302Sport

What's the fastest boat that autopilot could be used on?? I know there's a safety margin to take into account but, what's the mechanical limits of an autopilot speed wise????

PhantomChaos

I've seen a 2000 Formula 382 with HP500's with Autopilot installed (after factory). Silly if you ask me.

302Sport

I agree for short hops but on a long run 50+ miles, if you plot out your course with waypoints and hook on with the Autopilot, you could end up saving a couple miles.

hotjava66

Seems kind of dicey to me in a sport boat. In a cruiser or fishing boat you don't really have to worry about a wake or rogue wave, in a offshore not the case, unless you are going to babysit it and watch the conditions, which kind of negates the whole premise. If you want to run a true course set the gps and follow it.

pstorti

I run to bimini at 45mph with the autopilot, but that doesn't mean you can walk away from the helm you have to pay attention.

Bobthebuilder

I have run 75 MPH in the Nor Tech with it but not long distances at that speed nor would I be very far from the wheel. I cruise all day long at 65 MPH and trust it. We used it in big water on the run to Cancun and back and also thru the Caribbean. I absolutely love it for the long distance trips sometimes going a couple hundred miles and never touching the wheel. Might just be the best option on my boat. There may only be one or two brands that can be used on high perf boats. Mine is a Simrad. On most setups the pump is too slow but not this one.

Bob