Tom,
Glad my experience is helpful....I installed the Simrad model that I did because another Morgan owner was very happy with his.....Vic's experience was incredibly helpful to me.
I don't have a chartplotter...guess I'm "old" school and use a laptop computer connected to a GPS and runs The Capn software and charts. The computer lives in cockpit under the dodger when I'm underway...have been doing this for years. Am hoping to add AIS in near future which will also display on laptop.
I could connect the autopilot to it but have chosen not to since I want to be the boss to tell it where to steer Celerity. I know several people who have had the autopilot connected to chartplotter etc and let it steer to set waypoints. I've never been comfortable with that. Too much can and does go wrong. Just my opinion
I had a yard install the drive arm, Edson bronze tiller arm and rudder sensor.....they had to build a sturdy fiberglass platform bonded to the hull and drill hole in the tiller arm to mount to the rudder post...beyond what I was comfortable doing.
Simrad (like Raymarine with Seatalk) has Simnet...proprietary software that drives the autopilot (and any other Simrad instruments like depth, anenometer, etc). I have Nexus instruments...bought the Simnet cable to connect them to autopilot computer but have not done so (would allow the autopilot to steer by the wind).
The owner/installation manual could have been more user friendly but I did install all the wiring, the computer (mounted on aft wall of quarter berth), display (mounted on bulkhead to starboard of companionway with my other instruments They can be read from anywhere in cockpit not just behind helm)and fluxgate compass (originally mounted in cabin on port side close to sole next to mast but had magnetic interference from pumps and lectrasan in head cabinet just on other side of the bulkhead. After speaking with Simrad, moved it up the bulkhead close to the ceiling and beside the mast.)
Let me know if you need any advice. Am happy to help.
If you want to talk, send me your e-mail (
carverf@ecu.edu) and I'll send you my phone number...
Cheers,
Melinda