Autopilot/Chart Plotter Integration

[Robb]

I'm buying a Hunter 31 footer with bare bones electronics and will be looking to completely re-outfit her with the latest and greatest. I want to start by installing a chart plotter with sonar and radar, and also an autopilot. I have my search narrowed down to 3 brands: Garmin, B&G, and Raymarine. I've heard that it is best to stick with all the same brand.

The Raymarine EV-100 seems to be the only wheel autopilot game in town; I haven't seen any other options. Will this autopilot integrate with Garmin and/or B&G chart plotters, or should I stick with Raymarine for everything? I think I like the Garmin and the B&G chart plotters better, but I will go with the Raymarine if that is what I need to make the autopilot integration work. Are there other wheel autopilot systems out there that I've overlooked? Please help.....thanks.

 

[Charlie98117]

Congratulations on the new boat! I went through the same exercise last year on mine. I stuck with RM for everything just to be sure everything is compatible and can talk to each other. I got a a78 touchscreen chartplotter that I really like.

 

[frankies56]

I would stick with raymarine. they just been around longer and easy to get parts for. and try to keep it simple.

 

[Gunni]

I wouldn't consider an upgrade that included a wheel-drive autopilot. All the vendors provide a direct-drive power unit. They may cost a little more, and require skilled install, but you will have a more robust system. Any NMEA 2000 ready system should bus to your MFD, if you really feel like that is important.

 

[seadaddler]

I would think a wheel auto would be fine for
a 31 sailboat.
I have a 36 sailboat with Ray wheel auto and I keep saying
to upgrade to direct below deck but so far the wheel auto doing fine.
A friend just got a new ray auto wheel for his 33 sailboat and very happy with it.
Nick

 

[Charlie98117]

I wouldn't consider an upgrade that included a wheel-drive autopilot. All the vendors provide a direct-drive power unit. They may cost a little more, and require skilled install, but you will have a more robust system. Any NMEA 2000 ready system should bus to your MFD, if you really feel like that is important.

I agree a direct drive is more robust system and even visually more appealing to get rid of the wheel drive but it is a lot more $$ and IMHO overkill for a 10,000 pound, 31 foot boat. RM says the wheel drive is good for boats up to 16,500 pounds where the smallest linear drive bumps you up to 24,000 pounds.

 

[wufibugs]

Have to agree. The PO had installed the earliest of the Simrad wheel pilots [WP-10?] on Windmistress and it worked extremely well.

 

[seadaddler]

I have the linear drive 1 pump for the below deck drive and the documentation
how to do it and if it was easy would have done it already but every time I look
at having to crawl into the rear stern very small and upside down to install mine
just have not been able to start it.
Every time I think to start the install my bad back seems to disagree

 

[Stu Jackson]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2000227#post2000227

 

[BarryL]

Hi,
I have Raymarine ST60 depth, speed, wind instruments and a Garmin 740S plotter. In 2014 I installed a Ray Evo100 wheelpilot system and Simrad VHS/AIS. I interfaced all of the instruments and it was very easy to do. The Evo100 uses Ray Seatalk NG, which is really NMEA 2000. The Garmin and Navico (which includes Simrad, B&G and Lowrance) gear uses NMEA 2000 as well.
I had to buy a converter cable to go from Seatalk NG to NMEA 2000 to get the Evo100 connected to my network, that was it. I also bought an adapter to convert the older ST60 instruments from Seatalk to SeatalkNG.
Now I can have the Evo100 steer to a heading, wind angle, waypoint or even follow a route. It's all pretty cool and I can display information on just about any screen.
If you do buy a Raymarine plotter, you will be able to control the autopilot from the plotter. I need to use the autopilot control head to engage / disengage and otherwise control the autopilot but that seems fine to me.
Regarding wheel pilot vs below deck there is no doubt that below deck is better. However it's also about 3X the cost and installation is MUCH more difficult. I have a 36' boat and the wheel pilot does fine in calm conditions. If it's blowing 20 kts I don't trust the autpilot but otherwise I'm very happy with it.

Barry

 

[Benny17441]

I'm the interface between the electronics in my boat and it works real well. I have a Garmin chart plotter and Raymarine wind instruments and autopilot and I'm very happy with all of them. I do not understand all this hoopla about trying to get a sailboat to navigate a course by itself. Without me on watch the boat does not sail and I like it like that. If there is a real need for all that integration it has honestly gone over my head and if such is the case please someone set me straight.