T&T: Autopilots on Auto..Auto..Auto

[David&Joan]

Mike:

I used to think as you do- that linking your autopilot to the gps was a bad 
thing to do. I believed that it promoted mindless navigation. I have changed 
my mind. Well at least for the 25 NM leg from the Long Beach breakwater to 
Catalina.

I used to look at the gps' bearing to mark indator, set my autopilot to that 
course and then fiddle with the final setting until the course made good 
matched the bearing to mark on the gps. This worked fine and I would go for 
30 minutes at a time without changing anything.

But several months ago I started using the "track" feature of my Raymarine 
setup. I can dodge obstrucions and other boats just fine. If I make a big 
dodge I can simply reset that course to waypoint from my current position.

And I am the captain, so so what if I am the only guy who knows how to do 
it. Although my first mate knows how to do it as well. It isn't that 
difficult.

Bad captains will be bad captains whether they use electronic aids or not.

David