franc wrote:
My autopilot is an older analog type and it does not always make the
boat go where I want it to. It doesn't have a GPS input either. Worst of
all it doesn't give any kind of warning when it just 'gives up' in a sea
it can't handle, something that happens way to often anyway.

So time to upgrade. But I find that most autopilots seem designed for
smaller boats. I found some high-priced Furuno models that look good.
But before jumping in, does anybody have any experience choosing and
installing an autpilot for a 75ft 75000kg boat. One that then also
worked well...?

I'd like to re-use as much as possible of the existing installation
which is hydraulical and steered by solenoids, so I would prefer a
system that can drive most of that. Not sure if I can also re-use my
rudder indicator?


Many thanks for your experiences, Al

Robertson makes units for boats your size. I beleave you can buy the
control heads only, but I would suggest a full system. One of the parts
you don't want to replace might have been the problem you had with the
old unit. The pump can probably be had for about $1000 (US) or less
(your old pump may not have been able to keep up in a bad sea), after
that their's the compass that's probabyl in the area of $500 or so and
the rudder sensor (not sure but it's probably cheap enough that it
would be silly not to replace it). I'm not sure how much the computer
part of the unit is, but when you buy a system you know all the parts
will talk to each other, that alone is probably worth it.

John