacht tender into a fishing machine, giving anglers fingertip steering control through integration with HDS Gen2 or HDS Gen2 Touch.

Outboard Pilot can be installed with hydraulic or cable-steered outboard systems on tenders up to 30 feet LOA. The system will steer to a selected heading or waypoint, or along a route, and it can execute a turn pattern. It also lets users retrace previous routes with the push of a button (for instance, returning to the dock from a favorite spot in the canyons).

“The Outboard Pilot is a game-changer for our inland and coastal Lowrance customers,” Leif Ottosson, Navico CEO, stated in a press release. “It’s like giving anglers an extra pair of hands, just when they are needed most.”

Lowrance Outboard Pilot will be available starting in November. Retail price is expected to range from $999 to $1,499.

Learn more at www.lowrance.com.

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Raymarine Evolution Wins Again https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/raymarine-evolution-wins-again/ Mon, 21 Oct 2013 21:47:15 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=50756 NMEA-BWI award cites the new autopilot’s innovative technology and value to boaters.

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Raymarine Evolution Autopilot

The Raymarine Evolution Autopilot is one of the new products that will be unveiled at the 2013 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Courtesy Raymarine

The Raymarine Evolution Autopilot has won this year’s Technology Award from the National Marine Electronics Association, with judging by members of Boating Writers International.

“The new Raymarine autopilot, after simple dockside setup, automatically teaches itself how to steer the boat and linearizes the compass,” head judge Bill Bishop stated in a press release. “This artificial intelligence-feeling system eliminates the traditional sea trial autopilot calibration and, when coupled with the mount-almost-anywhere heading sensor, made it a technology standout.”

Evolution combines advanced aerospace guidance technology with Raymarine’s marine autopilot expertise. The Evolution autopilot also won the Innovation Award at IBEX in September.

Learn more at www.raymarine.com.

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3 Electronics Must-Haves https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/3-electronics-must-haves/ Tue, 08 Oct 2013 21:28:41 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=55616 Raymarine, Garmin and Digital Yacht are introducing some cool new tools.

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Raymarine Evolution Autopilot

The Raymarine Evolution Autopilot is one of the new products that will be unveiled at the 2013 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Courtesy Raymarine

The boats are the main draw every year at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, but our editors are just as excited about electronics options that are also expected to be on display.

For starters, there are the Evolution autopilots from Raymarine. These nifty little units have an intelligent, nine-axis EV sensor core that automatically evolves and adapts to your boat’s steering characteristics — so you don’t have to do any calibrating or make any adjustments. The sensor core can be mounted pretty much anywhere, as it is fully sealed and built to IPX6 and IPX7 waterproofing and submersion standards. Three control units are available, depending on your type of steering system. More details are at www.raymarine.com.

Next on our list of must-sees this year is Digital Yacht’s new GPS150 DualNav GPS Sensor. It combines a 50-channel GPS with GLONASS, the Russian-funded satellite system that is now online. The smart sensor inside the GPS150 will automatically switch between the systems, depending on which is available, or you can make a manual choice. When the European-funded Galileo positioning system comes online in 2018, the GPS150 will work with that, too. Learn more at www.dualnav.com.

Last but not least, we’re looking forward to seeing the new VIRB cameras from Garmin. These babies are built specifically for on-the-water adventures, with a battery that will record for up to three hours at 1080p, that will survive for as long as a half-hour when submerged in a few feet of water and that can be used at depths of more than 150 feet with an optional protective case. Check out the camera’s cool looks at www.garmin.com.

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Hands-Free Control https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/hands-free-control/ Fri, 06 Sep 2013 01:15:52 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=54489 The Simrad SG05 autopilot is designed to make your life easier at the helm.

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Simrad SG05 autopilot

The Simrad SG05 autopilot is all about hands-free control. Courtesy Simrad

Simrad’s SG05 autopilot is all about hands-free control. When used in conjunction with a Simrad NSO, NSE or NSS multifunction display and SeaStar Solutions’ Optimus EPS Power Steering or an Optimus 360 joystick, this autopilot will make you feel like your boat is driving itself.

The SG05 can guide Optimus-equipped boats through turn patterns or toward a specific waypoint. It can even direct the boat in a zigzag pattern. And it’s easy to install thanks to its use of a CAN-bus data network. It requires no extra hydraulic pump.

