Furuno NavPilot 300 with Simrad MFD yes/no

[M1SF1T]

Shopping for an autopilot for my center console.

Who mix and matches brands?

My situation... I have all Simrad now, NSS12 Evo3s MFD, Halo radar, a second 9" MFD networked with NMEA and ethernet ... So I thought I would just buy a Navico/Simrad AP and be done with it...

I was waffling a bit between the Nac 1/2. Local dealer recommended Nac-1 to me, but I see with twin outboards, Simrad's buyers guide recommends Nac-2. I don't want S-turn tracking or drifting off course issues, so I thought maybe I'll add a satellite compass while I'm at it instead of the basic magnetic or point system, which led me to looking at the Furuno SCX20.

So then I started looking at the Furuno NavPilot 300. I understand the Simrad MFD gives limited control of the AP but will send navigation routing through N2K. Anything else?

The Furuno has a control screen though, so I believe all settings and controls can be accessed there. The Furuno AP screen also allows accessing settings in the SCX20 which the Simrad MFD can't do.

Any experience on either of these APs or mix and matching MFD and AP brands? Mistake? Regrets?

I've never had an AP on a boat and maybe it will see a bit of point to point use, but I expect I'll mostly use it for trolling either routes or headings... The Simrad mentions contour tracking which sounds interesting if you're trolling bottom but I'm not sure how effective/accurate it is, I don't know if the Furuno 300 does something similar but Sabiki mode sounds interesting if you're out jigging or want to hold a spot for whatever reason...

Anyway, let me know what you're running and what you like.

 

[zurk]

NAC-2 unless your boat is above 35ft in which case NAC-3.
NAC-2 has better control algorithms.
dont mix a furuno system in - you will miss a bunch of stuff you get with the simrad such as steer by waypoint. you can add a satellite compass with the simrad HS-75. the HS-75 has a gyro built in so even with GPS loss it will still work. the SCX-20 wont. its also more accurate at keeping heading - 0.75 vs 1.0 rms for the scx-20.
P.S. be aware all satellite compasses must have a clear sky view on the centerline - no hiding it below cover.
P.P.S the SCX-20 needs a Furno MFD to set it up. or someone with a laptop running Furuno software and N2K dongle or it wont work.
if you want to save a few bux off the HS-75 it is made by these guys - https://www.si-tex.com/item/v200satcompass so just get that one off ebay instead and save on the simrad branding.

 

[kaelc]

I wouldn't mix and match unless you are planning to make the switch to Furuno for all your electronics in the future. I like the Lowrance/Simrad autopilot but to get the advanced features your need to make sure your chart chip and your chartplotter are up to date. I like the set the course and keep going on that course feature the best, so you can take your eye off the wheel for a second, but not much longer. I've heard of a guy almost putting his boat on the rocks while dealing with shaker coho (facepalm), don't be that guy. I'd go with the Nac-2 if I had twins and the compass that comes with autopilot is a good one.

 

[M1SF1T]

Thanks for the comments...

I can still feed a navigation route from a MFD to an AP via N2K though and navigate it with a Nav mode irrespective of brand, right? Is there a distinction in the Navigation "steer by waypoint" function that I'm not understanding?

What other advance features would I not see? I haven't used an AP on the water before, Nav, Heading, what else am I looking for?

The Simrad sat compass is expensive, I'm aware of the Si-tex, similar price to the Furuno but tough to find in Canada and I'm hesitant on dealing with E-bay vendors and cross border ATM.

The Furuno SCX20 manual also says in addition to Furuno MFDs, you can navigate setup via the Furuno AP interface so there's that...

 

[zurk]

you need to be extremely careful when mixing and matching autopilots.

I can still feed a navigation route from a MFD to an AP via N2K though and navigate it with a Nav mode irrespective of brand, right?

no. in theory you should be able to. in practice its complicated.
i have a more complex situation than yours with a bunch of vendors - garmin, simrad, raymarine all on the same bus with 3 autopilots (dont ask). as far as the simrad goes, the simrad can sometimes see the non simrad autopilots, sometimes it cant. either way without a simrad autopilot the standard simrad autopilot interface wont show up. instead it will show a limited autopilot interface. sometimes it will drop even that and just use the nav interface. sometimes the nav interface will not send turn directions to the autopilot, sometimes it will. this is because some of the autopilots require a ack to turn message if the turn is over 30 degrees. obviously the simrad wont send ack to turn if it doesnt have an a/p interface to the non simrad a/p. there are several more gotchas like that.

Nav, Heading, what else am I looking for?

youre looking for automatic turn, auto collision avoidance, auto recalc routes, auto ack next heading and a bunch of other features to make your life easier.

Furuno SCX20 manual also says in addition to Furuno MFDs, you can navigate setup via the Furuno AP interface

maybe. maybe not. there are a lot of gotchas to be aware of when handling mixed systems. will you also get fw updates ? will the a/p also get fw updates ?

 

[M1SF1T]

I guess I assumed in Nav it would follow your loaded route...

