new auto pilot system

[Burns Money]

Hello Everyone, We have just purchased a 2000 Carver 404, and will upgrading the original chart plotter and are considering adding an auto pilot as well. Would really appreciate advice on which auto pilot to go with. We will be doing all of our boating between Lake Simcoe, and Georgian Bay. We can expect 5 foot waves at times, but usually we are in fairly calm water. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Sadey]

We recently installed the Raymarine EV1 on my 2003 356. The boat had existing Raymarine equipment hence the reason for my choice. We have been using it on our trip up and down Lake Michigan and around Green Bay and have been very satisfied. Nice to let someone else steer the course.

[Viper]

What system and brand do you currently have and what plotter are you considering installing?

[Burns Money]

Hi Sadey, so you kept the original Ray Marine chart plotter, and simply added in the corresponding auto pilot? Will this autopilot work in tandem with the chart plotter? Or will it simply "hold course"?

[Burns Money]

Hello Viper. We presently have the original RayMarine chart plotter on the boat with a separate unit for depth, water temp, and speed. I am not overly impressed with the screen size, and workings of this plotter, and was thinking of changing it out for a larger 12" Garmin (because I am used to the Garmen from my previous boats. I would love a system that is intuitive, and works in tandem with the chart plotter, and not a simple "hold course" type of auto pilot. Thank you for your advice on this.

[bud37]

Qr Bbpost Hello Viper. We presently have the original RayMarine chart plotter on the boat with a separate unit for depth, water temp, and speed. I am not overly impressed with the screen size, and workings of this plotter, and was thinking of changing it out for a larger 12" Garmin (because I am used to the Garmen from my previous boats. I would love a system that is intuitive, and works in tandem with the chart plotter, and not a simple "hold course" type of auto pilot. Thank you for your advice on this.

Whatever you decide on, make doubly sure that all your electronics will play nicely together after the install without all sorts of complicated modules etc.....unless you are unlike me who is baffled by this stuff.....

[Sadey]

Funny thing is we ended up replacing all of the electronics. So at the end of the day I didn’t need to go with Raymarine. It can be coupled to the MFD and steer a preplotted course or just heading. My understanding is Garman is more user-friendly than others. I’m sure they all require a learning curve. So far in the short time it has been in use on our boat we have been very happy with it.