Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:


If all you need is to hold a straight line, you don't even need to
hook up the NMEA. The autopilot will follow the magnetic course you
start it on with its internal fluxgate compass.

I will pick nits here, Rodney, but mostly semantic nits. The idea behind
the NMEA autopilot interface is to have the vessel _maintain_ a straight (or
more accurately rhumb) line course. If the autopilot is set merely to
follow a magnetic compass course, then the resultant track will be at the
mercy of currents, wind, leeway, etc.
..
--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.tripod.com