Autopilot for my '88 268DA

Getaway

Getaway

Well-Known Member
Oct 13, 2010
1,077
Bay City, Michigan
Boat Info
1998 290DA Sundancer
Lowrance electronics, Fishhawk, Scotty Downriggers
BoatWheels Tri-Axle Trailer
Engines
Single big block 454 MPI Mercruiser engine and Bravo III outdrive.
I'm planning to instal an auto pilot on my boat this winter. The main purpose is for trolling, but I'm sure it will come in handy for no wake zones and running from point to point.

Not looking for anything overly expensive.

Any suggestions?

I'm not sure my boat has hydraulic steering....??? Yes, I have a power steering pump, but I don't see hydraulic lines going up to the helm. Does anyone have any info on this?

Dinking around with steering is new to me, so any info will help.

Thanks in advance!
Bob
 
its cable from the wheel to the steering ram behind the engine , or at least thats how i remember it
 
I'm sure you are right Just Me. It looks like a pretty heavy duty cable.

Not sure what autopilot will work with this system...
 
:smt017

Probably. That's my luck.....

I'll bet the only AP that fits our boats costs $4500 and requires a masters in engineering to instal....
 
Now that sounds about right , know a machinist ? make an adapter to fit from square shaft to taper shaft , without the steering wheel raising up to far , if thats possable
 
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I guess you can always do what i did fishing on the Ocean years ago , tie your shoes to the bottom of the steering wheel so it wont turn , instant auto pilot , just dont fall off the boat .
 
Getaway i bought a raytheon sport pilot ,had to change the helm and cable and wheel,build a bracket etc. not to hard really and the extras were about 300.00 or less.My sport pilot is the old version though and the newer ones are supposed to be better.It doesnt do well trolling at 1.7 mph unless its fairly calm,at 2.2 it improves even in chop.I usually fish spoons so 2.3 is a good speed even 2.5 works.I know your talking salmon though.Also i dont have a outdrive i have straight inboards and troll with one engine.By the way i think you have power assist steering ,saestar makes a hydraulic helm system thats not to expensive.I priced ap systems at linwood beach but if you install it it will be far cheaper,I think it was close to 2700.00 quoted to me.I am also told the ap is the better of the two systems.Glen
 
Thanks for the info Glen. I'll call Linwood Beach today and see what they recommend and also check out Seastar, Simrad and Garmin. I'd almost seriously think about the $2700 installed for next year, but I hate paying other people to work on my boat.....

However, I do have all winter to dink around with it in the man cave....
 
I have been looking into auto pilots as well this season. We basically have two options for our mechanical steering power assisted boats. One is the Raymarine SPX5R (new version of the old "sport pilot") system which mounts onto your steering column. The other is to install a mechanical drive system like the "octopus drive" and then use whatever AP system you want, Simrad ap2401, Garmin ghp12, Raymarine spx10. I am about ready to pull the trigger on the garmin ghp12 core pack .. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-water/autopilots/ghp-12-autopilot-system/prod68528.html
to go along with the octopus drive system.. http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|311|292323|314189&id=1311582
I have read very good reviews on this drive system, even running twins engines. Sitex uses this drive on their spx110 unit..http://www.si-tex.com/product_specs/sp_110.pdf and simrad use to use it on their now discontinued AP12 and AP14.
There have been some good discussions on Lake Ontario United forum and Great Lakes Angler forum on this subject.
HTH's.....
Cheers...Jake
 
Thanks Jake.

After a call to Raymarine the other day, they recommended the octopus drive along with their electronics. It looks like that is the best set up at this point.

I called and talked to Archie, the guy who makes the octopus drive/system. I sent him my boat specs and he has yet to email me back. He was concerned my boat is "too heavy" for that system....
 
Hmmmm, interesting that he was concerned that your boat might be too heavy for that drive. My email reply from their sales manager never mentioned anything about my Amberjack might be too heavy. He sent me the parts list I will need for twin pre94 Merc alpha's and retail pricing and a couple of other possible locations to purchase the drive and connection kits. I would think that our boats would be close in weight. I have wider beam with twins, but you have more glass and structure and a big block in the back.
Please keep me posted.....
 
