Smaller boats and auto pilot

[paullee]

Hi Guys,
I have a Haines Hunter 560sf, 130 hp yammy and fish off the Gold Coast. Everything from mackerel in close to out to the 50s for snapper pearlys etc. I use a Garmin 95sv and recently purchased a Simrad Nse12 which I have been using as the plotter. The simrad came with an autopilot computer, head unit,compass and hydraulic pump. I spent the morning testing it as I was going to sell it but now I know it works I am wondering if I should simply install it on my boat. If I was to put in an hydraulic steering unit then a few hoses and a new helm (this bit I’m still researching)I think I have everything I need. My question is how useful will it be? I use to troll for Marlin a lot solo which would have been super handy when hooked up or setting lures etc. Slow towing for mackerel last year with lots of current just in gear I often struggled to hit a mark where autopilot I assume would fix that. The more I think about it the more useful I think it would be. I have read another post that debates trim tabs vs autopilot however mostly for longer runs on larger boats. Does anyone run one on a sub 6m boat and use it as I have described above?

Cheers,
Paul

[Brettoh]

I have just fitted a Simrad Autopilot. Ive used it 3 times and its awesome. Its seriously less fatiguing needing to make minute adjustments with the steering . When trolling the boat goes wherever you have told it to go.

Running out to the reef 100km away is just a sit in the seat and occasional throttle adjust.

install it. You wont regret it.

[ranmar850]

An AP on a smaller boat is one of those things that, once you've had it, you don't want to go back. I've had people who really scoffed at the idea, actually spend a few days fishing with me and using one, totally sold on them. That extra set of hands is invaluable. Even just getting the lures out nice and parallel,. They operate in two modes, really--one is where you set a course, and the other is when you tell it to go to a mark, and it sets the course. Very accurately, too, taking those offsets you get with wind and tide and constantly adjusting the course required so that you go there in a straight line. Big fuel saver when travelling long distances.

[paullee]

Hi and thanks for the reply. When u say u installed a simrad autopilot are u talking the electronics or the whole lot? I’m wondering if I can buy a hydrive kit and intergrate the pump in to it or is that a different helm? I am looking in to it now.
Thanks Paul

[Brettoh]

Hi and thanks for the reply. When u say u installed a simrad autopilot are u talking the electronics or the whole lot? I’m wondering if I can buy a hydrive kit and intergrate the pump in to it or is that a different helm? I am looking in to it now.
Thanks Paul
I have a seastar helm and a hydrive cylinder/ram. as long as the pump is sized accordingly thats all you need. It was a pain to calibrate until I worked out the old helm was worn out. Once replaced the thing is awesome.

[paullee]

Hi Brettoh thanks again. I have to buy a whole kit so $1600 minimum to get mine working.sorry for all the questions Just wondering if u have tried using yours at slow speed? Does it hold course just idling along as u do towing livies for mackerel? Also are u only using virtual rudder feedback?
Cheers
Paul

[ranmar850]

According to people who install/setup these things for a living, the difference between the better and lesser units is actually their ability at low speeds, not high. I would assume that the Simrad unit would be of a higher quality. Cheaper units like the Lowrance don't do so well. My Raymarine setup does well at all speeds. One thing to remember is that none of them can do the impossible, ie, if you are heading very slowly into a fresh breeze, with insufficient speed to maintain steerage, the auto pilot can't do it either. I can maintain heading at 2.5 knots when downrigging into pretty well anything. But dead idle straight into 15-20 knots of wind will see it lose its way.

[Corry]

We've got ours being installed next week, apparently there is a bit of effort to install, and then it has to be 'sea trialed' by the installers, with me in the boat with them. I'm guessing this is to teach me how to use it.
Initially I wasn't going to do AP when we first got the boat, so I went with the all the other stuff, Radar, Auto Trim Tabs, shower etc, would've been easier to get the AP fitted when all this was being done, but opted not to, figured I wouldn't need it. Then I did a trip out of Mackay to the reef, about 130klms, and another out wide from Cairns, 100klm. While on that second trip and still in service I rang the installers and ordered AP instantly. Figured having something else do the steering for me, and more accurately would be better, and I can be on the look out for whales (and other boats) instead of constantly looking at the GPS and adjusting course.
When researching AP, I found that I could do the cheaper unit, around 3k, but it won't do slow trolling and slow speeds, it has to be a 'premium' unit as the pumps are different and the smaller ones would overheat, it cost me 7k, plus install (all Garmin).
Looking forward to when it's all installed, can come back and do a report on it if wanted.

[paullee]

Hi again can anyone answer this. The simrad hyd diagram shows a balance line between the helm and the pump. Hydrive 501 helm appears to only have 2 connections. Can anyone tell me if this line is required? The pump I have has 3 connections. I’m keen to go buy the hydrive just need to know it’s going to work with the pump
Cheers
Paul
For those interested the 501 helm does have a 3rd port it is just not shown in the schematics I have seen. Cheers

[Brettoh]

We've got ours being installed next week, apparently there is a bit of effort to install, and then it has to be 'sea trialed' by the installers, with me in the boat with them. I'm guessing this is to teach me how to use it.
Initially I wasn't going to do AP when we first got the boat, so I went with the all the other stuff, Radar, Auto Trim Tabs, shower etc, would've been easier to get the AP fitted when all this was being done, but opted not to, figured I wouldn't need it. Then I did a trip out of Mackay to the reef, about 130klms, and another out wide from Cairns, 100klm. While on that second trip and still in service I rang the installers and ordered AP instantly. Figured having something else do the steering for me, and more accurately would be better, and I can be on the look out for whales (and other boats) instead of constantly looking at the GPS and adjusting course.
When researching AP, I found that I could do the cheaper unit, around 3k, but it won't do slow trolling and slow speeds, it has to be a 'premium' unit as the pumps are different and the smaller ones would overheat, it cost me 7k, plus install (all Garmin).
Looking forward to when it's all installed, can come back and do a report on it if wanted.

Yeah its a looong way out to the reef from our neck of the woods. I have found in the short time I have hhad the AP that I am far less fatigued from driving the boat.

[Sea Unit]

Yeah its a looong way out to the reef from our neck of the woods. I have found in the short time I have hhad the AP that I am far less fatigued from driving the boat.

I agree. Recently fitted AP to my 23 ft fibreglass centre console and definitely get back to the ramp feeling fresher (mentally) at the end of a long day of motoring.

[paullee]

Hi all for anyone interested I installed the hydraulic steering unit and ap myself and first trip last week it worked well. Still needs some tuning but I can see how useful it’s gunna be already. Simply pressing a button to hold course will be awesome. Cheers