autopilots

[blahblahduchunter]

what are you recommending for autopilots? i have seen alot of guys talking abou the simrad 14r. where is the best place to get one and how do you guys like them?

[A-Fishy-Anado]

I have the simrad 14apr and is rated the best in its price range. This thing holds pretty tight in some rough seas with both motors turning. Being able to walk out of the captains chair when things get hectic with rough seas, wind and fighting fish is second to none. It really changes everything.

Some of guys that run the raymarine smartpilot, not sure of model number, in a comparable price range are pretty envious of the simrad. From what i understand the smart pilot is a wheel mount and reacts completely different and doesn't hold a course near as well. I have never been on a boat with the smart pilot so i can not tell you from my own experience, only from what raymarine owners are saying. I assume someone here has experienced both and can fill you in a little more than i can.

[1mainiac]

For a cable steered boat the Simrad is hard to beat if you have the room behind the dash for it. I have talked to some guys who have the new X5 Samrt Pilot and they are pretty happy with it. But they also did upgrades to the package so neither of the guys I talked with have the out of the box package. I don't have the room for a Simrad and am annoyed with RayMarine so my plan is to convert the boat to hyd steering and go with the Garmin system. With the many rumors concerning Simrad and Raymarine's ability to survive the current market Garmin could be the only game in town. It is my understanding Garmin may be picking up some of Raymarine in a buyout.

[GTRIEM]

I put the AP14R on our pusuit this year,after a year of research and procrastination.With the opinions and advice from the people here the simrad was the way to go.Fairly straight forward instal,good thing because there are a few things not in the directions...fuse size and that the unit needs to have a switch to power on/off. It performs good within reason,sea conditions matter alot.If you have the space I would use simrad the ray mounts between the dash and wheel and has a bracket to counter torque,could be in the way?

I bought at starmarine,but at the time no one but them had it,all were out of stock and were many weeks before they could get.

Good luck with the AP.You wont regret it!!!!!!!

GTR