Maybe this needs to get moved to the "hole in the water" thread:wow:

Just got pricing for an auto pilot ready to instal on my boat:

Raymarine EV200 Power Pilot System 1900.00
Octopus Drive System with RFU 1436.00

Wow. Anybody need their lawn cut or windows washed?



 
Getaway said:
Maybe this needs to get moved to the "hole in the water" thread:wow:

Just got pricing for an auto pilot ready to instal on my boat:

Raymarine EV200 Power Pilot System 1900.00
Octopus Drive System with RFU 1436.00

Wow. Anybody need their lawn cut or windows washed?
Click to expand...

Ughhhh...waiting for my quote to come back from installer on the drive and line on the Garmin. Best I be sitting down I think...:smt119 ...gonna have to charge more per trip.......

Cheers...Jake
 
I'll bet you will have another 500-1000 for installation. I'd definitely be doing the instal myself.

Also looking into a couple other options for remote steering....

I'm having a hard time justifying $3500 for AP when I just need to be able to steer the boat while I'm setting lines in the back. The Sundancer design makes it hard to get to the wheel in a hurry once the boat starts to wander.
 
Bob, I have run a Simrad AP14 system for quite a few years on my AJ and been very pleased. I believe they still make a system with the same drive set up. I did the install myself in an easy day...Scott
 
Scott,
Thank you for the response!

Did you do the octopus drive or just the AP14 as-is?

Bob
 
Bob, the Simrad ap14 and ap12 used a drive system made by Octopus. It is basically the same unit you can still buy today. It used the rotary drive which mounts behind your dash. With our steering(rack and pinion) I believe we have to change the cable to fit this drive.
The new Raymarine Evo 200 system looks very interesting. Easy installation and calibration. Defender has the core packs on sale right now at a good price. What to do..what to do...

Cheers...Jake
 
nauti-me said:
I have been looking into auto pilots as well this season. We basically have two options for our mechanical steering power assisted boats. One is the Raymarine SPX5R (new version of the old "sport pilot") system which mounts onto your steering column. The other is to install a mechanical drive system like the "octopus drive" and then use whatever AP system you want, Simrad ap2401, Garmin ghp12, Raymarine spx10. I am about ready to pull the trigger on the garmin ghp12 core pack .. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-water/autopilots/ghp-12-autopilot-system/prod68528.html
to go along with the octopus drive system.. http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|311|292323|314189&id=1311582
I have read very good reviews on this drive system, even running twins engines. Sitex uses this drive on their spx110 unit..http://www.si-tex.com/product_specs/sp_110.pdf and simrad use to use it on their now discontinued AP12 and AP14.
There have been some good discussions on Lake Ontario United forum and Great Lakes Angler forum on this subject.
HTH's.....
Cheers...Jake
Click to expand...

I'm very interested in this, we had talked about buying a 440 but I think we are going to keep the 300 for another 3 or 4 years. The autopilot is something I've wanted for 5 years, this winter it will happen. I was going to buy the AP-12 rather than the AP-14, same thing the AP-14 has the remote. You can work the autopilot from the plotter and you don't need to use the control that came with the AP-12. I am wonder if the same thing is true with the SP-100, if you buy the kit from Octopus do I need to buy a control unit or can I just use the GPS? here is what they say.
I have an I/O (Sterndrive) engine with power-assist steering on the engine. I want to add an Autopilot system. What do I need? You will require an Octopus MDR drive unit, a cable as required, and an Octopus connection kit# OC15SUK12B for Mercruiser and Volvo 1994 and newer or an OC15SUK12C for 1993 and older. If you have cable steering to the power steering cylinder and it is NFB rack steering then you will need to change it to a Type-S or Type-T rotary system. The Autopilot Electronics will have to be purchased separately through a Marine Electronics Distributor.

Ken
 
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