Autopilot for 34

S

Steve04

Member
Jan 15, 2007
62
Long Island NY South Shore
Boat Info
34 Sundancer 2004
Engines
8.1s twins
Hey Gang,
What the opinion out there with installing an Autopilot for a 2004 34, we take one to two trips a year that having an autopilot would be nice.
Most our our weekend trips are across the bay to Fire lsland and the trip is only 20 to 30 minutes. Love to hear from others with the autopilot and do they think it's worthwhile.
Steve04 :huh:
 
I went through two 330DAs without AP. I've been on many trips with both boats, some over 8 hours in one day. I never even thought much about an AP. THEN, when I bought my 380DA in '05, it came with AP......I don't know how I ever got by without it. It absolutely makes those longer trips a pleasure. I ALWAYS either keep a look out or delegate that responsibility to the admiral when the AP is engaged. What the AP allows me to do is not worry about holding course, or wasting fuel trying to do so. It has also allowed me to get more familiar with my other electronics (radar, chartploter, hailer, etc) because I can "play" with them while I am in an actual situation. Another nice feature is the Rudder indicator that comes along for the ride.

Oh, besides AP, one other "toy" that I have become dependent on is the Engine Synchronizers....no more tickling the throttles every so often....
 
An auto pilot is one of those items that once you've had one you'll never own another boat w/o one. Where it really shines is in the fog. I always plot a course on the chartplotter with the idea that fog may occur w/o warning. Let the auto pilot steer the course while you keep an eye on your radar. You simply cannot maintain a heading as accurate as a good autopilot can, especially when you are disoriented by lack of visability. I also use it on longer runs. It allows me to keep a sharper lookout for debris in the water as there is one less thing I have to pay attention to.
 
A good autopilot pays for itself if you do a lot of cruising. You use less fuel and arrive at your destination earlier because you go in a straight line. This is particularly noticable if you travel with another boat that does not have one. The distance between your boat and the other will vary significantly as you hold a course and the other guy steers by a compass heading.
 
You can add me to the list .........

The autopilot is probably the single handiest thing on my boat. On longer trips you cannot imagine the reduction in fatigue you get from an A/P. Just freeing your hands to do other things like get a coke, or change a plotter or radar setting adds a lot to your enjoyment.

We boat in a crowded area and setting and holding a straight course where inexperienced rental boat drivers can anticipate your actions is important. Meander around and you will have to dodge jet skiis and canbotes all day, but set the a/p then run a straight course and its amazing how much room others will give you.

Fog and rain are also issues, and boating at night is a frequent activity in our area. If you will learn to use the features in your other electronics and have the a/p interfaced to the plotter or GPS, the a/p's addition to the boat is almost exponential in its benefit. While it is not a recommended practice, I have entry routes for the marinas we frequent preloaded and use them several times a year in weather and at night and use the a/p to "drive the boat home". Just last month, we made a 45 mile run in patchy sea fog only to find our destination completely obscured as we approached. We just set the arrival point at the sea bouy, which is the first way point on my entry route and slowed to 1000 rpm and the a/p drove us home, literally all the way.......I put the a/p on standby when I reversed the port engine to back into the slip.

I wouldn't own a boat in this area without an autopilot.
 
An autopilot is on my wish list for next year. I'll be following this thread with great interest...

-CJ
 
Is it a DIY type project to add an AP?

I would love to add an AP to our 340 DA, I have thought about it but don't know much about it. Can I do this myself. I am very electrically handy. I turn lights on and off all the time!
 
Raymarine offers a budget autopilot for smaller boats with hydraulic steering.

RAYMARINE SMARTPILOT ST6002S1 E12106 HYDRAULIC SYSTEM for $1052.00. You may also need a instillation kit, less then $100.

Complete SmartPilot System package designed for medium sized inboard powerboats (includes I/O) with hydraulic steering.

Package consist of:ST6001 Control Head S1 Corepack with course computer, rudder reference and fluxgate compass Type 1 12 Volt Hydraulic Drive.

This price is from http://www.byownerelectronics.com the company that hosts this very forum.

You must add the item to your cart to see the actual sell price. Without doing this step you will only see the MAP (minimum markup price) and not the discount price.

Don’t just buy it, call 866-735-5926 and make sure this is the correct unit for your boat.

The above system is basic and has no gyro so you may get some minor ‘back and forth sway’ as you go. This sway can be unnoticeable in calm conditions to very noticeable in rough seas. You can add the internal “G†gyro to the core pack for about $500 more. The gyro senses the boat pitch and compensates the rudder adjustment accordingly.

The above can be connected to a Chartplotter so you can follow routes and not just go point to point. As you approach a turn the system beeps, prompting you if it’s OK to make the turn.

This system is for smaller boats with hydrollic rams not over 14 cubic inches. Larger drives are also available.

As far as those asking about ‘self-instillation’ I would put this project as similar in instillation difficulty to installing a radar / GPS / Chartplotter / fish finder system.
 
For those of you with Auto Pilot

1) Gyro or not worth the extra $money?

2) Did you install it or have it done?

3) If you installed it how did it go?

4) If you had it installed for you how much $money?
 
Steve04 said:
Hey Gang,
What the opinion out there with installing an Autopilot for a 2004 34, we take one to two trips a year that having an autopilot would be nice.
Most our our weekend trips are across the bay to Fire lsland and the trip is only 20 to 30 minutes. Love to hear from others with the autopilot and do they think it's worthwhile.
Steve04 :huh:
Click to expand...

I have the Raymarine autopilot on my 340 Sundancer and really like it. I rarely steer the boat manually anymore except for the very beginning and end of a jaunt.

Bountylb1.jpg
 
Gentlmen, Great info that's so much. I am going to look into purchasing one, most likely the Raymarine since all my other electrronics are Raymarine. I am going to have it professionally installed though. I beleive that I could do it with some help/ but I have found that installations are much easier for those who have done it before.
thanks everyone I will keep you updated.
steve04
:smt038 :smt038
 
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