Autopilot

GlacierGirl · Post by **GlacierGirl** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 8:36 am

Hi all, I am just looking for people's opinions on autopilots. I have never used or owned one (well one that was made after 1974) and am now entertaining adding one to my boat. My boat does have one (from 1974) that I have got to kind of work now and then. 90% of the use I would get out of it would be trolling at 2.0 mph while fishing. Now the research I have done it looks like the best option is to perhaps tie a hydraulic cylinder in at the rudders. I have no equipment that can be used at this time so I understand that this is probably going to run me in the 4k to 6k range. So if anyone has a opinion on this please feel free to give it. Thank you all and have a Happy Holiday season,

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 8:44 am

I'm a little confused. Do you have hydraulic steering? If you do you tie your auto pilot pump into the hydraulic line. As far as price goes it depends on the auto pilot. I have a Furuno but it's a few years old and I installed it myself without any problems.

GlacierGirl · Post by **GlacierGirl** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 12:55 pm

Buzz, Thank you for your input. I do not have hydraulic steering. Guess I should have indicated that.

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 2:38 pm

I installed hydraulic steering on a prior boat and it is a job you can do yourself. By the time you buy a pilot and install hydraulic steering 4k to 6k sounds right but I haven't priced either in a long time so I really don't know.

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 2:45 pm

You can always do the hydraulic steering and then add the pilot later. You really don't save any money by doing them together. When you install the hydraulic steering hoses add tees and cut offs so that you can add the auto pilot pump at a later date. You would want the cut offs anyway in case you need to remove the AP pump and still be able to use your steering.

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 6:32 pm

I'm going out on a limb here, but don't all our boats have hydraulic steering? Maybe not power steering, but if it isn't hydraulic it must be mechanical, and I doubt a 33' boat would have that.

Capn Tony · Post by **Capn Tony** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 3:27 am

I agree with Frank. Last year I replaced my old Simrad with a Garmin. The Tech took the Simrad back to the shop to try to get it to work as designed but to no avail. The Garmin interfaces with the Garmin plotter and works great. We were able to tie it into all the old simrad components.

Capn Tony · Post by **Capn Tony** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 3:32 am

I agree with Frank. Last year I replaced my old Simrad with a Garmin. The Tech took the Simrad back to the shop to try to get it to work as designed but to no avail. The Garmin interfaces with the Garmin plotter and works great. We were able to tie it into all the old simrad components.

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:41 am

I think some of the old 35's had mechanical. I used to fish on a 35. I think it was a 1971 and I believe it had mechanical but it was so long ago I'm not sure.

butch · Post by **butch** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 4:52 pm

My 1974 had a mechanical system which was one of the first things I replaced .the first or second year I owned the boat , if it's original ( kind of hard to believe ) it's time to get rid of it!

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 8:28 am

I asked my friend who owned the 35 and his was mechanical.

GlacierGirl · Post by **GlacierGirl** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 10:06 am

Guys thank you for your input on this. I do in fact have mechanical steering. It has not gave me a lot of trouble as of yet. I do not cruise around a lot. My runs to where I fish are quite close. But from what I am picking up is I am going to have to add a hydraulic ram or cylinder in order to put in a auto pilot anyhow so why not just go hydraulic steering as well. I have 5 months before I can put the boat back in the water so I have a little time to think this over, Thank you all and good fishing,