Advanced autopilot from Raymarine
Electronics major Raymarine has introduced a new autopilot system for workboats that can also integrate with Yanmar diesels. This integration feature gives the operator advanced control features as well as engine monitoring for the Yanmar diesels that are becoming increasingly popular as workboat engines particularly on smaller vessels.
Raymarine’s new Evolution autopilot incorporates their Hydro-balance technology and is designed to be incorporated in hydraulic steering systems. Whilst it can operate with most steering systems it has been designed to be particularly effective with workboats fitted with outboard motor and stern drive power units where the steering is done with the propeller thrust rather than with a rudder.
Raymarine has developed this system to accommodate what they call the elasticity in steering systems for outboards and stern drives which can cause the autopilot to hunt from side to side without finding a settled course. This is partly caused by the side thrust developed by the propeller and the Evolution autopilot is designed to detect this asymmetric performance and to eliminate it with software corrections.
The Evolution autopilot operates through a sensor core that can be mounted above or below decks. This automatically senses and adapts the steering to the particular characteristics of the boat that it is fitted to and this allows it to offer precise course keeping even under adverse conditions. The unit is also self-calibrating for compass errors. The control head features a bright colour display with push button controls.
Raymarine claims that the Evolution autopilot offers precise autopilot control for RIBs and similar fast work and patrol boats as well as for slower displacement vessels.
By Dag Pike
