Auto Pilot for trolling
We have a 30' grady which we use mostly for fishing. We had installed a C
series Raymarine GPS, Fish Finder and a 4' open array radar. I had hoped to
install a decent auto pilot this winter. I am getting a bunch of jazz from
Ray and a reccomendation for a $4,000 system plus the cost of install. I
find out that this system is not reccomended for slow speeds nd doesn't have
any predetermined trolling patterns as part of the system. I wonder if
anyone here might have an alternate suggestion that will work and not be so
outrageously expensive. Thanks for any ideas.Art Yokell
Riverview FL
Gray-White Marlin |
Art
Jan 7
2006
|
| One thing to keep in mind...
the installation and more importantly the proper set up and calibration
is the key to success with any autopilot....get someone who thoroughly
knows not only how to install it but also how to use it...it can make
all the difference...
regards,
markvictor http://groups.google.com/group/badboatbiz |
markvictor
Jan 8
|
| One thing to keep in mind...
the installation and more importantly the proper set up and calibration
is the key to success with any autopilot....get someone who thoroughly
knows not only how to install it but also how to use it...it can make
all the difference...
regards,
markvictor http://groups.google.com/group/badboatbiz |
markvictor
Jan 8
|
| One thing to keep in mind...
the installation and more importantly the proper set up and calibration
is the key to success with any autopilot....get someone who thoroughly
knows not only how to install it but also how to use it...it can make
all the difference...
regards,
markvictor http://groups.google.com/group/badboatbiz |
markvictor
Jan 8
|
| I am getting ready to replace the back redwood deck with Trex. Price is up
about 8% in the last 2 months, just because of the oil content. But the
petro used for the plastic part and the energy to make it. |
Bill
Jan 8
|
| Stuff is great but if you haven't done it before make sure you predrill for
any screws that are within an inch or so of the edge of the planks. It's
not supposed to split, but it does.
(Learned this the hard way) Eisboch |
Eisboch
Jan 8
|
| Buddy did his deck, and I have been informed. |
Bill
Jan 9
|
| What a fantastic looking A/P. Do you know if it's another great
Brunswick product? I know the Navman mapper I got for the truck is a
super product...and under $300!!! Unbelievable how it knows about
*every* road and offramp shape...and very clear voice directions. --
Skipper |
Skipper
Jan 7
|
| Well it's not that pretty but I think I was bordering on spam there for
a minute so apologies in advance if others think I crossed over. K |
K.
|
| I don't see how discussing another great new Brunswick product can be
seen as bordering on spam. --
Skipper |
Skipper
Jan 7
|
| There is no issue with recommending products that you are not selling. |
Wayne.B
Jan 7
|
| Let's just hope that Brunswick does not turn Hatteras into mediocrity. |
Wayne.B
Jan 7
|
| A dealer I know told me that most boat new boat prices will be up more
than usual in the spring because of higher petrol prices. Oil has an
impact on manufacture and on delivery. |
Harry
Jan 7
|
| Thanks Wayne certainly no connections with either & no benefit can flow
to me in any manner. Skip keeps saying Navman is Brunswick so I assume he means they've
bought the NZ Co out?? or they're the US distributors??? K |
K.
|
Oil had a huge impact on boat prices between the mid 70s and mid 80s.
The price of new boats just about tripled in 10 years, and people were
selling used boats for 50 to 100% over what they had paid originally. That was about the time when exotic coring materials became popular
because they not only made boats lighter and faster, but also cheaper
to build because of reduced fiberglass/resin content. |
Wayne.B
Jan 7
|
| I'm not convinced "coring" is a good thing below the waterline, and I
sure as hell wouldn't consider a boat with balsa coring anywhere. I
have, however, owned a couple of boats with klegecell foam in the
transom, but that application is nothing like the foam used between
layers of fiberglass in the hull. |
Harry
Jan 7
|
| The longevity of balsa cored decks and hulls has not been impressive.
I know of a number of balsa cored sailboats that were junked because
the cost of repairs exceeded the value of the boat. Foam cores seem
to do better but they are not immune, and when they do fail, it is
sometimes in spectacular fashion. Do you remember the America's Cup
contender that literally broke in two and sank within seconds? |
Wayne.B
Jan 7
|
| I use a Nautamatic TR-1 gold on the kicker and it works pretty well. It runs
about $2300 if I recall correctly. It has a zig-zag pattern but I've never tried
it. http://www.nautamatic.com/ -rick- |
-rick-
Jan 7
|
| === Take a look at Simrad. They have several models designed for smaller
boats that might be less expensive but I doubt that you'll find
anything less than $3K. None of this stuff is mass produced and there
isn't a lot of competition. |
Wayne.B
Jan 7
|
| Along the same lines as Wayne's repl, but add Navman to you list of
stuff to check. Here downunder it's really doing well, their Autopilot is in the price
range of the simrad as you'll see in the Whitworth's link in A$ (Take A$
X 0.74 to get US$) the dearest hydraulic unit is about $US2737
& those prices include our 10% goods & services tax, which you
shouldn't be paying. Low speed setup shouldn't be an issue because being
NZ it's all with yachts in mind. Navman is in use by smaller commercial
users here. http://www.navman.com/marine/products/autopilots/index.html http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_home.asp (just put autopilot into their search thingo) K |
K.
|
