Salvatore356
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http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120714/NEWS/307140029/Boats-collide-ocean-eight-saved?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CLocal&nclick_check=1
Auto pilot good or bad
- Thread starter Salvatore356
- Start date
Salvatore356
Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2012
- RO Number
- 32937
- Messages
- 238
Investigation is going on, but if you are at the wheel I can not see how you run into each other. Yes it was dark but lets face it sailboat I would say auto pilot fishing boat set course to fishing ground. I would assume both were experiience boaters. Who ever taught you would hit something thank god it was't a cargo ship.
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- Jan 1, 2000
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Autopilots are not afraid of anything.
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2002
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I don't have autopilot on my current boat. On my old boat I had a simrad system. The system was networked with my radar.
It had some thing called auto veer. What it did was when a radar target crossed nn miles/feet/yards in its path it would veer to avoid collision.
Nn was a Value you could set.
It had some thing called auto veer. What it did was when a radar target crossed nn miles/feet/yards in its path it would veer to avoid collision.
Nn was a Value you could set.
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2009
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I have a ray marine unit that has not been turned on since the survey. Besides having not learned how it works yet, I am not sure I want something else steering for me. Of course, it could be I don't know what I am missing either.
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- Feb 28, 2007
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John, you don't know what you're missing. 
I just installed my AP a few months ago. It, like a water maker, is something I could never live without again. I love the AP for being able to allow me to concentrate on keeping watch.
I just installed my AP a few months ago. It, like a water maker, is something I could never live without again. I love the AP for being able to allow me to concentrate on keeping watch.
I learned early on that my auto pilot contains a secret trigger mechanism that releases crab, lobster and fish trap buoys (and the occasional kayaker) from the below the surface to emerge directly in my path within 5 minutes of adjusting my heading. Thus I keep a very vigilant watch at all times, and probably have the AP on 90% of the time underway. The power steering and "dodge" capabilities are nice too. I like that I can use the binoculars more frequently and it is easier to take a 360 degree survey, watch the dolphins riding the wakes.
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- Jan 3, 2009
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Maybe I should learn how to operate mine.
Especially if it will get the dolphins to jump in my wake.
Seriously, it is on my list of to learn stuff but I am really learning how to hold a course and do everything else at the same time and be proficient at that. Once I feel I can do all that without an auto pilot I will likely feel more comfortable with one.
It is like my bow thruster. I have nit used it much at all other than to see how it works. I have been backing into my slip and piloting with out the use of it since day one. Yesterday I came back with a bit (just 5mph) of breeze. 55' fare way, 40' finger, and 45' boat. No one assisting off the dock and I was able to put it in the slip like it was on a track. I am finally comfortable doing it.
Especially if it will get the dolphins to jump in my wake.
Seriously, it is on my list of to learn stuff but I am really learning how to hold a course and do everything else at the same time and be proficient at that. Once I feel I can do all that without an auto pilot I will likely feel more comfortable with one.
It is like my bow thruster. I have nit used it much at all other than to see how it works. I have been backing into my slip and piloting with out the use of it since day one. Yesterday I came back with a bit (just 5mph) of breeze. 55' fare way, 40' finger, and 45' boat. No one assisting off the dock and I was able to put it in the slip like it was on a track. I am finally comfortable doing it.
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2001
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I had a nice autopilot. It was expensive to maintain, though. It liked food and bling.
This is one option I have not installed in my boat yet. George funny that you point out the AP's ability to draw in crab pots, sea trash and Kayaks! Since I am an all Garmin networked vessel I would use the Garmin GHP-10 system for ease of installation, NMEA2000 complience and it requires no rudder wiper control assembly which can be unreliable. To disengage the unit only requires grabbing the wheel to avoid a collision or obstruction. Release the wheel with the AP on and it returns to it's course.
Bill
Bill
Don't overlook the help a well adjusted A/P can provide when cruising in "uncomfortable" waters. The best devices have an almost magical way to smooth out the erratic course made good and sure help the skipper pay attention to all the other matters not associated with "steering".
quote:
Originally posted by jmeirhofer
Maybe I should learn how to operate mine.
Especially if it will get the dolphins to jump in my wake.
Seriously, it is on my list of to learn stuff but I am really learning how to hold a course and do everything else at the same time and be proficient at that. Once I feel I can do all that without an auto pilot I will likely feel more comfortable with one.
It is like my bow thruster. I have nit used it much at all other than to see how it works. I have been backing into my slip and piloting with out the use of it since day one. Yesterday I came back with a bit (just 5mph) of breeze. 55' fare way, 40' finger, and 45' boat. No one assisting off the dock and I was able to put it in the slip like it was on a track. I am finally comfortable doing it.
I think you have exactly the right attitude. The gizmos will all break or malfunction some day. Learn with no AP, no chart plotter/GPS, no bow thruster, then learn the gizmos, then practice regularly without them. On a twin engine boat, learn how to run it on one (making sure the unused transmission is properly protected if its design dictates locking it down).
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
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My personal view on this is that A/P is useful, as it allows me to spend more attention to watchstanding, vs course following.
jm has it right. FIRST, learn how to operate without the bling. When mother nature decides to play a funny on you, the only thing that remains is typically the Mark One Eyeball, and your training. You must build the foundation first. Build it well. Once that has occurred, then you can add "useful electronic devices". These often increase safety, and/or ease work load. But the use of such devices do not relieve you of the responsibility you carry using basic foundation skills, such as proper watchstanding.
SO, yes, I have had, and used A/P. It has it's place and can be quite useful. But at no time have I ever used it to actually relieve me of those duties related to standing a proper watch.
