Kristian Ferrell
Autopilot systems are now almost standard on large boats, with the technology offering convenience, voyage efficiency, fuel savings and safety. Autopilots have been used on commercial, sail and power vessels for over a century, in various forms, making navigation safer and more convenient. They can be used on boats with steering wheels, or below-deck on sail and powerboats over 40 feet. Autopilots are also self-learning, meaning they remember helm positions needed to hold a course and prevent over/under steering. However, there are some safety concerns, with investigations revealing incidents in which the fluxgate compass that directs the autopilot to follow a prescribed course can be suddenly influenced by the massive amount of steel in bridge support members and ships, leading to disaster.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Advantages | Convenience, voyage efficiency, fuel savings, safety, infinite attention span, helpful for short- or single-handed crew, pre-programmed trolling patterns for anglers, self-learning, standard equipment on larger sail and powerboats, instant transitions between pilot and hand steering, fast lock to lock times, incredible power, excellent reliability |
| Disadvantages | Cannot anticipate a large wave, only react once the boat starts to slew, may be difficult to repair, recalibrate or replace components during a voyage, especially in foreign ports, more power hungry than mechanical drives, uses more electricity, requires exacting installation |
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What You'll Learn
- Autopilot systems are almost standard equipment on larger sail and powerboats
- Autopilot technology is advantageous for boaters in terms of convenience, voyage efficiency, fuel savings, and safety
- Autopilot systems are a combination of electric or electronic navigation tools that steer a vessel without continual hands-on involvement
- Autopilot systems can be above-deck or below-deck
- Autopilot systems can be hydraulic or linear mechanical drives
Autopilot systems are almost standard equipment on larger sail and powerboats
Autopilots are a combination of electric or electronic navigation tools that steer a vessel without continual hands-on involvement. They allow sailors and boaters to leave the helm to trim or rig sails, adjust lines, set anchor, eat without interruption, take short naps, or other activities while not at the helm.
There are two types of above-deck autopilot: the first is used on boats with steering wheels, and the second is the below-deck autopilot, which is best for sail and powerboats over 40 feet. Below-deck autopilots are more powerful, able to perform a wider range of functions, and provide better steering for long-distance cruising, but they also use more electricity and require exacting installation.
Most marine autopilots provide two basic modes of steering the vessel: AUTO and NAV. AUTO mode is used to make the autopilot steer the boat automatically on a set course, while NAV mode uses steering information received from an external GPS or chart plotter to alter the course to direct the autopilot to the destination waypoint.
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Autopilot technology is advantageous for boaters in terms of convenience, voyage efficiency, fuel savings, and safety
Autopilot systems can be above-deck or below-deck. Above-deck autopilots are used on boats with steering wheels and are powered by a small motor. Below-deck autopilots are best for sail and powerboats over 40 feet. They are more powerful, able to perform a wider range of functions, and provide better steering for long-distance cruising, but they also use more electricity and require exacting installation.
Autopilot systems can help save fuel by reducing cruising time, particularly on vessels with a GPS interface. They have an infinite attention span and do not tire, which is helpful when sail or power boating with a short- or single-handed crew. For anglers, pre-programmed trolling patterns can make fishing more productive. Many models are “self-learning,” meaning they remember helm positions needed to hold a course and prevent over/under steering.
However, it is important to note that autopilot systems are not without their drawbacks. In some circumstances, it might be desirable to shut everything down and take a nap while the boat is at rest. However, this only works if the current will not carry you into danger while you sleep, so use your best judgment. Additionally, switch off the autopilot (or take manual control of the helm) whenever you are passing beneath a bridge or when in close proximity to large steel ships. Recent accident investigations indicate that there have been incidents in which the fluxgate compass that directs the autopilot to follow a prescribed course can be suddenly influenced by the massive amount of steel in bridge support members and ships, leading to disaster.
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Autopilot systems are a combination of electric or electronic navigation tools that steer a vessel without continual hands-on involvement
There are two types of above-deck autopilot: one for boats with steering wheels, and the other for tiller-steered boats. The former connects directly to the boat's wheel drive with a belt or toothed gears to move the wheel, powered by a small motor. The latter is unlikely to have a quadrant below decks unless the model was also offered with wheel steering, or has twin rudders. In this case, the most common choices for the drive are Raymarine’s EV-100 Tiller Drive, or the Canadian manufactured Octopus drive.