Other features on the Simrad SG05 include Auto, NAV, NoDrift and FollowUp modes, and Dodge. Retail price is $1,081.

Learn more at www.simrad-yachting.com, and look for additional information in an upcoming issue of our print magazine.

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Winners, Hands Down https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/winners-hands-down/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:50:57 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=52878 Three new products for entertainment and vessel control. "New Electronics" from our February 2012 issue.

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Intellian Satellite

Diminishing Domes
A small profile on your antenna arch is a good thing, according to Intellian Technologies, and, with that in mind, this maker of marine satellite antennas has rolled out a new VSAT satellite communications dish and two new stabilized satellite television dishes inside 33-inch domes. Intellian’s redesigned antenna reflector gives the v80G (starting at $36,900) VSAT broadband performance normally not possible in domes narrower than 39 inches. The matching Intellian t80 satellite TV antenna ($16,700) can feed multiple HD receivers simultaneously and locks onto satellites as rapidly as possible, thanks to the integrated GPS and Intellian’s patented Wide Range Search algorithm. The t80W TV antenna ($19,700) adds a patented low-noise block (LNB) that automatically switches frequency, depending on which part of the world you are voyaging, with no manual reset necessary. Intellian, 949-727-4498; www.intelliantech.com

**

Crisis Management**
The “safe helm” feature of Furuno’s new NavPilot 700 ($3,795 to $4,095) returns steering control to the skipper when turning the wheel to dodge an obstacle. Power assist makes emergency maneuvering easier. Shifting from precision to economy modes can shave up to 2.5 percent from a vessel’s fuel consumption. The FishHunter options let you execute five patterns around a waypoint: a square, zigzag, orbit, spiral or figure eight. The optional FPS8 power steering module and software are required to activate the safe helm. Furuno, 360-834-9300; www.furunousa.com

Remotely Beautiful
Fusion 700 apps and a Wi-Fi router let you control the music in multiple zones from iPhone, iPad or Android devices. An NMEA 2000 communications backbone allows MFDs and remote displays to act as repeaters to control audio, using Fusion Link. The MS-IP700 for iPod ($450) and MS-AV700 DVD/CD model ($600) are Sirius-ready and incorporate an AM/FM and VHF tuner. The auxiliary input and customizable screen let you enjoy TV, DVD, game or portable media devices. Via a USB port, you may play MP3 files stored on a flash drive. Fusion, 623-580-9000; www.fusionelectronics.com

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Quick Byte: Simrad AP25 Series Autopilot https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/quick-byte-simrad-ap25-series-autopilot/ Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:11:11 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=50628 The Simrad AP25 autopilot is part of the company's SimNet data-sharing control system.

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Designed for powerboats and sailboats of 60 feet LOA or less, the Simrad AP25 autopilot is part of the company’s SimNet data-sharing control system, an NMEA 2000-based system. Among the AP25’s nifty features are the RC25 mini-gyro compass, automatic tuning, 10 levels of response and Advanced Wind Steering (AWS). AWS’s direct interface with a windvane eliminates the need for separate wind instruments. Other members of the series are the AP26 and the handheld AP27. Simrad, (425) 778-8821; www.simrad.com.

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Autopilots Galore https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/autopilots-galore/ Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:11:11 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=50747 Strong silent types, autopilots are a captain's best friend.

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yachting/images/magazine/2006/122006/ele_electronics1_525x269.jpg

Autopilots make great crew. They work for a miserly amount of electrical energy, steer more precisely than you can and, by keeping your vessel on course, reduce fuel consumption. For years, guided by magnetic heading sensors with sensitivity to motion, autopilot performance was limited in other than calm-to-moderate sea conditions. Autopilots now use solid-state magnetic heading sensors. Supplemented by rate gyros with GPS compasses (or north-seeking ship’s gyroscopes), these improved sensors rely on control algorithms implemented via digital processors to maintain control even in demanding conditions.

Connected to a vessel’s GPS receiver/chart plotter, the autopilot accurately pilots the yacht on complex routes, automatically compensating for the influence of wind and current. Since energy is consumed every time the yacht’s rudder is moved, the autopilot keeps the vessel very close to the desired heading or course, resulting in small, energy-efficient rudder movements.

