- Joined
- Jul 4, 2005
- RO Number
- 18131
- Messages
- 286
I have a marine electrician that is going to be working on the boat over the next few weeks; the first project is to install a Standard Horizon 1000c in the dash and move our current Raymarine RL70CRC chart plotter radar to another spot on the dash to be used as a dedicated radar as well as a NavMan 3100 fuel monitor.
In discussing the pre-install details the electrician mentioned that our boat does not have a heading sensor; and that he highly recommends a flux gate compass to be installed. I understand that this is basically an electronic compass which lets the chart plotter and Radar know which way the bow is pointing.
Is this heading sensor needed? The electrician stated that for our 31 cruiser (which we expect to use for costal cruising) it is a needed device.
If we determine that the fluxgate compass is needed; the price difference between a standalone compass and a full auto pilot would justify the autopilot (we could opt for a compass only; but due to space limitations we would have to remove our rudder sensor that we use very often). For boats of this size do you find that you use your auto pilots often? The auto pilot in question is the Raymarine S1 hydraulic.
Are there other solutions to this scenario that have not been mentioned?
In discussing the pre-install details the electrician mentioned that our boat does not have a heading sensor; and that he highly recommends a flux gate compass to be installed. I understand that this is basically an electronic compass which lets the chart plotter and Radar know which way the bow is pointing.
Is this heading sensor needed? The electrician stated that for our 31 cruiser (which we expect to use for costal cruising) it is a needed device.
If we determine that the fluxgate compass is needed; the price difference between a standalone compass and a full auto pilot would justify the autopilot (we could opt for a compass only; but due to space limitations we would have to remove our rudder sensor that we use very often). For boats of this size do you find that you use your auto pilots often? The auto pilot in question is the Raymarine S1 hydraulic.
Are there other solutions to this scenario that have not been mentioned?