self driving boats

Dave R · 09-18-2019, 08:08 AM

My boat came with auto-pilot and I thought it might be nice on occasion, until I started using it. WOW, it is awesome. I only use it to hold a heading (not to follow a route), but it dramatically improves the boating experience and reduces fatigue on long passages. I hardly touch my wheel at all now and use auto-pilot to steer 98% of the time. When I was transiting the Erie Canal earlier this year, I found it incredibly useful to maintain a perfectly straight course on the long straight sections of the canal. I also got very good at steering with incremental heading degree changes on the auto-pilot push buttons when I went through turns. I don't think I'd ever have a boat without it now.

brk-lnt · 09-18-2019, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

My boat came with auto-pilot and I thought it might be nice on occasion, until I started using it. WOW, it is awesome. I only use it to hold a heading (not to follow a route), but it dramatically improves the boating experience and reduces fatigue on long passages. I hardly touch my wheel at all now and use auto-pilot to steer 98% of the time. When I was transiting the Erie Canal earlier this year, I found it incredibly useful to maintain a perfectly straight course on the long straight sections of the canal. I also got very good at steering with incremental heading degree changes on the auto-pilot push buttons when I went through turns. I don't think I'd ever have a boat without it now.

I am in the process of installing an auto pilot, for most of the same reasons you describe. It's less for pure auto-routing, and more for just basic course keeping and less driving fatigue on longer trips.

Dave R · 09-18-2019, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

I am in the process of installing an auto pilot, for most of the same reasons you describe. It's less for pure auto-routing, and more for just basic course keeping and less driving fatigue on longer trips.

What kind of boat?

brk-lnt · 09-19-2019, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

What kind of boat?

Silverton 330 Sport Bridge.

ApS · 09-18-2019, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

I am in the process of installing an auto pilot, for most of the same reasons you describe. It's less for pure auto-routing, and more for just basic course keeping and less driving fatigue on longer trips.

You're using this on a lake?

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09-18-2019, 08:08 AM	#1
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	My boat came with auto-pilot and I thought it might be nice on occasion, until I started using it. WOW, it is awesome. I only use it to hold a heading (not to follow a route), but it dramatically improves the boating experience and reduces fatigue on long passages. I hardly touch my wheel at all now and use auto-pilot to steer 98% of the time. When I was transiting the Erie Canal earlier this year, I found it incredibly useful to maintain a perfectly straight course on the long straight sections of the canal. I also got very good at steering with incremental heading degree changes on the auto-pilot push buttons when I went through turns. I don't think I'd ever have a boat without it now.