Integrating Robertson autopilot to plotter.

[86Hat41]

Hello.
I have a mid 80's Robertson 200DL autopilot that works absolutely perfect. I would like to hook it up to a chartplotter. Does anyone have an old school Robertson hooked up to a plotter? If so, what make/model plotter do you have. I really don't want to purchase and install a new autopilot. I don't mind going on ebay and purchasing a vintage plotter. I just really like everything about this autopilot and don't feel like spending days running wires swapping it out.

Thnx - TJ

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I think anything that will interface with a NEMA0183 autopilot should work.

 

[Boatsb]

Interface?

What do you expect from it?

Its not a smart autopilot.

 

[jim rosenthal]

You might try calling Marine Electronics of the Outer Banks, in Nags' Head, NC. They deal with a lot of older electronics, as well as brand news stuff, and might be able to give you advice.

Since the Robertson 200 understands 0183 information, something should be possible. I assume you want it to steer to waypoints on a plotter, right?

 

[86Hat41]

Yes Jim, exactly. I will try them. Much appreciated.

 

[Boatsb]

There's a modern retrofit kit if your pump is good for $1750 Msrp.

So why deal with the old when its a simple upgrade.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

I had a Robertson AP 45 connected to my laptop computer running Nobeltec software, worked great, no big tech job to interface. Cruised the Bahamas, Carib, Alaska and points inbetween for years. Your Robertson manual should show you pretty clearly how to do it.

 

[chuckbullett@gmail.com]

Canuck Dennis is on-point, and the 0183 data port will allow the the AP200DL to receive sentences instructing course changes to follow waypoints.

You may have to insert a NMEA 0183 data repeater ( or “talker”) to move the data from the chart plotter to the Junction interface. I’m building up a new Rasp-pi based opencpn system and intend to send data to the AP200DL... but the RS-232 has to be converted to basically RS422 or 485 level’s to work correctly. Digital Yacht probably has what you need for hardware.

 

[Pascal]

The question is why would you want to do that ?

I ve been running 4-500 hours a year for the last 15 years or so and never felt the need to interface the AP with the plotter. For each leg of a trip, I put the heading on the AP and monitor. If current (in the stream for instance) affect COG I just tweak the heading. Never felt the need to make the AP go to a WP.

 

[Boatsb]

Technology has come a long way.

You can have the plotter create the course for you to approve or change. You can make changes at home and bring them to the boat and sync them to the plotter. It can also make corrections for drift and calculate arrival times.

I'm sure many of us can do most of that ourselves but it's nice to have a second set of calculations to compare to.

I don't believe in unmanned autopilot travel but its nicer to be working with options.

 

[86Hat41]

Canuck Dennis is on-point, and the 0183 data port will allow the the AP200DL to receive sentences instructing course changes to follow waypoints.

You may have to insert a NMEA 0183 data repeater ( or “talker”) to move the data from the chart plotter to the Junction interface. I’m building up a new Rasp-pi based opencpn system and intend to send data to the AP200DL... but the RS-232 has to be converted to basically RS422 or 485 level’s to work correctly. Digital Yacht probably has what you need for hardware.

Thank you. I will definitely look into that.

 

[86Hat41]

The question is why would you want to do that ?

I ve been running 4-500 hours a year for the last 15 years or so and never felt the need to interface the AP with the plotter. For each leg of a trip, I put the heading on the AP and monitor. If current (in the stream for instance) affect COG I just tweak the heading. Never felt the need to make the AP go to a WP.

The current runs east to west in Long Island Sound and it is constantly changing speed due to bottom contour other various factors. We are usually running north to south. "Tweaking" the autopilot 300 times a day has gotten really old.

 

[sunset grill]

I swapped the auto pilot head to Ray Marine to match the radar and screen/plotter, but kept the Robertson pump. That pump is completely re-buildable and in my opinion better than todays disposable pumps. The pump runs on DC current, with two wires and works well with the new head.

 

[86Hat41]

I swapped the auto pilot head to Ray Marine to match the radar and screen/plotter, but kept the Robertson pump. That pump is completely re-buildable and in my opinion better than todays disposable pumps. The pump runs on DC current, with two wires and works well with the new head.

How does the boat handle with the Raymarine? That's one of my biggest worries. I know how to adjust the Robertson to run the boat in every condition imaginable as if I was hand steering. I can't stand when the pilot is over correcting every few seconds. Drives me nuts. I was on a friend's boat with a new Simrad autopilot. Was definitely not impressed with the way it handled.

 

[Boatsb]

All the new technology will do better than your old. The raymarine evolution, gaming reactor and other are full of gyros