Autopilot Guide

Simrad autopilot systems give you reliable and accurate control over your heading, without years of experience at the helm – saving you time and fuel by making efficient turns, and keeping you closer to your planned course.

Predetermined turn patterns and features such as automatic depth-contour following assist with fishing or diving: taking the helm so you have more time to spend on the offshore activities you love.

When combined with a chartplotter, Simrad autopilots not only manage your current heading, but provide full course-control.

Controllers

Dedicated Autopilot Controllers

Suitable for vessels with limited mounting space, or as an alternative to a second touchscreen MFD in dual-helm installations, these controllers provide heading control and access to autopilot features such as NoDrift steering and preset turn patterns.

Chartplotter / Multifunction Display (MFD) integration

With a Simrad autopilot, the choice of display and controller is up to you. As well as dedicated autopilot controllers, our autopilots can be controlled completely from the touchscreen or keypad of our NSS and NSO-series chartplotter / Multi-Function Displays (MFD).

Our Muli-Function Display integration makes dual-helm setups easy – manage your autopilot from the helm via your main chartplotter or a dedicated autopilot controller, and from the flying bridge by a secondary chartplotter or simple autopilot remote.

Autopilot Computers

Whether you command your autopilot via multifunction display, dedicated autopilot controller or remote control, there’s an autopilot computer sitting below deck that takes your input, looks at your current heading and works out how to move the rudder or outboard.

Typically, boats under 40ft (13m) will need a Simrad AC12, and boats over 40ft will need the Simrad AC42, which is suited to driving heavier hydraulic steering systems.

Drive Units

In an autopilot system, the drive unit is what actually moves your rudder or outboard, under control of the autopilot computer. Like the computer, the drive unit you’ll need depends on the size of your boat and the sort of steering system it has.

If you have an existing electronic steering system you may not need a separate drive unit.

Heading Sensors

To set and hold a course, your autopilot needs to know your current heading. This is supplied by a position sensor – an electronic compass – below deck.

The Simrad FC40 Fluxgate Compass is compatible with our full range of recreational autopilot solutions. For the best autopilot performance, we recommend the Simrad RC42 Rate Compass which includes a solid-state rate sensor, which directly measures rate of turn. This provides greater precision than a compass alone.

Remotes

Our autopilot remotes can be combined with a multifunction display at the helm to add traditional hands-on steering control, or mounted elsewhere aboard your vessel to provide autopilot heading control from a flybridge or other convenient location.

Autopilot Selection Guide

How to Select your Autopilot System

Pick the drive that complements your boat from the selection guide below. There will be a system pack available with everything needed to fit and commission your pilot.

System Pack Options:

Autopilot Selection Guide Yachts