Running into a vessel while on A/P is a "failure to maintain proper watch" and actually has nothing to do with use ( on non-use ) of the A/P.
jm has it right. FIRST, learn how to operate without the bling. When mother nature decides to play a funny on you, the only thing that remains is typically the Mark One Eyeball, and your training. You must build the foundation first. Build it well. Once that has occurred, then you can add "useful electronic devices". These often increase safety, and/or ease work load. But the use of such devices do not relieve you of the responsibility you carry using basic foundation skills, such as proper watchstanding.
SO, yes, I have had, and used A/P. It has it's place and can be quite useful. But at no time have I ever used it to actually relieve me of those duties related to standing a proper watch.
Running into a vessel while on A/P is a "failure to maintain proper watch" and actually has nothing to do with use ( on non-use ) of the A/P.
I could get a bunge cord and after getting the boat out of the inlet and have it hold the wheel on a course heading East while I leave the flybridge and take a nap. Isn't that what AP's are for?
I'm joking guys and gals!
Kurt AP's are something I have held off because like others have said I wanted to learn the basics of handling a modest sized boat. Because I haven't done any long trips yet and I prefer ICW cruising taking one's time while cruising over running outside I have not felt the need. I was originally going to get the TR-1 Gold AP system. I'm glad I held off because shortly after I had my parts list and was about to undertake placing the order and then installing the TR-1 Garmin bought the company for it's shadow drive AP technology. I decided to wait this one out. Now 6 years later looking back I started changing out MFDs, Depth/Fish Sonar, Weather, Wind speed and angle, AIS transponder, Maretron heading sensor and Radar due to the limited availability of NMEA2000 complient devices. Now that I have almost everything one could dream about for electronic navigation and I have taken my lumps learning proper boat handling I might install a Garmin Auto Pilot. The latest Garmin units are NMEA2000 complient and I could simply place my GMI-10 display at the salon communications center and install the GPH-10, 12 or 20 AP display in it's place. I might not even need to do that if my research shows the AP can be controlled through my various Garmin MFDs and or NMEA2000 displays. I am sold on the original TR design that does not use a potentiometer on the rudder. I can see where this would be very useful when I run up the Delaware Bay/ River towards the C&D canal or Philadelphia towards the Rancocas River. There is a large amount of huge commercial traffic and the weather can make that part of the Delaware Bay/ River from calm into a North Atlantic gale with all the water the bay can throw at you within a few minutes. I do have a wonderful wife who has great eyes and is a terrific watchmate. I swear she can see stuff in the water that I can't see until we are almost on top of it. I would think on long trips the AP might actually help the boats fuel milage and give me the advantage of being able to be a better second set of eyes. We are planning a trip to the Chesapeake and possibly further south sometime next month. Then again for the price of the AP that could buy alot of fuel.
Bill
I'm joking guys and gals!
Kurt AP's are something I have held off because like others have said I wanted to learn the basics of handling a modest sized boat. Because I haven't done any long trips yet and I prefer ICW cruising taking one's time while cruising over running outside I have not felt the need. I was originally going to get the TR-1 Gold AP system. I'm glad I held off because shortly after I had my parts list and was about to undertake placing the order and then installing the TR-1 Garmin bought the company for it's shadow drive AP technology. I decided to wait this one out. Now 6 years later looking back I started changing out MFDs, Depth/Fish Sonar, Weather, Wind speed and angle, AIS transponder, Maretron heading sensor and Radar due to the limited availability of NMEA2000 complient devices. Now that I have almost everything one could dream about for electronic navigation and I have taken my lumps learning proper boat handling I might install a Garmin Auto Pilot. The latest Garmin units are NMEA2000 complient and I could simply place my GMI-10 display at the salon communications center and install the GPH-10, 12 or 20 AP display in it's place. I might not even need to do that if my research shows the AP can be controlled through my various Garmin MFDs and or NMEA2000 displays. I am sold on the original TR design that does not use a potentiometer on the rudder. I can see where this would be very useful when I run up the Delaware Bay/ River towards the C&D canal or Philadelphia towards the Rancocas River. There is a large amount of huge commercial traffic and the weather can make that part of the Delaware Bay/ River from calm into a North Atlantic gale with all the water the bay can throw at you within a few minutes. I do have a wonderful wife who has great eyes and is a terrific watchmate. I swear she can see stuff in the water that I can't see until we are almost on top of it. I would think on long trips the AP might actually help the boats fuel milage and give me the advantage of being able to be a better second set of eyes. We are planning a trip to the Chesapeake and possibly further south sometime next month. Then again for the price of the AP that could buy alot of fuel.
Bill
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- RO Number
- 12212
- Messages
- 12,219
I use the AP a lot as it allows me to focus on watching for debris or traffic. It is especially useful at night or reduced visibility
That said, they have their limitations and often with quartering seas I find that in can do a better job and can actually smooth out the ride a little by correcting early as the boat moves with the waves
As to learning, the only function you really need is maintain a heading. On most units you just need to turn it on and adjust the heading when necessary. I never use any advanced functions to couple the AP to the GPS, i don't see the point
Again, use it as a tool when it can help, not as a mean to get distracted
That said, they have their limitations and often with quartering seas I find that in can do a better job and can actually smooth out the ride a little by correcting early as the boat moves with the waves
As to learning, the only function you really need is maintain a heading. On most units you just need to turn it on and adjust the heading when necessary. I never use any advanced functions to couple the AP to the GPS, i don't see the point
Again, use it as a tool when it can help, not as a mean to get distracted