The basic operation of all autopilots is similar, yet they differ in the type of magnetic heading sensor they use, the presence or absence of rate gyros, use of rudder position sensors, type of control/display interface (simple or graphic) and availability of additional control stations. Some systems use fuzzy logic, acquiring information about the yacht as it is operated, learning and building an optimum set of response characteristics. Wired and wireless remote controls are increasingly popular, and when combined with engine- and gear-control functions can greatly simplify docking and undocking maneuvers.

Keep those thoughts in mind as you read ahead.

AutoNav A-1500 AutoNav produces the A-1500 and the A-1510. Both units provide a full range of functions, including auto deviation correction for their fluid-filled fluxgate compass, which can accommodate vessel heel angles of up to 45 degrees. Alternatively, gyrocompass information can be used to supply heading information. Up to four submersion-proof control stations can be used, including a portable remote control. Steering interface includes NMEA 0180 through 0183 and, with an additional module, wind-vane steering. The control heads have large LCD screens and backlighted four-key keypads. An optional PC interface allows computer control and monitoring of the autopilot’s performance. Dual outputs are available in the A-1500 for use with dynamic positioning systems, independent twin rudders and waterjets. www.autonav.com

B&G B&G, now a part of Simrad, manufacturers autopilots suitable for power and sailboats of 30 to over 300 feet in length. The H1000 systems are primarily used in power and sail boats up to about 40 feet overall. The LCD-equipped control/display unit provides a nine-key keypad plus a rotary course-setting knob. Remote, handheld controls include a joystick. The larger, H2000 (Hydra/Hercules) system is similar in design and construction, using a larger display/control. Large remote data displays of particular advantage on racing yachts are available in two sizes. Wind sensors are available for both pilots. www.bandg.com

ComNav ComNav’s autopilot range includes its most advanced unit, the ComPilot Admiral and Commander models, and four smaller units, the 1001 and 1101. The 1201 is designed specifically for workboat application and the 1420 for smaller recreational vessels. The 1420’s six-key waterproof control head can be mounted or handheld. The 1101 and companion 1201 pilots use identical backlit control/display units with large LCD data screens and are recommended for use on vessels between 30 and 60 feet overall. The 2001 and 5001 models are suitable for vessels between 80 and 500 feet in length and differ primarily in the type of control/display head used. The newest unit, the ComPilot features a 320 by 240 pixel high-contrast TFT LCD and incorporates ComNav’s Intelligent Steering Technology, a self-learning process that continually refines the pilot’s response to sea conditions and vessel dynamics. www.comnavmarine.com

Furuno Furuno offers the NavPilot 500, the model 511 and the handheld 520. All models employ the fuzzy logic introduced in the NavPilot 500. Fuzzy logic enables the autopilot to parallel the actions of a skilled helmsman new to a vessel by sensing the boat’s behavior under varying sea, wind, speed and load conditions and then using the knowledge to constantly improve its ability to steer smoothly and precisely. It operates in four modes: auto (fixed heading control); advanced auto (tracks a fixed path referenced to the ground via GPS data to eliminate effects of wind and current); nav (course determined by information from the GPS or chart plotter); and autowork (provides for permanent trim compensation). The 500’s rate gyro compass sensor assures good rudder control in the difficult following-sea conditions that can overcome many autopilots. Furuno’s GPS Satellite compass or a north-seeking ship’s gyrocompass can be used in place of the magnetic sensor. All three versions of the NavPilot are available in special outboard engine configuration. Up to six control stations can be used in any NavPilot installation. www.furunousa.com

Navman Navman’s autopilots include the G-Pilot 3100 and the G-Pilot 3380. The G-Pilot 3380 control head features a daylight-viewable 3.8-inch transflective color LCD and a large-diameter rotary control knob. Four keys, ESCAPE, ENTER, MENU and DISPLAY, provide access to the primary functions. PORT and STARBOARD DODGE keys initiate momentary deviations from the current course. The TURNS key accesses the turn library: tack/gybe, 90-degree and 180-degree turns. The remaining control keys consist of AUTO, MODE, STBY and POWER. Rotation of the control knob provides a 10-degree change in course per click or 30 degrees with a full turn. The system’s intuitive LCD shortens the learning process for new users. The G-Pilot 3100 uses a smaller control head equipped with a monochrome LCD and accomplishes all user interface commands with four keys. www.navman.com

