Autopilot Display: Brightness and Size

What to check in an autopilot display

The display you read at the helm is usually the control head, the part of an autopilot that carries the buttons or knob and the screen. On this site, listings state whether a control head is in the box, and some listings name the display size and display type. Those are the stated details you can compare: a display size in inches, a display type such as color LCD, and sometimes a size class such as single-DIN.

Brightness is part of how readable that screen is in direct sunlight, but brightness is not a numbered field in the catalog. Instead you read the maker's description of the display and the display type. The guides on this site compare autopilots on stated details, so the display field is one line in that comparison, not a rank.

Display size: what the inches tell you

A listing that gives a display size tells you the diagonal of the screen in inches. The Furuno pages given here state 4.1 inches for the NavPilot 300 and 5.7 inches for the NavPilot 1000, and describe the NavPilot 711C as single-DIN size. Those figures come directly from the maker's page. A larger screen can show more information at a glance, and a smaller screen can still be enough when it sits near your normal helm position.

Size alone does not tell how the display behaves in sunlight. A 4.1 inch color LCD and a larger one may both read well or both wash out, depending on the backlight and the glass. Treat the size as a physical detail, not a quality rating.

Brightness and direct sunlight

Direct sunlight is the hardest condition for any helm display. Glare on the screen and a weakly lit display are the two usual problems. Brightness is normally described by the maker as a backlight or a daylight readable display, in words, not as a number. No listing on the source pages gives a brightness figure, and this article makes no claim about how bright any model is.

What you can do is compare display types and read the maker's description. A color LCD is the type named on many Furuno listings. For a closer look at display technology, the article on LCD versus TFT displays explains how the two types differ in words.

Display types named on listings

The display type is a short phrase on a listing, usually color LCD. The Furuno pages given here use color LCD for the NavPilot 300 and NavPilot 1000, and single-DIN size color display for the NavPilot 711C. The Raymarine pages given here describe control heads in general terms without a numeric size. When a listing gives a display type, that is what the maker states, and you can carry it into your comparison.

Display type also tells you about the screen's viewing angle and contrast in general terms, though not in numbers. The comparison of LCD and TFT screens gives more background on what to expect from each type.

Control head or chartplotter display

If the pack you are considering includes a control head, the display is already chosen for you. If the pack is a core pack without a head, you decide how you will see and steer the autopilot. You may use a chartplotter at the helm, connected over a marine network, to act as the autopilot display. The NMEA 2000 standard describes how marine electronics share data, including commands and status, on a single network.

Some boat owners prefer a dedicated control head. Others prefer to keep the number of screens low and use one large chartplotter display. The choice is about your helm layout more than about the autopilot itself. The guide on autopilots with a control head in the box can help you see which packs carry one.

Where you read the display at the helm

Mounting position affects readability at least as much as the screen's inches. A head mounted at eye level in the cockpit or at the helm is easier to read in direct sunlight than one mounted low or behind a wheel. Some control heads are made for flush mounting, others for a bracket. The catalog does not state mounting hardware, and the maker's manual and a qualified installer decide the exact position.

Before you buy, ask the dealer what the pack includes and what you will need to mount the head at a readable height. For a tiller-steered boat, a self-contained tiller pilot with a built-in keypad may be the most compact option.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Does a bigger autopilot display read better in the sun?

Not by itself. A larger screen shows more at one glance, but readability in direct sunlight depends on the display type and backlight. Compare the stated display size and read what the maker's page says about the display.

Is brightness listed as a number anywhere?

On the source pages used here, no. Brightness is described in words, such as a color LCD or a daylight readable display, without a numeric value. This article makes no brightness claims.

Can I use my chartplotter as the autopilot display?

Many autopilots connect to chartplotters over a marine network such as NMEA 2000, which lets them share data, commands and status. Read the maker's page for the pack you choose to see how it connects.

What does single-DIN mean in a display size?

single-DIN is a standard dashboard opening size used by many marine electronics makers. It tells you the display fits a common helm cutout, not how bright or large the screen is.

Does the display size affect how well the autopilot steers?

No. Steering behavior comes from the heading sensor, the drive and the settings. The display only shows you what the autopilot is doing.

If a listing does not state display size, is that a problem?

Not necessarily. The maker's page often gives the size or type that the listing leaves out. Check the source page before you decide.

Does an autopilot display remove the need to keep watch?

No. A lookout is still required. The U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety pages describe the operator's duties and offer boating safety courses, and this site makes no safety claims for any autopilot.