Autopilot Integration with Chartplotters: Route Following

What autopilot and chartplotter integration means

Autopilot integration with a chartplotter means the two devices exchange data over a marine electronics network. The chartplotter holds the route you have planned, and the autopilot receives that route and steers the boat along it. For the buyer, the question is whether your chartplotter and the autopilot you are considering speak the same network language.

The network most often named on listings is NMEA 2000. The National Marine Electronics Association describes it as a standard based on CAN communications that interconnects marine electronic equipment on vessels, shares data including commands and status, and is multi-master and self-configuring. That description is worth reading before you compare listings: it tells you why a chartplotter and an autopilot from different makers can work together on one network.

How the connection works: a shared network

On the boat, the connection usually runs through a backbone cable with drop cables for each device. The chartplotter, the autopilot control head, the autopilot's heading sensor and the actuator control unit all join the same network. When you activate a route on the chartplotter, the network carries that route data to the autopilot.

Some makers use their own network names, and you will see those names on listings. The common standard is NMEA 2000, and a listing that names it is giving you the detail to check against your chartplotter's network connection. If a listing says the autopilot is NMEA 2000 compatible, read the maker's page to see what that means for your chartplotter.

Packs that include the control head, the course computer and the drive are the ones most buyers start with, because the network connection is part of the package. Compare complete autopilot packs on stated details before you decide what belongs in your order.

Route following and waypoint navigation

Route following is the feature most buyers mean when they ask about integration. You plan a route on the chartplotter, activate it, and the autopilot steers the boat from waypoint to waypoint. The chartplotter sends the route, and the autopilot controls the steering. The same logic applies to a single waypoint: the chartplotter tells the autopilot where to go, and the autopilot steers toward it.

Some listings name features that make route following more comfortable. Furuno's NavPilot 300, for example, describes Route Smoothing, which decreases the speed of turns as the boat approaches waypoints while navigating an active route. That is a feature you can compare on stated details, not a claim about how well the autopilot holds a line in wind or current.

A route-following setup still needs a heading source. The Furuno page notes that a compatible NMEA 2000 vessel heading source is required for the NavPilot 300. The same logic applies to any autopilot: the steering decisions are based on heading data, so the network has to carry that data. For more detail, see the article on route following.

What a listing tells you about integration

A listing tells you the model line, the control head, and sometimes the network. Furuno lists NavPilot models and states that NavPilot is designed to match NavNet TZtouchXL, TZtouchE, TZMAP, the FI70 series and other navigation equipment. That sentence is a compatibility claim you can trust only as far as the maker's page, but it is the right kind of detail to look for in a listing.

Raymarine lists Evolution autopilot packs (EV-100, EV-200, EV-300, EV-400 and the EV-DBW editions) and describes the control heads separately. If a listing names the control head model, that head is where route information appears at the helm. For more on the heads you will see, read the article on control head options.

When a listing is missing a detail, treat it as a question for the seller. If it does not say the network name, the control head or the maker's supported chartplotter line, ask before you order. Compare the Furuno autopilot listings and the Raymarine autopilot listings to see how the makers phrase their integration details.

Questions to ask before you buy

The decision comes down to what is already on your boat and what the autopilot listing names. Work through these questions with the seller or a dealer before you order.

• What network does my chartplotter use, and does the autopilot listing name that network?
• Does the pack include a control head, or will I need to add one to see route data at the helm?
• What does the maker's page say about integration with my chartplotter brand?
• Does the autopilot need a separate heading source, or is one included in the pack?
• Does the listing name a model line that matches the autopilot I want, or is it a core pack without a control head?

What the catalogue cannot say

The catalogue cannot tell you how well an autopilot will hold a route in wind, waves or current. This site compares listings on stated details only: what is in the box, the steering type it names, the model line and the network. Compatibility beyond the maker's page is a question for the maker or a dealer, not for a listing.

One thing every boat owner should keep in mind: an autopilot does not replace a lookout. The U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety division provides courses and materials that cover the basics of keeping watch and operating a boat responsibly. An autopilot is a steering aid, not a substitute for attention. Start your brand comparison with the marine autopilot reviews on this site, then confirm the integration details on the maker's page.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Does chartplotter integration mean the autopilot needs a chartplotter to steer?

No. Autopilots can steer a set heading on their own. The chartplotter adds route following, where the autopilot follows the waypoints in the active route.

What is NMEA 2000?

It is a CAN-based marine network standard that interconnects marine electronics and lets them share data and commands. The National Marine Electronics Association maintains the standard.

Will my existing chartplotter work with the autopilot I am considering?

Check the maker's page for the network name and the chartplotter lines the autopilot is designed to match. If the listing is missing that detail, ask the seller.

Do I need a control head if my chartplotter shows the route?

Not always. Some autopilots can be operated from a chartplotter or a remote. But a dedicated control head is where the autopilot's own status and alarms appear, and many packs include one.

What does 'compatible with' on a listing mean?

It names the maker's network or model lines. Treat it as a starting point and verify the details on the maker's page before you order.