Nautamatic Nautamatic’s TR-1 Gladiator is suitable for any hydraulically steered boat, including those powered with Mercury Verado outboards. The TR-1 Gold is designed for use with outboard engines between 6 hp and 20 hp. Both autopilots operate without the need for a rudder-position sensor. The patented Shadow Drive allows the helmsman to take control of steering without having to disengage the autopilot and to revert to automatic steering by terminating manual input. A rate-gyro-aided heading sensor is standard. Programmed maneuvers include circles, U-turns, orbit of waypoint, zig-zag, cloverleaf and search pattern with selectable distance increments. A wireless remote control is optional, and a new optional multi-function display provides current heading, steering mode, rate of turn and desired heading and rudder position (with the addition of a rudder position sensor). www.nautamatic.com

Raymarine Raymarine autopilots include tiller pilots and wheel pilots for sailboats, SmartPilots for Verado outboards and SmartPilots for inboard systems. Four tiller pilot models, the ST1000+, ST2000+, ST4000+ and ST4000+ Grand Prix cover boat displacements of 6600 to 16,500 pounds. All models can be interfaced with Raymarine’s LifeTag wireless man-overboard monitoring, and the optional S100, or SmartController, controls provide up to 10-meter wireless range and are optional for all pilots. The extensive SmartPilot inboard range includes the 6000 series 3-inch LCD-equipped control heads, ST6001 and the ST6002+ in both surface- and flush-mount versions, as well as the 7000 series, 4-inch LCD ST7001, and the new ST7002+ in both surface- and flush-mount styles, and the ST8000 series. Three electronic Corepacks are offered to match vessel displacements from 20,000 to 77,000 pounds, with the “G versions of the CorePacks adding a rate gyro to the magnetic flux detector to improve steering performance in difficult sea conditions. www.raymarine.com

Simrad Simrad’s autopilot products range from Cockpit Pilots (three Tillerpilots and a Wheelpilot), suitable for boats up to 18,700 pounds displacement, and extend upward to the AP50 and AP9Mk3, suitable for virtually any size yacht and capable of integrating the control of thrusters, making autopilot steering possible at unusually low speeds. The Wheelpilot and two of the Tillerpilots (TP-22 and TP-32) can be interfaced with the electronics needed to provide steer-to-wind or steer-to-waypoint. The AP12 and AP14 pilots are designed for vessels up to about 30 feet in length and include steer-to-heading (fluxgate compass) and steer-to-GPS. Versions are available for cable and hydraulic steering applications. The AP16 and AP25 series (AP25, 26, 27) use a common central computer module. All units provide a no-drift steering mode in which information from the boat’s GPS eliminates course deviations caused by wind and current, without having to set a go-to-waypoint. Installation with outboard engines is simplified with use of a Virtual Rudder Feedback system, which synthesizes the rudder position information; a special version is available for use with the Volvo Penta IPS drive system. The AP35 and AP50 models permit integration with gyrocompasses in addition to the usual fluxgate and can be connected to follow-up and non-follow-up steering levers. The AP50 model can use the Remote Commander control. The AP9Mk3 is the most capable of Simard’s autopilots and is suitable for use on virtually any yacht. www.simradyachting.com

Sperry Sperry Marine builds autopilots for mega-yachts and up. The Navipilot 4000 works through the ship’s steering network and automatically adjusts to changes in load, a valuable asset for megayachts in which the weight of fuel on board varies considerably. The Navipilot V HSC is designed specifically for high-speed craft, including hydroplanes and high-speed monohulls and catamarans. These big-ship autopilot systems can be integrated with a fiber-optic gyrocompass, a conventional north-seeking gyrocompass, a GPS satellite compass, a fluxgate or an electronic compass. www.sperrymarine.northropgrumman.com

