From the invention of Autohelm® tiller pilot almost 30 years ago to SmartPilot^TM gyro enhanced Advance Steering Technology today, Raymarine autopilots lead the way in autopilot technology.

It’s a beautiful day, the sun’s out, the sea’s blue and you’re underway, what a great opportunity for your autopilot to take over helming duties whilst you sit on deck soaking up the sun. Just hit the button and the day is yours

or maybe…

the wind has come up, the sea is getting choppy and to cap it all here comes the rain. Just hit that button and let your autopilot take the strain whilst you check everything is secure below.

So what is an Autopilot?
An autopilot connects to your steering system and continually corrects your boat’s heading with information supplied by the compass, wind transducers or chartplotter. The Autopilot has three modes of operation: in Auto mode the pilot will steer to and maintain a defined locked heading, in Vane mode the pilot will steer to and maintain a selectable Apparent or True wind angle and in Track mode the pilot will steer to a single waypoint or to each waypoint within a route.

Autopilots are designed to maintain an accurate course in various sea conditions with minimal helm movements. They can act as a spare pair of hands or an extra crew member allowing you to ((SET)) fix the sails or get the fenders over the side.Because they steer so accurately, they can also save fuel and get you to your destination faster, especially when connected to a chartplotter.

Remember – autopilots cannot see, so they cannot avoid obstacles or other vessels. Always, maintain a vigilant watch.

Autopilots consist of four main components: a heading sensor (the ears & eyes), a processor (the brains), a controller (the hands) and a drive mechanism (the business end).

Autopilot Types

There are two types of autopilot, Cockpit and Inboard (also called below-deck). Cockpit pilots are simple to install and remain in the cockpit in all types of weather. Inboard autopilots are permanently mounted below decks and are more powerful, more reliable, steer your boat better and can be supplied with a range of autopilot controllers.

Click here for the full range of autopilots from Raymarine.