simple autopilot for single diesel trawler

We have a single diesel 34' Albin and would like to add a simple auto pilot. We do not want to integrate with other items, such as GPS or radar. Any suggestions as to manufacturer or model? Hynautic steering system.

ComNav has a very simple model and is very popular and well supported. You may wish to consider an autopilot that is well supported in you region.

There are three parts to an autopilot system for your boat:

1. A control head where you enter course and turns

2. A course computer that mounts someplace out of sight and drives the pump below. These usually have 2-3 sizes depending on drive current which is dependent on the size of boat. A fluxgate compass connects to the course computer. The fluxgate provides heading information to the course computer.

3. A hydraulic pump that ties into your hydraulic steering. It is driven by the course computer and needs to be matched for drive capability. These come in a couple of sizes dependent on your steering hydraulic ram size.

I would pick one of the big 3: Raymarine, Garmin or Simrad. Look at the displays of each and pick the one you like best. All are good and are priced similarly.

David

I agree go with Raymarine, Garmin or Simrad. I would pick based on whose other electronics I liked best. Any of the above are NMEA 2000 compatible so in the future it will be easy to interface the autopilot if you decide you want to. Just think in 5 years or less if you interface the auto pilot you will be able to run the boat from your iphone from the office while viewing full video in a separate window. No need to actually go to the marina to take the boat out

Depends what you require from the AP setup.

If you want to spend time pre programming every turn on your next summer vacation the usual choices will do.

If your hyd steering is fairly fresh and in good condition a wheel mounted unit would be cheap and have the least complexity to install, and maintain.

The hassle is the hyd steering does not have a fixed center as chain & cable or rods or even a push pull cable has. After a while ( 10-15 min on an old leaky setup half hour+ on new) the unit will need to be reset.

If you just want it to steer to the next turn , where you will set the next course it would be fine.

Hooking it to a GPS and expecting it to navigate a cruise will not be fine.

calibrate your compass and then hook a bungy cord to the wheel.

Old deckhand said:

ComNav has a very simple model and is very popular and well supported. You may wish to consider an autopilot that is well supported in you region.

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ComNav.

A simple hydralic system. Works for weeks on end, 24/7.

It got us across the Atlantic.

I am not a paid spokeperson; though I should be

what_barnacles said:

calibrate your compass and then hook a bungy cord to the wheel.

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Sad to say, that doesn't work.

I tried.

Look at Sitex SP-70. Really simple and easy to use. Runs my 40 Albin quite nicely in most conditions.
And I am integrated to my Garmin GPS. I don't always navigate to a waypoint, but I think that is one of the best features of having an autopilot.
No intentions of starting a war on that issue, just sayin'

jleonard said:

Look at Sitex SP-70. Really simple and easy to use.

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Si-Tex/Com Nav meets your criteria. This is a fabulous system that has been around for a long time and has proven itself in a lot of different kinds of boats. It's easy (ish) to install (although, like any, there are a lot of wires) and the interface is clear and simple. The best thing is that this unit hasn't been caught up in the software arms race that companies like Garmin or Raymarine are in. If you want to be able to write your name in the river, execute search patterns for the Navy, or watch Game Of Thrones on the display, then these units are for you. But the Si-Tex (which is a rebranded Com Nav) is at the end of its development life and is as good as you can get from an easy to used and install unit. Another huge benefit is that to add a second station doesn't require another expensive head unit. All you need is their $50 plug to mount at an auxiliary helm.

I would suggest you call them and discuss your needs. They will spend all the time you need to help you understand the unit and help with any questions you may have during the install. I was super happy (as if that is in any question here) and miss having it on our new boat.

Garmin !!

I have both Comnav and Garmin Autopilots on the same boat. I added the Garmin both for redundancy and because the Comnav would just not perform to my expectations (I had a Simrad on another boat and I trusted that one to steer me into Gig Harbor - with my hand near the controls!).

The Comnav is now strictly a backup unit (and rudder angle indicator). There is simply no comparison in their performance. The Garmin mostly keeps the crosstrack error less than ten or twenty feet, even with big cross currents. Unlike the Comnav it requires no adjusting and tunes itself to the conditions.

I believe that any of the major manufacturers (Simrad, Raymarine, and Furuno) have autopilots with similar smarts. In my opinion, the Comnav is just primitive by comparison.

Steve D

Did you keep the same steering pump or put in a new and or additional unit? If new, same size or greater capacity?

Like many, I am a Furuno fan and would likely go that way if I choose to twin the existing older Simrad AP20.

Check with electronics installers in your area. Lots of boats upgrade to the new whiz-bang electronics with cartoons and have perfectly functioning units removed. Might be able to score a good unit that way without having to pay retail.