Tecnautic Tecnautic, a Swiss/U.S. company known for its exclusively Internet-marketed programmable autopilots, has added a full-authority digital engine control with integrated fly-by-wire steering to its product line. The building-block design of the autopilots allows progressive installation of what can become a comprehensive autopilot/instrument system. Autopilot operating modes include “H heading, which follows a jet; “C, a track mode that combines information from the vessel’s GPS with magnetic heading to eliminate course deviations caused by wind or current; Wind, referenced to apparent or true wind; Nav, steer to waypoint; and Land, a precise GPS referenced steering mode usable at speeds below six knots when the GPS information resolution to three decimals is available, enabling the vessel to maintain a course within 0.001 nm, or approximately six feet. www.tecnautic.com

W-H Autopilots The W-H product line consists of three systems, the PC-3, AP-4 and the P-5, described as suitable for yachts and working boats up to 90 feet overall. All systems obtain heading information from magnetic fluxgate compasses with 45-degree internal gimbaling. The FG-100 heading sensor automatically compensates for local permanent magnetic fields, including symmetrical and asymmetrical soft iron. A new electronic steering wheel, the C-14, may become available as an option. www.whautopilots.com

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Furuno NAVpilot-500 Autopilot https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/furuno-navpilot-500-autopilot/ Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:11:11 +0000 https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/?p=52036 An autopilot with brains to beat the band.

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My test of Furuno’s new NAVpilot-500, a self-learning, adaptive autopilot, recalled my long-forgotten first experience with a marine autopilot. The unit was a Bendix model that-in smooth water-could keep a boat fairly close to the selected magnetic heading by rotating the entire compass binnacle. Its “electronics consisted of a light bulb, a photosensor and some relays-no transistors or vacuum tubes. The Furuno NAVpilot-500, on the other hand, uses a powerful microprocessor and an advanced system that senses-with help from a companion GPS-your boat’s magnetic heading. It also “learns the boat on which it is installed, dynamically adjusting its operation in response to your yacht’s speed, trim and draft, as well as set and drift of the tide, wind and sea state. What a difference 40 years can make.

The NAVpilot-500 I tested was installed on High Frequency, a 24-foot Cobia center console belonging to HWH Electronics of St. Pete Beach, Florida. In addition to the autopilot, the boat was equipped with a full suite of Furuno NavNet equipment.

The autopilot’s flush- or trunion-mount control unit is dominated by an easy-to-read 4.6-inch, 160-by-160-pixel sunlight-viewable monochromatic display and a large “push to enter knob, which controls mode selection. Eight dedicated keys provide access to the NAVpilot-500’s setup and operating modes. The user interface is highly intuitive, an advantage that will be especially significant in the event the unit must be operated by an inexperienced crewmember or guest. The system performs an extensive self-check upon turn-on, including verification of information from the heading sensor and rudder-angle transducer. Any detected faults are displayed on the LCD for analysis and correction.

The unit’s operating choices include “standby and six primary steering modes: “automatic, “navigation, “turn, “remote, “dodge and a useful “advanced auto mode, accessible via a menu selection. We left the dock in standby, or manual, mode with the LCD displaying the boat’s heading to 0.1 degrees magnetic (true heading was available) and rudder angle in degrees to port or starboard. Pressing Auto transferred the helm to the autopilot. I made changes to the course by rotating the control knob and pressing the port and starboard control buttons, which are marked with arrows. The LCD conveyed selected heading, current heading and rudder position.

Though an autopilot generally has little trouble keeping a boat on a constant heading, wind or current can alter your intended course. The NAVpilot-500’s advanced auto mode ensures your boat proceeds directly to the visual reference point the helmsman specified when choosing the initial heading, an innovative and useful ability. The unit does this by automatically establishing a virtual GPS waypoint ahead of the boat, based on the heading in use when “advanced auto was selected. The autopilot then operates as if it were navigating to an infinitely distant waypoint, automatically compensating for the effects of wind and current. Any mariner experienced in visually navigating a narrow channel subject to cross winds or currents will delight in this capability.

The NAVpilot-500’s LCD presents information in one of four arrangements: two “normal displays, a data display and a graphic display made up of seven images. Each includes all information in use by the unit. The result is a very user-friendly interface, an attribute critical to an autopilot.

