T&T: AutoPilot Recommendations

[Tom Penner]

David;

            I have a steel boat which plays havoc on fluxgate compasses
that are in "normal" AP's. I installed a Simrad AP-4 when I bought the
boat and it worked OK but was never confidence inspiring, especially in
rough or following seas, it just would not respond fast enough and then
would loose it bearing.  Spent many a long night trolling the internet
and talking with folks about how AP's work. I looked at the Gladiator,
but they seem to be geared toward high speed outboard fish boats,
although I checked the website briefly just now and they have a unit
that is targeted toward our class of boats. My problem with them was
that they were pretty sketchy when it came down to "real" technical info
so I passed, if it works as well as its marketing it should be GREAT!

            I found a little known company in the US called Tecnautic.
http://www.tecnautic.com/ They have a pretty neat system that is
completely modular and works on standard networking hardware although
the comms are CanBus. It is based around a "sonic" gyro compass instead
of a mechanical gyro (big and expensive) or an optical gyro (Higher end
KVH products use this) or a fluxgate. They have a variety of control
heads and displays and when I just checked the website it looks they are
getting into engine control too. The US rep was very helpful,
knowledgeable and made sure I was getting the system I wanted and
needed, I used my old pump and could have used the rudder transducer but
I liked their design better. The point is they will sell you what you
need, not a package that tries to fit everyone. It came completely pre
configured ready to plug and play, all I had to do was spin the boat a
few times to calibrate the gyro (just like swinging a compass)

            My boat is slow <8knots and the old AP would wait until I
was about to grab the wheel and then slew the boat too far and then
overcorrect again (I'm not slamming the Simrad, I think the fluxgate was
getting confused, even though I have it mounted as far as I could from
steel). The Tecnautic keeps the boat so well under control I will
occasionally crawl under the helm to listen for the pump, I used to hear
it working loud and hard, now the control inputs are smaller and more
smooth. The fly by wire and rate of turn control is so nice, I'm
considering removing the wheel entirely when I rebuild the bridge this
winter. I also have the large digit remote display which I can see all
over the bridge and aft, In open water I'll let my passengers run the
boat (kids think this is very kewl) and I can tell at a glance if the
heading has changed. I am also putting one below and over my bunk (this
is as simple as plugging them in) The control heads have many different
ways to display and interpret information and with any display with just
3 buttons, this was the hardest part of the learning curve, but the
manual was good and phone support superior. Now its second nature and
easy to explain. On my overnight trip to Philly last month my friend who
has limited sea time was able to pick up the controls quickly and
safely, he enjoyed it so much he only reluctantly gave me the helm when
we were in close quarters.

            On a trawler I would insist on a high quality AP, I always
maintain a watch but having to constantly adjust the helm to hold a
course gets old pretty quick. Docking with the helm on fly by wire takes
a little practice but once you're used to it its hard to go back to
"wheel spinning"

            As usual I have no interest in Tecnautic just a very
satisfied customer.



Good Luck;

Thos

Tom Penner

M/V Londoner

Baltimore, MD