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06-25-2018, 10:02 PM
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#1
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Veteran Member
City: Port Hueneme
Vessel Name: Pelican
Vessel Model: MMC
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 25
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Suggestions Auto Pilot
Hi, need a new autopilot for a 42' 16 ton, MMC (Defeever knock off),, Would like suggestions for the most simple, practical autopilot that will handle this boat. Presently has Cetek system which is not functional. They are out of business. Thanks.
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06-25-2018, 10:32 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Bellingham WA
Vessel Name: Hatt Trick
Vessel Model: 45' Hatteras Convertible
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,916
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Check out Comnav. I've been very happy with mine. Used extensively by commercial and fish boats in the PNW and Alaska.
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06-25-2018, 11:52 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
City: Port Orchard, WA
Vessel Name: Isobel K
Vessel Model: 37' Custom Pilothouse
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 417
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comnav
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06-26-2018, 12:47 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Sidney BC Canada
Vessel Name: RochePoint
Vessel Model: 1985 Cheer Men PT38 Sedan
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,740
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bshanafelt
comnav
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+3.......... 
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06-26-2018, 02:11 AM
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#5
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Veteran Member
City: Port Hueneme
Vessel Name: Pelican
Vessel Model: MMC
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 25
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auto pilot
Thank you, I will check it out.
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06-26-2018, 05:57 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Satsuma FL
Vessel Name: No Mo Trawla
Vessel Model: Hurricane SS188
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,300
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Savalla
Presently has Cetek system which is not functional. They are out of business.
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Are you certain about that?
Believe Cetec units are still being repaired by Benmar Marine for usually $250 or so for the computer unit.
Benmar Marine
__________________
Buffalo Bluff Light 28
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06-26-2018, 06:12 AM
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#7
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Guru
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
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I just had my AP upgraded to the Simrad AP48. Used it for the first time yesterday and quite pleased. There are some things I need to tweak and get used to as there are many more variables available to the user than my AP22.
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06-26-2018, 06:17 AM
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#8
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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Does your vessel use cables or hyd to steer from the installed helm?
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06-26-2018, 06:22 AM
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#9
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Guru
City: Kilmarnock VA
Vessel Name: Wandering Star
Vessel Model: PSN40
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,350
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If your drive is still in good condition, that'll save you a ton of money not having to replace it so whichever pilot you go with, make sure it's not propitiatory. Garmin is the only one I can think of off hand that wouldn't readily accept a different drive.
Also, whichever system you decide to go with, seriously consider that it uses a rate compass. They really help with the steering on a slower moving boat. Comnav still uses a regular fluxgate compass as standard equipment in some of their pilot models.
__________________
-Shawn-
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06-26-2018, 08:49 AM
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#10
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Guru
City: North Carolina for now
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,348
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boomerang
If your drive is still in good condition, that'll save you a ton of money not having to replace it so whichever pilot you go with, make sure it's not propitiatory. Garmin is the only one I can think of off hand that wouldn't readily accept a different drive.
Also, whichever system you decide to go with, seriously consider that it uses a rate compass. They really help with the steering on a slower moving boat. Comnav still uses a regular fluxgate compass as standard equipment in some of their pilot models.
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Comnav offers the option of a rate compass on all their units. It's a very modular "system".
__________________
George
"There's the Right Way, the Wrong Way, and what some guy says he's gotten away with"
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06-26-2018, 08:58 AM
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#11
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Guru
City: St Augustine,Fl
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,746
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Comnav..bullet proof gear
__________________
Jack ...Chicken of the sea! Been offshore 3 miles once
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06-26-2018, 04:09 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
City: Orange Beach, AL
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 150
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I installed a Raymarine EV-200 about 2 years ago. Love it! I was content to just point to the bearing I wanted and let "Capt. Ray" drive. But I finally interfaced it to my Lowrance MFD. Now it can troll zig-zag and other patterns. The REAL cool feature is it can follow a set track. So I pick my point and tell it to follow the track. Then it adjusts to wave, current, wind, etc.
My point being, make sure you can interface to your GPS and that your AP has the follow track (or go to point) feature.
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06-26-2018, 04:18 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
City: PNW
Vessel Model: American Tug 435
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 258
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as hjorgan points out; common interface can be an important feature. for example our GPSs, AP, and chart plotters are all Garmin and we too have all the features of following tracks, zig zag etc., we love it.
The other thing if you have common equipment (at least in our case) is that when you do a software update; all the systems on the net can be updated at the same time.
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06-26-2018, 04:40 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
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Good point.
If your electronics are NMEA 183 you are going to need a converter and cables since any new AP will be 2000.
This will include your two navigators and AIS which you will want on your 2000 backbone.
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06-26-2018, 05:58 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Kilmarnock VA
Vessel Name: Wandering Star
Vessel Model: PSN40
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,350
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Quote:
Originally Posted by caltexflanc
Comnav offers the option of a rate compass on all their units. It's a very modular "system".
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I wanted the op to be aware that a rate compass would more than likely help the pilot to steer his particular boat and that rate compasses come standard with a lot of pilots designed for his size boat.
The brand makes no difference to me if it keeps the bow pointed where it need to go!
__________________
-Shawn-
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