self driving boats

[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