self driving boats

[thinkxingu]

I'm intrigued by auto-pilot on a consumer level boat. How does it adjust for chop? Obstacles? Or does it just adjust steering and the driver needs to be alert and adjust for those things? If the latter, I think I might become complacent from the break and lose track...

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[Dave R]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

I'm intrigued by auto-pilot on a consumer level boat. How does it adjust for chop? Obstacles? Or does it just adjust steering and the driver needs to be alert and adjust for those things? If the latter, I think I might become complacent from the break and lose track...

Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

It has to be connected to a flux gate heading compass for a heading, and if you want to follow a route, a GPS too. If the boat gets off course or off heading, it applies opposite rudder to compensate. Mine supposedly has a self-learning algorithm that adjusts the gain of the adjustments based on the reaction time of the boat and it apparently does this all the time so that in rougher water, it will make more aggressive corrections. Following seas and quartering seas seem to challenge it more than head seas or beam seas, but it does a better job of holding a course than I can do.

What I have found is that I can concentrate more on keeping watch as I am not making constant course corrections AND I don't get nearly as fatigued as I used to get on long passages. I think it has made me safer. This year, I did double digit five-hour to ten-hour passages (50 to 120 nautical miles each) on my "new" boat and that's something I would have never done in my old boat. That said, I routinely covered those distances in my old boat, but at three times the speed, so 1/3 the time and a lot less fatigue.

I'm not sure I'd bother installing auto-pilot on a Winni boat unless I was using it to cross the length of the lake routinely at <11 knots.

[TiltonBB]

Many years ago, with a group of friends, we rented a 40 foot trawler style boat with a 15 foot beam. The downside was it had a single 120 HP diesel, no thrusters, and top speed was about 6 knots. It was a joy to dock! The upside was the autopilot. It held the course well and I am sure the units of today are a lot better.

On a smooth clear July day we left Hyannis for Nantucket and knew it would be about 4 hours of slow boating. Once we set the autopilot we were all in the back of the boat playing cards. We only had to look out every 1/2 hour or so, see that there was nothing in our area, or headed our way, for at least five miles (or as far as we could see) and go back to the game. It worked very well, even with the older technology.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Dave R

This year, I did double digit five-hour to ten-hour passages (50 to 120 nautical miles each) on my "new" boat and that's something I would have never done in my old boat. That said, I routinely covered those distances in my old boat, but at three times the speed, so 1/3 the time and a lot less fatigue.

Probably a lot less fuel also Dave??...

Sounds like you having a blast!!

Dan

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Probably a lot less fuel also Dave??...

Sounds like you having a blast!!

Dan

Not less fuel, about the same, actually, but only because I occasionally get on plane to load the diesels and blow out the soot, which is recommended by Caterpillar. The boat has a 1200 mile range so fill ups are few and far between, but they are shockingly expensive when they happen. Our first two fill ups added up to more than our first boat cost...

We went from a 6000 lb boat to a 32,000 lb boat, but at hull speed (8.5 knots) the bigger boat is pretty thrifty and gets about 2.8 nautical miles per gallon pretty much regardless of load or sea state. The smaller boat got 2.6ish statute miles per gallon at 32ish MPH, but that varied wildly depending on sea state and load.

We are having a fantastic time. It's so cool to see whales/dolphins/seals/sunfish all the time (like almost every trip out) and the virtually unlimited ports of call make for interesting boating. I miss the warm water for swimming and I am tired of dodging lobster traps all the time though.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by Dave R

I miss the warm water for swimming and I am tired of dodging lobster traps all the time though.

You're not far enough south yet. GOM is about 88 right now

[CooperS7777]

Originally Posted by Dave R

It has to be connected to a flux gate heading compass for a heading, and if you want to follow a route, a GPS too. If the boat gets off course or off heading, it applies opposite rudder to compensate.

To expand on this; course and heading are two very different things, and they are very easy for many folks to confuse. Heading is the direction your vessel (bow) is facing, and course is the direction your vessel is moving. Obviously the dynamics are very different in the water (wind, current, sea state etc.) and the direction your vessel is facing is not always the direction its moving.

Autopilot without a GPS input (gyro only) is really a misnomer and not autopilot at all, it is simply auto heading and maintains only the direction which the vessel is facing, not a course. In my opinion, for most recreational boaters, auto heading is a waste of money and a highly risky tool. If you are considering a similar system, spend the money and get a true autopilot system with both gyro and GPS (or even better, multiple GPS) input.

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

You're not far enough south yet. GOM is about 88 right now

Even ~150 NM offshore

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by CooperS7777

In my opinion, for most recreational boaters, auto heading is a waste of money and a highly risky tool. If you are considering a similar system, spend the money and get a true autopilot system with both gyro and GPS (or even better, multiple GPS) input.

I concur with your definitions, but disagree on your opinion to not use an autopilot to hold a heading only. It works great and when combined with regular navigation is not risky at all. Having to modify a heading to maintain a course gives one a greater understanding of what's actually happening with currents, tides, winds etc. It also keeps the mariner engaged with the process of navigation and piloting.

On Lake Erie, Long Island Sound and Buzzards Bay, I could set a heading for a destination 30-80 miles away and never touch the auto-pilot the whole way there. On the NH coast, if I set a heading for a port 10 miles away (like Islaes of Shoals from Hampton River), I'll probably makes at least 5 heading adjustments on the way there, excluding adjustments for lobster traps (I generally just adjust 10 degrees one way and 10 degrees the other way a few seconds later to avoid them). The currents generated by the 8-11 foot tides we regularly see are really strong, even miles out.

[CooperS7777]

Originally Posted by Dave R

It works great and when combined with regular navigation is not risky at all. Having to modify a heading to maintain a course gives one a greater understanding of what's actually happening with currents, tides, winds etc. It also keeps the mariner engaged with the process of navigation and piloting.

Absolutely true, IF you have someone who fully understands the system and what it is and is not capable of doing, as well someone who is attentive to their environment. Unfortunately I've see it misused and or an over reliance on the technology, both in recreational boaters and in a professional environment.

Much like the technology in mentioned above in Tesla's cars; amazing if used responsibly.

[MeEscape]

I have been using my auto pilot for over 10 years on Winni and a few ocean trips. As mentioned, it greatly reduces the boring constant corrections needed on an i/o driven boat. It goes where I tell it to go, either by a gps route or an individual heading. I've been in some very windy and strong currents and it will always correct to the course given.

Of course, I still have to make certain it is being told the CORRECT place to go. Either because I screwed up or something else has changed, like another boat wanting to go the same place.