High Bidder

I finished the first phase of my autopilot installation. Which means it is operating but not conected to the GPS yet. I used a MSD50 drive which mounts on the power assist unit of the stern drive. It eliminates all the play in the steering cable(I have a 93 boat) and gives a quicker response. Last week in 3-4 ft. waves it held course great. I was impressed. I was not impressed however at the cost of connecting a AP24 to the GPS. The least expensive way is to buy a simnet cable and a lowrance cable and splice them together. Luckily I found a website that explains the lowrance wire colors. Neither Simrad or Lowrance service techs were of much use. All they did was read from the manual and tell me to buy adapters that they didn't even make. If you see me zigzagging through the Trench the last two weeks of August you'll know I got the GPS wired. High Bidder

After installing a Simrad AP24 autopilot I realized that it doesn't come with the power wiring. Is there a marine supply that would have these cables. I am going to Henderson Harbor on Friday. I travel north on I81 from PA. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you High Bidder

Sorry about the slow response to your answers but I was away fishing. I have a lowrance 7500c and a Simrad 2401 VRF. The Simrad is still in a box in my garage waiting to be installed this week. After reading your replys and considering that I am not a electronics guru I will probably forget about the GPS and AP connection. It will probably take me long enough to learn the full capabilities of the AP as it is. I want to thank everyone for their replys. High Bidder

I've been trying to understand the wiring procedures for a NMEA 2000 connection but haven't found a good diagram or explanation yet. I would like to connect my 7500C globalmap to my autopilot. Do I really need a simnet bar or can I direct connect the GPS. What does it mean by "powering the NMEA system"? Is it really worth the trouble of connecting the GPS and autopilot at all? I am going to use the autopilot mostly for steering the boat when I am fishing alone or while my copilot is netting the fish. High Bidder

I was lucky I guess. I went to order a Sport Pilot on Saturday and first looked at the Raymarine website again for specifications and saw that they were recalled. I got tired of waiting for a Simrad AP14r. I now ordered a Simrad 2401VRF. More money and a lot of features I'll probably never use but I can get it time for the best of the fishing season.

I am planning on installing a Simrad AP14r when they are available again. The problem I am running into is that according to the installation manual I would need a cable end adapter. I have a 1993 Teleflex Safe T rotary steering and it is listed in the manual that it is the only type that needs an adapter. Do I actually need an adapter ,which is apparently not available anymore, or will I have to change my entire cable? I have contacted numerous suppliers and all they tell me is that they can't get the adapter but they don't tell me what I have to do. I want to be prepared to do the installation without waiting on additional parts. Thanks High Bidder

I was curious as to where you bought your Simrad lately. Everyone I called to order one said that none were going to be available until Mid July. I wanted the AP14r model. No one would tell me why they weren't available but everyone said they would receive some on the same day in July. Right! Does anyone know the real story. I hope I did this right. It is my first post. High Bidder