I am in the market for an autopilot on my 43 foot trawler. Looking at the Si-Tex systems and would like opinions on this choice and model selection for this size trawler.
Thanks
Ian
Ian, With Simrad the tiller starts reacting immediately to the rotation of the rotary knob. Essentially, if you cruise the twisting and winding ICW of Georgia and S. Carolina you could steer completely with the rotary knob. Plus Simrad has a remote that can be mounted in the arm rest of your helm chair with complete AP control.
Self install was easy. The pump set takes about 1/4 the space formerly occupied by the old Wagner, and attached without adapters to the hydraulic piping left from removal of the Wag.
Ian, I've spent quite a bit of time researching pilots for our electronics upgrade. A little known fact I discovered is how your tiller will react to a rotary knob pilot. Both Si-Tex and Furuno rotary knob pilots move the rudder AFTER you stop rotating the pilot control knob. Simrad (AP28 & AP70) is a 'follow-me' system. Say you want to use the rotary knob to turn 10-degrees. Turning the Furuno or Si-Tex knob you will not have tiller movement until you stop turning the rotary knob. With Simrad the tiller starts reacting immediately to the rotation of the rotary knob. Essentially, if you cruise the twisting and winding ICW of Georgia and S. Carolina you could steer completely with the rotary knob. Plus Simrad has a remote that can be mounted in the arm rest of your helm chair with complete AP control.
That is the Simrad system we have, and it is so nice. Hit AUTO and steer with the knob, or sit in the Captain's chair with the handheld remote and steer with your thumb.
With Garmin's Shadow Drive... you simply turn the wheel and it disengages whenever you're steering and then reengages when you release..
Having done the AICW , both with and without an autopilot my vote is for a backup.
The difference between having the boast hold a heading , or simply wandering when the wheel is let go is the difference between a JOB and a vacation.
The only small oceans I have crossed were by rag power with a self steering (Aries) operating from "A" buoy to "A" buoy.
In a motorboat 2 AP would seem a minimum considering the alternative , a hand job for a week? UGH!!!!!!
With an AP and Murphy Gauges watch standing is less of a task.