Raymarine S1000 Autopilot

[billsaquasport]

Fritz

Install was very easy and I was very impressed with the packaging and installation instructions that the S1000 came with. Fly by wire.... Not sure if I would worry about that. This unit works just like the remote for your tv. Im a pilot and and A&P mechanic and this is not quite up to the level of fly by wire, but just a small servo on a flight control can cost 10's of thousands of dollars so you would be compairing apple and oranges. The only unit that it remote is the control head that receives and feeds data to the brain box. The rest of the unit is hard wired. Lets be honest I could have spent 5k on a Raymarine or Furuno unit with the flux valves, rudder idicators, and big displays but my boat it only 25 feet. This means there is a 100% chance that I will be within less than 12 feet of the controls no matter what happens. I wont be in the salon drinking champagne and eating caviar. (not even sure if I spelled that right.....I think that says it all). Let me know if you need any help I will be glad to help out any way I can. I have only used it once last weekend and it worked perfect both trolling and on plane. If it acts up I will let you guys know!

[GoneFission]

Yep, I've seen the same thing with autopilots with an internal compass.  Even my MinnKota trolling motor autopilot has an internal compass that gets confused from time to time and will try to take the boat in a circle...    

However, the new autopilots, like the S1000, are supposed to use GPS - not a compass - to navigate.  That should (I know, shoulda - coulda - woulda) fix the problem with internal compasses going off scale in waves or changes in attitude.  That's why I am interested in the results from those who install the S1000 - does it work like the ad says?    

So I hope Fitz and Bill will keep us informed!  Do it work like they say?  Technology moves ahead - this could be a good step on the right direction...

[DOCREED]

Mine works fine.