MARINE AUTOPILOT AND NAVIGATION

MARINE AUTOPILOT AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM

Hard to Live Without an Autopilot

Driving a triple-engine boat at 50 knots can be a lot of fun—but after a few hours, even the most enthusiastic captain appreciates having a reliable marine autopilot take over the repetitive task of maintaining a heading. At slower speeds, constantly correcting for wind, waves, current, wakes, and steering forces can become tiring and distracting.

Modern autopilot systems do much more than simply hold a compass heading. When properly installed and integrated, an autopilot can use GPS, electronic heading sensors, chartplotters, multifunction displays (MFDs), rudder feedback, and marine networks to maintain a precise course, follow a programmed route, and interact with other navigation systems on the boat.

Modern Marine Autopilot Features

Depending on the equipment and vessel, today's autopilots can provide:

Automatic heading and course keeping
GPS-assisted navigation
Route and waypoint following
Track following
Integration with chartplotters and MFDs
Automatic turns along a programmed route
Rudder-angle and steering feedback
Adjustable response for different sea conditions
Heading and course adjustments from multiple onboard displays
Remote control from compatible phones and tablets
Integration with NMEA 2000 and other marine networks
Integration with radar, AIS, wind instruments, and other navigation equipment
Waypoint navigation to fishing locations, anchorages, marinas, or other destinations

Many modern systems can also record or follow tracks from previous voyages. Routes can be created or edited on an MFD, computer, tablet, or phone and, when compatible, transferred through the boat's network or removable storage.

Navigation That Works With Your Boat

Modern chartplotters and navigation software can help plan routes while taking into account charted shoals, depth information, navigation markers, hazards, restricted areas, and other charted information. Depending on the system and chart data, route-planning tools can provide warnings when a planned route may intersect certain hazards.

Some systems can also integrate information from AIS and radar to improve situational awareness while underway.

An important distinction, however, is that an autopilot is not a substitute for an attentive captain. Electronic charts, GPS, radar, AIS, and autopilots all have limitations. The operator must continue to monitor the vessel's surroundings, navigation information, weather, traffic, depth, and system performance.

Why Autopilot Installation Is More Complicated Than It Looks

Installing an autopilot is considerably more involved than mounting a control head and connecting a network cable. The autopilot must physically control the vessel's steering system and accurately determine the vessel's heading and movement.

Depending on the boat, installation may require:

Mounting a hydraulic or mechanical steering drive
Installing a rudder-angle feedback sensor
Connecting to existing hydraulic steering systems
Installing hydraulic fittings and control valves
Properly bleeding air from hydraulic steering systems
Fabricating a strong mounting structure
Installing the autopilot computer and heading sensor
Installing GPS and other sensors
Routing and protecting power and network wiring
Integrating the autopilot with existing MFDs and navigation networks

Autopilot Drive & Steering Installation

The physical connection between the autopilot and the vessel's steering system must be strong enough to withstand the forces generated while steering the boat.

For mechanical steering systems, the drive and mounting hardware must be properly aligned and securely attached to a structurally sound part of the vessel. Custom fabrication may be necessary to create a strong mounting point. Temporary or inappropriate materials are not a substitute for a properly engineered mounting system.

Hydraulic autopilot installations require careful integration with the existing steering system. Connections must be properly made, hydraulic lines routed correctly, and the system thoroughly bled so that trapped air does not compromise steering performance.

Heading Sensors, Gyros & GPS

An autopilot needs accurate information about how the boat is moving and turning. Modern systems may use solid-state heading sensors, gyroscopes, GPS, rate-of-turn information, rudder feedback, and other sensors.

Sensor location is extremely important. A compass or heading sensor installed too close to magnetic interference from electrical equipment, motors, speakers, wiring, or other magnetic sources can produce inaccurate heading information.

The sensor also needs to be properly aligned with the vessel. A small installation error can cause the autopilot to consistently steer the boat slightly off the intended course.

Calibration Is Specific to the Vessel

Every boat handles differently. Hull design, propulsion, steering system, weight distribution, engine configuration, rudder or outdrive arrangement, and operating speed all affect how the vessel responds to steering commands.

After installation, the autopilot needs to be configured and calibrated specifically for the vessel. Depending on the system, calibration may include compass calibration, heading alignment, rudder feedback adjustment, steering response, turn rate, and sea trials.

A properly completed sea trial allows the technician to verify that the autopilot maintains the intended heading, responds appropriately to course changes, and communicates correctly with the vessel's navigation equipment.

Integrating Autopilot With Marine Electronics

One of the biggest advantages of modern autopilots is their ability to communicate with the rest of the vessel's electronics.

A properly integrated system can allow the autopilot to receive navigation information from compatible Garmin, Simrad, Raymarine, Furuno, Lowrance, and other marine electronics systems. Depending on the equipment, the autopilot may also exchange information with radar, AIS, wind instruments, depth systems, GPS, and other networked devices.

This integration requires proper NMEA 2000 networking, network power, termination, configuration, device compatibility, and software settings. When equipment from different manufacturers is combined, compatibility must be verified rather than assumed.

Autopilot Troubleshooting & Repair

When an autopilot isn't working correctly, the problem isn't necessarily the autopilot computer or drive. Symptoms can be caused by:

Incorrect heading information
Compass interference
Rudder-feedback problems
GPS or network communication problems
NMEA 2000 network faults
Low voltage or voltage drop
Hydraulic problems
Air in the steering system
Mechanical steering problems
Incorrect calibration
Software or configuration problems
Communication problems between manufacturers' equipment

Several of the issues with a marine Auto Pilot systems requires a sea trial. A single symptom can be caused by any number of different causes and requires a navigator to control the vessel and at least one technician to evaluate each potential culptit. Maritec Marine can systematically test the system to determine whether the problem originates with the autopilot, steering system, sensors, network, electrical supply, or another connected device.

Professional Marine Autopilot Installation

A properly installed and calibrated autopilot can make long-distance cruising, offshore fishing, and routine boat operation significantly more comfortable. More importantly, it needs to be installed correctly because the system is directly involved in controlling the vessel's steering.

Maritec Marine provides marine autopilot installation, integration, calibration, troubleshooting, and repair. We combine marine electrical expertise, networking knowledge, manufacturer training, and hands-on experience to integrate autopilots with the vessel's existing steering, navigation, and electronics systems.

Whether you're replacing an older standalone autopilot, installing a new integrated system, adding route-following capability, or troubleshooting an autopilot that isn't steering correctly, Maritec Marine can help design, install, configure, and calibrate a reliable marine autopilot system for your vessel.

MARINE AUTOPILOT AND NAVIGATION