Autopilots are frequently operated in “nav mode, automatically tracking to a designated waypoint. Sometimes, though, the helmsman must interrupt this navigation mode to avoid an obstacle or another vessel. Re-engaging the nav mode can cause a radical change in the boat’s heading as the autopilot steers back to the original course. The NAVpilot-500 handles this by providing two programmable choices for resuming navigation to the waypoint after an off-track deviation. In “XTE, or cross-track error, mode, the autopilot alters your boat’s course to intercept the original track and proceed to the waypoint. In “course mode, it automatically computes a new route to the waypoint from the boat’s present position, avoiding a sharp change in heading.

Fishermen will be particularly impressed by the NAVpilot’s five pre-programmable turn maneuvers: orbit, spiral, cloverleaf and 180- and 360-degree turns to port or starboard. The unit’s “fishing mode allows three of these maneuvers-orbit to port, orbit to starboard and cloverleaf-to automatically engage when the boat reaches a designated waypoint. Any of these maneuvers may be selected manually, as well. In either orbit mode, the boat circles around the waypoint at a pre-programmed radius between 0.05 and 9.99 miles. In cloverleaf mode, the boat’s track follows a cloverleaf pattern within a pre-programmed range of similar dimension, continually re-crossing the designated waypoint. Spiral mode allows you to program both the radius of the spiral and the advance, or distance, between successive spirals. This is ideal for tracking a moving school of fish. Since all these maneuvers are intended primarily for use when fishing, a speed in excess of 10 knots will trigger an alert tone and summon a “too fast to fish message on the LCD. Used with care, the cloverleaf maneuver might also be helpful in a man-overboard situation.

In addition to navigating to a GPS waypoint, the NAVpilot-500 can navigate to a target designated on a connected radar or sonar display. In this mode, the boat’s course upon arrival at a waypoint can be programmed to orbit the point, proceed in a series of spirals toward the target (followed by orbiting the target) or follow a cloverleaf pattern centered on the target. We explored the unit’s ability to maintain a precise over-the-ground circular track in a moderate breeze with a substantial tidal stream just off the southeastern coast of Sanibel Island, Florida. The photo of the NavNet plotter tells the story well: The successive circles rapidly merged into one on-screen track as the autopilot “learned the sea and wind conditions.

To be successful, an autopilot’s control responses must match the characteristics of the boat on which it is installed and account for changing conditions. Autopilot operating parameters are usually preset by the manufacturer or programmed during initial sea trials. The NAVpilot-500, though, is different. It uses fuzzy logic to recognize and respond to the boat’s dynamic characteristics, progressively learning to optimize its control responses. It accumulates a library of speed-dependent control parameters that include rudder ratio, counter rudder and auto trim. The intelligence designed into the system is further illustrated by the unit’s “net towing mode, which automatically adjusts the trim setting to minimize deviation from course caused by the drag of a net.

In addition to this fully automatic learning mode, the operator can select “semi-auto, “manual-calm, “manual-moderate and “manual-rough settings. Based on my test, I feel that most users will prefer the auto mode, since it makes the most of the autopilot’s learning ability. Everything the NAVpilot-500 learns is stored in a non-volatile memory.

Regardless of other aspects of its design, an autopilot’s performance depends on the quality of information supplied by its heading sensor. The NAVpilot-500 accepts data from any NMEA 0183 heading source that provides information at a rate of 5 Hz or greater, or from Furuno’s PG-500 gyro-assisted magnetic flux gate. The SC-60 or SC-120 GPS compass may also serve as the heading source.

The NAVpilot-500 is a complex piece of gear, so plan to become familiar with the 82-page owner’s manual. The unit’s excellent simulations will help, but an in-depth understanding of what this device can do will become apparent only after some hours of on-the-water experience, as the autopilot learns the boat.

The NAVpilot-500 is an excellent autopilot that will see service on a wide range of boats, from the outboard-powered center console on which we tested it through large sportfishermen and motoryachts. Its ability to accept up to six identical FAP-5001 controls, or a mix of full control positions and handheld remote controls, will be particularly appreciated on large vessels, where multiple control stations are needed. Its suitability for sailboats would be enhanced by automatic tack, jibe and steer-to-apparent-wind modes, but you can’t have everything-at least not yet. Price: $2,995.

Contact: Furuno U.S.A. Inc., (360) 834-9300; www.furunousa.com

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