I read about Raymarine having that Ack to turn on a waypoint... didn't read about it on the Furuno or Simrad. What a hassle, I built a route to follow, of course I want to turn, not head out to who knows where...

I guess I figured AP control would be on the Furuno interface, and limited on the MFD, activate a route on the MFD, select Nav on the separate AP interface and you're off... I guess that's too simple.

Anyway, maybe more gotchas here than I want to deal with... Obviously going to be easier to go with the Nac 2...

 

[zurk]

yeah i wouldnt do mixed systems unless you love staying awake until 2am fixing issues and then having your system blow up when you really need it. ive done that several times. n2k is basically a ring bus. with mixed vendors you can get id collisions and other fun things. if you love fixing issues mix vendors and you will learn a lot. if you just want it to work then stick to single vendor for everything. more boring but at least you have someone to call if it goes south.

 

[BC Coast Pilot]

Don't overthink this, you're running a center console , most likely point-to-point Navigation and a bit of trolling or fishing. My AP really shines when I can leave the wheel and grab a cup. Having the remote in your pocket is a must while you fish or move around the deck while in transit.
If its set up right you can use it as a jog also. Following a planned route not so much, don't waste your time or money, you'll spend more time planning than boating, Commercial vessels don't do this either, course alterations are input manually to the pilot. As for auto collision avoidance, its a center console not the Disney Wonder (which I might add come off AP for collision avoidance and course alterations over 5 degrees) No vessel should EVER make a course change without vetting from the Navigator. Trolling a route sounds really lazy, not to mention an AutoPilot can't see bait, birds, kelp or other stuff that a fisherman uses, you'll want that AP remote in your hand or within reach at all times, especially as the speed picks up.

 

[ship happens]

Yoy don't need an MFD to run an auto pilot. Especially on a sport boat. The Navpilot 300 is a stand alone unit. The remote also has heading degrees and is nicely visible if your far away from the helm monitor. Both super easy to read, easy to setup, you turn the unit on and way you go. You can change your heading by 1 degree or 10 degree on both the remote and the monitor. The helm monitor is really nice to look at. Easy to read. If you have questions about NMEA integration just phone down to furuno I'm Seattle. The tech guys are really knowledgeable.

Don't over think stuff like this is my best advise. Keep things stupid simple and separate imo. No one I know uses their MFD to go from point to point. It's too complicated and my opinion it creates more things to think about and it's dangerous on a speed boat. I run an infinite heading line off of my chart plotter boat icon and love it. Just Point and shoot. Easy to turn on and off and the remote is really well made.

The SCX20 connects to multiple satellites at the same time because there are 3 recivers in that sat compass. That all being said, it adds to the installation because it needs to be on the roof and nowhere near the radar beam. We try and keep them away from all other antennas as well. You might end up spending more money going this route because the compass isn't cheap. Get what you pay for but it's worth considering. We use pumps from octopus. They are nicely made and cost effective. So you do save a bit on that end when comparing to some of the Garmin pumps. Not sure about lowrance, Ray Marine, or simrad on price comparisons. I do know that Ray Marine is still on their seatalk garbage and have to buy converters. I personally have not used the 300 pilot with their magnetic compass but I'm sure it would work just fine. The SCX20 is a beast. It's a NMEA device and will run your entire system and fix bottom chatter on a sounder when fully networked. Because it connects to multiple satellites, it can understand heave, and side drift. Pretty slick. The fantom feedback on the 300 is a good as well. Help prevent hydraulic lockup when not using a rudder sensor. So that kind of is somthing to consider also, because makes for an easier install on most applications.

 

[M1SF1T]

Don't overthink this, you're running a center console , most likely point-to-point Navigation and a bit of trolling or fishing. My AP really shines when I can leave the wheel and grab a cup. Having the remote in your pocket is a must while you fish or move around the deck while in transit.
If its set up right you can use it as a jog also. Following a planned route not so much, don't waste your time or money, you'll spend more time planning than boating, Commercial vessels don't do this either, course alterations are input manually to the pilot. As for auto collision avoidance, its a center console not the Disney Wonder (which I might add come off AP for collision avoidance and course alterations over 5 degrees) No vessel should EVER make a course change without vetting from the Navigator. Trolling a route sounds really lazy, not to mention an AutoPilot can't see bait, birds, kelp or other stuff that a fisherman uses, you'll want that AP remote in your hand or within reach at all times, especially as the speed picks up.

Thanks for your perspective.

I do tend to over think things. Seems to be my nature, but I like to make informed choices before dropping the $ and I don't want to be disappointed and spending again when I get the wrong thing.

I'm really looking for simple stuff from this and I guess I don't know what I'd be missing, I'm certainly not looking for collision avoidance didn't know it was a thing... As I said my primary purpose here is trolling and being able to hold a track when I'm setting or pulling up gear.

I find myself always creating routes and running centerline when I'm running out to the fishing grounds or between spots or back to the harbour so I thought I may find some use there too in managing work load. Auto routing in C-map makes it pretty easy A to B to quickly calculate a route and creates the waypoints in between for you. It just seems like an efficient way to run rather than zig zagging my way to places.

Anyway, those are what I imagine my uses will be...