I use an old skool Simrad AP35, it does a nice job. I use it all the time even when in the ICW. I don't bother with waypoints even though it is connected to the gps. I just point it where I want to go and tweak as needed. Someone has to be at the helm anyway, might as well do something.

sunchaser said:

Steve D

Did you keep the same steering pump or put in a new and or additional unit? If new, same size or greater capacity?

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The Garmin requires their own pump. Most other brands do not. But I wanted the pump in the engine room and I wanted two, in case one failed.

By the way, unless you like the sound of squealing cats, it is best to locate autopilot pumps as far away from your steering station as is practical.

SteveD said:

By the way, unless you like the sound of squealing cats, it is best to locate autopilot pumps as far away from your steering station as is practical.

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In the master stateroom bathroom, our AP pump sounds like a quacking duck! It took us a while to figure out what was making that sound. Bess figured it out. The bath is right under the lower helm.

I mounted my pump in the ER on an AL angle bracket with resilient mounts attaching it to the hull structure. I think the pump is on resilient mounts too, can't remember. No sound from the pump anywhere in the boat, especially at the helm.

But I have been on boats where the pump noise is horrible. Especially if mounted on the bridge where ambient noise level is very low. Put pump in ER.

wow...my AP pump is right over my head under the flybridge fairing and I can hardly hear it with the engine running....

I know hydraulic pumps make a lot of noise but usually an AP pump only runs for a half second or so every few seconds....more like a good burp....unless there is a fluid problem.

Maybe you are just accustomed to the sound of "burps"??

You never know who might drink beer aboard my boat....

Comnav or Sitex (I think they are about the same thing), bullet proof, no frills crewmember who doesn't eat, drink, smoke or bitch. They also steer a better course than you (or at least me).

SteveD said:

I have both Comnav and Garmin Autopilots on the same boat. I added the Garmin both for redundancy and because the Comnav would just not perform to my expectations (I had a Simrad on another boat and I trusted that one to steer me into Gig Harbor - with my hand near the controls!).



The Comnav is now strictly a backup unit (and rudder angle indicator). There is simply no comparison in their performance. The Garmin mostly keeps the crosstrack error less than ten or twenty feet, even with big cross currents. Unlike the Comnav it requires no adjusting and tunes itself to the conditions.



I believe that any of the major manufacturers (Simrad, Raymarine, and Furuno) have autopilots with similar smarts. In my opinion, the Comnav is just primitive by comparison.

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You are the only person I have ever heard this from. Not that my observation of your post adds anything to the conversation, but it is true. ComNav/Sim-Tek has a stellar rep in the commercial fishing market (according to them, I admit), but my experience was top notch and I am considering replacing my Raymarine with one next year.

I wouldnt. Raymafine is fine as well as the others.

I have never head that Sitex Com Nav was anything but one of the gang and the marine electronics firm I worked for had a large commercial base of clients. If anything, Robertson Simrad was king for decades. Other Than The neanderthals that swore by Wood freeman.

Plus my experience with a lot of commercial guys is similar to rec boaters...what they are used to ranks high...whether really good or not.

I have an old wheel pilot that works great on my twin diesel trawler. It's definitely old school and very simple. It came with the boat when I bought it and has never failed me.

This pic misses the motor in the bottom right, but you get the idea.



It's just a 12V power hookup to the motor and control pad. The motor is mounted on a cam which can tighten the belt to engage the motor. It holds heading and changes headings in 1 and 10 degree increments. It's more commonly used on blowboats, but I like it anyway. Wish I had a wired remote for it to enjoy lazy cruises on the bow.

I found this looking for a remote, but it's an entire system (with 2 remotes!) and it's in Australia. If you decide to buy it, I'd love to buy the small remote from you!

Navico Wheel Boat Auto Pilot WP5000 Plus Accessories | eBay

Crikey Al, if I wasn't trying to sell my boat, I'd be tempted to go for that myself. It would do for my boat, which like yours I think, has simple chain/rod steering.

"The neanderthals that swore by Wood freeman."

BECAUSE in many cases it could be repaired on board , with no need to box it up and send it to somewhere.

FF said:

"The neanderthals that swore by Wood freeman."

BECAUSE in many cases it could be repaired on board , with no need to box it up and send it to somewhere.

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For as often as we were called on service calls for them...that I guess was a good thing.

Peter B said:

Crikey Al, if I wasn't trying to sell my boat, I'd be tempted to go for that myself. It would do for my boat, which like yours I think, has simple chain/rod steering.

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Mine is hydraulic steering by Wagner. When I read the book on the WP5000 installation, it claimed it shouldn't be used on hydraulic steering systems. I have no idea how long this has been installed, but with the gain set at max, it works fine in normal conditions. It can't keep up in following seas, so I hand steer a much straighter course, but that's probably a function of my square transom and small rudders.