Autopilot: Raymarine Sportpilot. Pros/Cons?

[bossee]

Hi,<br /><br />Anyone using a Raymarine Sportpilot or Sportpilot Plus autopilot?<br /><br />Comments about pros and cons?<br /><br />I have a powerboat 19 ft, 115 hp 4-stroke and Teleflex NFB 4.2 mechanical cable steering.<br />I will interface it with my GPS chartplotter (Raymarine 435i) to also be able to use the autopilot to steer towards a waypoint or follow a route.<br />I have read that a Sportpilot Plus is prefered when You also want to use this type of autopilot at trolling speed so probably the Sportpilot Plus is to prefer in my case (but I also use my boat at faster speeds up to 40 knots).<br /><br />/Bo

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Autopilot: Raymarine Sportpilot. Pros/Cons?

Bo,<br /><br />I have installed and used the SportPilot Plus and it would not be my first choice in an inexpensive auto pilot for a small boat - either cable or hydraulically steered. My first choice, if I were you, in that price range, would be the Simrad AP-12R <br /><br />The SportPilot isn't as good at holding a track, particularly at low speeds. There have also always been issues with the SportPilots now and then tossing the boat into a hard turn. Many of them do that now and then and I have never heard of a staisfactory fix for it. On the plus side it is a very easy instillation and Raytheon is good about first time return service if you do have a problem. By that I mean if you have a problem they will be right with you for the first stab at a fix, but if that doesn't work they will abandon you like a leper.<br /><br />When it comes to running at speed the SportPilot will certainly be up to the task in all but the nastyest of weather. Basically if you could keep it on couse the Pilot will be able to, but that diminishes as the water gets bumpier and the speed becomes lower.<br /><br />In the end they are a nice auto pilot for about a thousand bucks, but for the same money you can get the Simrad, and I think it is a better Pilot.<br /><br />Just my opnion thought. There are a lot of satisfied SportPilot owners, and that is for good reason. <br /><br />Thom

 

[bossee]

Re: Autopilot: Raymarine Sportpilot. Pros/Cons?

ThomWV,<br />Thanks for the answer.<br />I have checked out basic info now of the Simrad AP-12R. Seems OK also.<br />Maybe I should change to hydralic steering, then I get more autopilots to choose from.<br /><br />The risk the Sportpilot can steer the boat suddenly in a hard turn seems not a good thing.<br />A thing like that would probably mean I will not select a Sportpilot.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Autopilot: Raymarine Sportpilot. Pros/Cons?

I don't want to imply that all SportPilots do that, but I know if it having happend to them more than once and one more than one boat too. The Raytheon ST-5000 units that I am familiar with did the same thing. <br /><br />I am aware that the SportPilots are quite popular on the Great Lakes. A good number of folks that I know from around here that fish up there use them. <br /><br />I am using a Simrad AP-12H on my own boat. Its been serving me for 4 or 5 years now with no problems at all. We use it for trolling as well as our runs to fish (typically about 45 miles one way for us) and back home. It is connected to the GPS of course. I set a waypoint in the GPS and hit a button on the auto pilot and then its just a matter of sitting back and keeping a lookout. Always gotta do that.<br /><br />Thom

 

[bossee]

Re: Autopilot: Raymarine Sportpilot. Pros/Cons?

Hi again ThomWV,<br />I have checked more now at various rec. boat forums and for example here in Sweden where I live the Simrad AP12 and AP14 seems very popular for people that use it for trolling.<br />Probably because it is reliable and do not give any surprises when used (like an unexpected turn You have not told it to do).