Classic SeaCraft Community  

Go Back   Classic SeaCraft Community > Recovered Threads
FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-15-2013, 10:04 PM
kmoose kmoose is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ocala, Florida
Posts: 1,817
Default Autopilot Installed

One of the disadvantages of owning a Tsunami is how far forward you are when your driving. Not that I don't enjoy driving my boat but my offshore runs average 35-50 nautical and in any kind of head sea or fowl weather you can really take an extended flogging so far forward.

On a recent trip a friend was at the helm on the way in and I was enjoying the ride midship hanging on the back of the tower. I thought about how great the ride was back where you CC guys stand and thought...... What a great place to hang out on a long ride! I had been kicking around the idea on adding an autopilot as there is a lot the new units can do and just not having to hold course for a couple hours sounding quite worth the price. After doing some online shopping I got a quote for a complete Garmin GHP 10 system (pump included) for right at $2345 shipped to my door. Because I have been good all year, Santa made and early delivery last friday and I installed it this weekend. Lots of work and limited space made it a full 10 hour ordeal but it's in and I can't wait to not have to drive......

Below is a pic with the head installed into my super high tech dash panel.
Attached Images
 
__________________
[b]The Moose is Loose !
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-16-2013, 08:53 AM
Miles Offshore Miles Offshore is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Posts: 1,260
Default

Pretty work on the ap! Love to have one myself. Our offshore runs uphere are very long as well, 65nm+ to the canyon and billfish grounds.
__________________
"Lifes too short to own an ugly boat"
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-16-2013, 09:14 AM
DonV DonV is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Apollo Beach or Islamorada
Posts: 3,488
Send a message via ICQ to DonV
Default

"Because I have been good all year, Santa made and early delivery last friday"

Hummmm.....Ken are you sure you have been all that good? That seems like an awful lot of good to me!! Don't forget, even on auto pilot you have to keep an eye forward, auto pilots can be a nightmare for those not paying attention! Great job!!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-16-2013, 11:56 AM
fdheld34 fdheld34 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Port St Lucie, FL
Posts: 898
Default

Hey Ken
My autopilot....I just feed him chips and chocolate milk and he keeps it on a pretty straight course
oh wait I think I am going to be out of pocket more than $3000 in the long run
-Fred
Attached Images
 
__________________
"...Southern by the grace of God"
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-16-2013, 01:11 PM
castalot castalot is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: portsmouth rhode island
Posts: 686
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fdheld34 View Post
oh wait I think I am going to be out of pocket more than $3000 in the long run
Yes but worth it
__________________
we need a lifeguard at the gene pool
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-16-2013, 05:35 PM
kmoose kmoose is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ocala, Florida
Posts: 1,817
Default

Agreed Don, an autopilot cannot be used for "No Pilot" functions. Having them on other boats has taught me that they are just a tool to reduce fatigue on long runs leaving you better focus on things that matter ahead of you rather than just holding a compass or plotter heading. Melissa will be real happy as she won't have to get out of the bean bag to hand me a chicken wing and a diet coke while on the way in.....
__________________
[b]The Moose is Loose !
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-16-2013, 05:38 PM
kmoose kmoose is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ocala, Florida
Posts: 1,817
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fdheld34 View Post
Hey Ken
My autopilot....I just feed him chips and chocolate milk and he keeps it on a pretty straight course
oh wait I think I am going to be out of pocket more than $3000 in the long run
-Fred
I have gone through two of those units. Once they get around 16 years old they become hard to get engaged.....
__________________
[b]The Moose is Loose !
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-16-2013, 07:33 PM
DonV DonV is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Apollo Beach or Islamorada
Posts: 3,488
Send a message via ICQ to DonV
Default

"Melissa will be real happy as she won't have to get out of the bean bag to hand me a chicken wing and a diet coke while on the way in....."

Good try on the diet coke thing, I'll fall for the chicken wing, however I'm not that gullible on the diet coke. You may fool some of the people that Melissa's only bringing you a diet coke..........it ain't gonna work on this site.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-16-2013, 07:48 PM
NoBones NoBones is offline
Pooh Bah
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Area 442 Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 3,699
Default

If you really want the full advantage of the auto pilot combine it with a
good radar !!! That way you can sleep until the radar picks something up
a mile away and shuts it down!! Only way to safely sleep while
the machines do their job...

No diet anything for me!! High test all the way!!
__________________
See ya, Ken ©
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-16-2013, 09:55 PM
Terry England Terry England is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
Posts: 895
Default

I like your Furuno GP-31 Differential D-GPS bracket. Has yours developed lines across the face yet? Mine is still going strong but I have to change the Pages to take in all the data like TTG.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:44 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
All original content © 2003-2013 ClassicSeacraft