Below-deck autopilots are best for sail and powerboats over 40 feet. They are more powerful, able to perform a wider range of functions, and provide better steering for long-distance cruising, but also use more electricity and require exacting installation. The three below-deck autopilot components are the course computer, the fluxgate compass, and the steering mechanism. The course computer possesses course headings and other data. The fluxgate compass is the most critical component, providing directional information to the autopilot. The steering mechanism can be either a hydraulic or linear mechanical drive. Hydraulic drives have fast lock-to-lock times and incredible power, especially on larger models. They are well proven in the field, with excellent levels of intrinsic reliability, but tend to be more power-hungry than mechanical drives.
Most marine autopilots provide two basic modes of steering the vessel: AUTO and NAV. In AUTO mode, the autopilot steers the boat automatically on a set course. When engaged, the autopilot uses the current boat heading as the set course until disengaged or overridden. In NAV mode, the steering information received from the external GPS or chart plotter alters the course to direct the autopilot to the destination waypoint. Many models are “self-learning”, meaning they remember helm positions needed to hold a course and prevent over/under steering. An autopilot’s ability to hold a steady course without a helmsman has made them almost standard equipment on larger sail and powerboats.
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Autopilot systems can be above-deck or below-deck
The choice between above-deck and below-deck autopilots depends on the type of boat and the specific needs of the boater. Above-deck autopilots are simpler to install and are suitable for smaller boats with steering wheels. Below-deck autopilots are more powerful and suitable for larger boats over 40 feet, but they require more electricity and a more complex installation process.
Both above-deck and below-deck autopilots offer advantages in terms of convenience, voyage efficiency, and fuel savings. They enable short- or single-handed sailors and boaters to leave the helm to trim or rig sails, adjust lines, set anchor, eat without interruption, take short naps, or perform other activities. Autopilots can also help save fuel by reducing cruising time, especially on vessels with a GPS interface. Many models are "self-learning," meaning they remember helm positions needed to hold a course and prevent over/under steering. However, it's important to note that autopilots cannot anticipate a slew from a large wave and can only react once the boat starts to slew.
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Autopilot systems can be hydraulic or linear mechanical drives
Autopilot systems are advantageous for boaters in many ways, including convenience, voyage efficiency, fuel savings, and safety. Autopilots allow short- or single-handed sailors and boaters to leave the helm to trim or rig sails, adjust lines, set anchor, eat without interruption, take short naps, or other activities while not at the helm. They are now almost standard equipment on larger sail and powerboats.
Hydraulic linear drive systems can generate a tremendous amount of thrust and must be properly installed to prevent damage to the boat’s hull, structural members and steering components. An electromagnetic clutch mechanism in the ram allows the autopilot to be disengaged when hand-steering the boat. One important prerequisite for using a hydraulic linear drive is that your steering system must be capable of being back-driven. That is, when a force is applied to the rudder or rudder stock, that force should be able to be transferred into motion of the cables or mechanisms that lead back to the helm.
When selecting a hydraulic linear drive system, choose from either 12 or 24-volt models to match your boat's electrical system.
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Frequently asked questions
An autopilot system uses a combination of electric or electronic navigation tools to steer a vessel without continual hands-on involvement. It connects directly to the boat's wheel drive with a belt or toothed gears to move the wheel, powered by a small motor.
Autopilot systems are advantageous for boaters in many ways, including convenience, voyage efficiency, fuel savings, and safety. They can be used to save fuel by reducing cruising time and are helpful when sail or power boating with a short- or single-handed crew.
Yes, it is important to use an autopilot system properly and be aware of its limitations. For example, recent accident investigations have indicated that the fluxgate compass that directs the autopilot to follow a prescribed course can be suddenly influenced by the massive amount of steel in bridge support members and large ships, leading to potential disasters. Therefore, it is recommended to switch off the autopilot or take manual control of the helm whenever passing beneath a bridge or when in close proximity to large steel ships.
There are two main types of autopilot systems for large boats: above-deck and below-deck. Above-deck autopilot systems are used on boats with steering wheels, while below-deck autopilots are best for sail and powerboats over 40 feet. Below-deck autopilots are more powerful, able to perform a wider range of functions, and provide better steering for long-distance cruising, but they also use more electricity and require exacting installation.
